Kenyan telecommunications giant Safaricom is facing a lawsuit for its alleged unconstitutional use of artificial intelligence (AI) in customer service and financial decisions involving its M-PESA platform.

• The petition argues that Safaricom's AI systems, including the chatbot 'Zuri' and automated decision-making processes, violate consumers' rights to privacy, fair administrative action, and consumer protection.
• The lawsuit was filed by Victor Odhiambo and also names regulatory bodies like the Attorney-General and the Communications Authority of Kenya as respondents.
• The petitioner specifically highlights concerns that customers are often unable to easily access human agents for urgent issues, such as fraud or mistaken transfers, and that automated decisions lack clear explanations.

African nations are strengthening their regulatory frameworks for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data protection as the adoption of stablecoins grows within the financial sector.

• 45 African countries have enacted data protection legislation, with 39 jurisdictions now operating fully functional regulatory authorities.
• The report highlights the work of Thelma Okorie, Group Data Protection and Privacy Counsel at Yellow Card.
• 16 African countries have adopted national AI strategies, with several progressing towards enforceable AI legislation, impacting financial institutions' AI-driven systems.

Nairobi is set to host the Kenya Blockchain and Crypto Conference (KBCC 2026) on May 14–15, focusing on the growing role of stablecoins and blockchain in Africa's payment systems.

• USDT processed over $13 trillion in transfer volume globally in 2025, with significant adoption growth in Africa at 18.6% year-on-year.
• Key participants include CTOs and CEOs from Pawapay, HoneyCoin, and representatives from OKX, SWIFT, VALR, and the Nairobi International Financial Centre Authority.
• The discussions will highlight how stablecoins are addressing practical business needs like faster cross-border transactions, reduced settlement times, and 24/7 payment capabilities, moving beyond speculation.