Vodafone Kenya Limited has successfully acquired the Government of Kenya’s 15% stake in Safaricom, increasing its ownership to 55% and making it the majority shareholder. The transaction was finalized on 30 June 2026.

• Vodafone Kenya Limited now holds 55% of Safaricom.
• The acquisition involved the purchase of the Government of Kenya’s stake for KES 204 billion.
• Regulatory approval was granted for Vodafone Kenya to be exempted from a mandatory takeover offer to minority shareholders.

Visa has launched new smartphone payment features for its Visa Accept and Visa Direct platforms, enabling small businesses to send and receive digital payments without additional hardware.

• 99% of surveyed small and medium-sized businesses use at least one digital financial tool, with 85% reporting positive business impacts.
• Visa Accept transforms a smartphone into a payment terminal, while Visa Direct allows businesses to send payouts like employee wages and customer refunds.
• The new capabilities aim to reduce payment friction, allowing businesses to focus more on customer experience, with Co-op Bank Kenya expected to launch Visa Accept soon.

Kenyan EdTech startup Craydel has expanded its operations into Ghana, marking its entry into its eighth African market.

• Craydel, an AI-powered platform for international university applications, now serves eight markets across Africa.
• The startup was founded in 2021 by Manish Sardana, John Nguru, and Shayne Aman Premji.
• Craydel has raised over $2.5 million to support its pan-African education recruitment platform.