An affordability crisis in Kenya's smartphone market is being addressed by a new financing model aimed at bridging the digital divide. E-commerce company Jumia and asset financier Watu Credit have launched a buy-now-pay-later scheme.

• Smartphone penetration in Kenya is nearly 80 percent, but many lack reliable devices.
• The partnership allows customers to pay for smartphones in daily, weekly, or monthly installments via mobile money.
• Watu Credit, a Kenya-based asset financing company, has financed nearly two million devices since 2022.