MAJID AL FUTTAIM LAUNCHES “BUY KENYA, BUILD KENYA” CAMPAIGN

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MAJID AL FUTTAIM LAUNCHES “BUY KENYA, BUILD KENYA” CAMPAIGN

Special Correspondent - April 19, 2018

The campaign coincides with the opening of the fifth Carrefour store in Kenya, in less than two years Majid Al Futtaim, the leading...

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By Amos Wachira As we navigate an era of economic uncertainty and widening inequality, microfinance continues to stand as a beacon of hope for millions around the world. This issue of Business insights Africa Magazine delves into the transformative power of small-scale financial services, showcasing how access to credit, savings, and insurance can uplift individuals, families, and entire communities. Microfinance is more than just loans—it’s a tool for empowerment. For low-income entrepreneurs, especially women, a small loan can mean the difference between subsistence and self-sufficiency. It enables a seamstress to buy her own sewing machine, a farmer to purchase better seeds, or a street vendor to expand her inventory. These seemingly modest investments create ripple effects, fostering local economies and breaking cycles of poverty. In this edition, we highlight inspiring stories of borrowers who have turned microloans into thriving businesses, proving that financial inclusion is key to sustainable development. Yet, the microfinance sector is not without its challenges. High interest rates, over-indebtedness, and regulatory hurdles remain pressing concerns. Critics argue that some institutions prioritize profits over social impact, risking the very mission they were founded to serve. We examine these issues head-on, featuring Dr. Patrick Gthondu, chief Executive of Bimas Kenya on responsible lending practices and the evolving role of fintech in making microfinance more transparent and accessible. One of the most exciting developments in recent years is the fusion of microfinance with digital technology. Mobile banking, blockchain, and AI-driven credit scoring are revolutionizing how financial services reach the unbanked. In our cover story, we explore how fintech startups like SasaPay are bridging gaps left by traditional institutions, particularly in remote and underserved regions. These innovations are not just changing microfinance—they’re redefining financial inclusion altogether. As we look to the future, the potential for microfinance to drive social change has never been greater. Climate resilience loans, education financing, and health-related microinsurance are emerging as critical tools in addressing global challenges. We must continue to advocate for ethical practices, investor accountability, and policies that prioritize the underserved. At Business Insights Africa, we believe that finance, when wielded with purpose, can be a force for good. Whether you’re an investor, practitioner, or simply someone passionate about economic justice, we invite you to engage with these stories, share your insights, and join the conversation on how microfinance can build a more equitable world. Thank you for reading, and for being part of this mission. editor@businessinsights.africa

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Emirates (www.Emirates.com), the world’s largest international airline, has introduced a first-of-its-kind split-payment solution for travellers in Kenya, through a longstanding strategic partnership with Cellulant, Africa’s leading payments technology company. The split-payment capability, enabled by Tingg, Cellulant’s payment gateway, has debuted in Kenya and is expected to roll out to other African markets in the coming months. Available on Emirates’ website, Tingg’s split payment feature, offers greater financial flexibility by allowing customers to combine multiple payment methods across mobile money, mobile banking and local credit and debit cards. The partnership also enables customers to make an initial payment online, followed by up to four additional instalments across 24 hours, unlocking greater purchasing power and making airfares more accessible to mobile-first customers. “With hundreds of millions of Africans relying on mobile money as their preferred way to pay, extending this convenience to global travel payments is essential,” said Michael Muriuki, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Cellulant. “Through Tingg, we are enabling Emirates customers to complete high-value transactions seamlessly, without transaction limits becoming a barrier to access.” Commenting on the partnership, Christophe Leloup, Emirates’ Country Manager for Kenya, said, “Kenya is one of the most dynamic markets on our global network, and we’re always looking for ways to enhance our customer experience across every touchpoint, including the booking process. By introducing split payments, through Tingg by Cellulant, we unlock greater flexibility and convenience, while enabling more customers to access our world-class product and services.” Solving a Real Pain Point: the Split-Payment Breakthrough Mobile money is the dominant form of payment across Africa, with over 1 billion registered mobile money wallets and more than 80 billion transactions totalling over US$1 trillion. Yet despite its widespread adoption, per-transaction and daily limits on mobile wallets often prevent customers from completing high-value purchases, such as international airline tickets, forcing customers to abandon bookings. By introducing the split-payment solution available through Cellulant’s payment platform, Tingg, Emirates directly addresses this challenge by allowing customers to complete ticket bookings while remaining within provider-imposed limits. The split-payment feature joins Emirates’ raft of other financing options (https://apo-opa.co/3ZV37Oc), designed to make airfare more accessible to customers. In Kenya, Emirates enables payments through mobile apps such as M-Pesa and Safaricom or via mobile banking transfer, through partner banks, via Cellulant. Across the region, Emirates and Cellulant also facilitate a variety of finance options in 14 markets across Africa such as South Africa, Ghana and Zimbabwe. The launch comes as Emirates adds a third daily flight on the Dubai–Nairobi route from 1 March 2026, increasing capacity on a corridor that has seen strong demand. In recent months, Emirates has operated its double daily flights at a consistently strong seat factor, reflecting growing demand for air travel between Kenya and global destinations. By pairing the extra flights with locally aligned payment options, Cellulant and Emirates are ensuring that demand is met with accessibility. To book tickets with split payment, customers can visit the Emirates website.

Emirates Expands Payment Flexibility in Kenya through Cellulant’s Split-Payment Solution

March 2, 2026

The Africa’s Green Economy Summit (AGES) 2026 opened its doors in Cape Town today, marking a pivotal moment in the continent's economic trajectory. Convening a powerful coalition of policymakers, financiers and innovators, the summit signals a decisive shift from conceptual ambition to concrete, bankable action in the pursuit of a sustainable African future. Under the banner of "From Ambition to Action: Scaling Opportunities in Africa's Green and Blue Solutions," AGES 2026, proudly sponsored by Sanlam Investments, is not merely a forum for discussion but a catalyst for deal-making and partnership. The gathering is built on a singular premise, that Africa’s environmental challenges are, in fact, its greatest economic opportunities. “Ambition lights the path, but it does not pave it. To transform our economies and uplift our communities, we must move beyond rhetoric to robust execution,” said Lerato Mbele, Summit Moderator. “This summit is a marketplace of ideas where we connect visionaries with investors, ensuring that Africa’s green transition is not just sustainable, but also scalable and profitable.” The strategic focus of this year’s agenda is underpinned by compelling data. The summit is shining a spotlight on the blue economy, a colossal yet often under-leveraged asset that already injects nearly $300 billion annually into the continent’s GDP and sustains 46 million livelihoods through fisheries, tourism and logistics. Simultaneously, the green economy, with agriculture and renewable energy at its core, is projected to unlock a staggering $10 trillion in global business value over the next decade, positioning Africa to generate an estimated 300 million new jobs for its burgeoning youth population. These are not distant prospects, but immediate frontiers for investment and innovation. Echoing this sentiment, the Honourable Naren Singh, Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment, addressed delegates with a call for holistic progress. "Our journey towards a low-carbon future must be defined by a fundamental truth: sustainability is a three-legged stool, balancing the health of our planet, the prosperity of our people and the creation of shared value," he stated. "By investing in our natural capital, we are investing in the most resilient infrastructure of all our communities." Over the next two days, the summit floor will be a hive of activity. Attendees will engage in high-level interactive sessions, witness live project pitches from Africa’s most promising green entrepreneurs, and participate in curated networking forums designed to fast-track collaboration and knowledge transfer. AGES 2026 is more than an event, it is a declaration that Africa is ready to build a future where economic resilience and environmental stewardship are the same.

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Instant 24/7 bank-to-bank transfers across African borders in local currencies. Simpler cross-border payments for individuals, businesses, and SMEs. 80 plus Pesalink network participants now linked to 160 plus PAPSS participating banks. Pesalink, Kenya’s de facto instant payment network, has partnered with the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) to ease cross-border payment and speed up regional financial integration. The partnership enables instant 24/7 cross-border payments from PAPSS participants into banks and mobile money operators within the Pesalink network in Kenya, all settled in local currencies. This reduces complex correspondent banking requirements and reliance on foreign reserve currencies. PAPSS, an initiative of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in collaboration with the African Union and the AfCFTA Secretariat, enables cross-border payments between African countries. Pesalink is now a Technical Connectivity Provider. It means that 80 plus Kenyan bank, fintech, SACCO and telco participants on the Pesalink network will be connected to 160 plus commercial banks and fintechs on the PAPSS platform. Cross-border payments remain expensive and slow for many African businesses. The 2023 (http://apo-opa.co/4baDSh7) World Bank Remittance Prices report indicates that sending money across African borders incurs on average 7-8% of the total value sent (above the global average of 6–7%). Settlement can also take three to seven business days. The Pesalink–PAPSS partnership will reduce costs, speed up settlements, and help individuals, SMEs and businesses send money more efficiently across borders. Speaking during the partnership signing held at Pesalink offices in Nairobi, PAPSS CEO Mike Ogbalu III said, “For PAPSS to deliver true impact, collaboration with national and private switches like Pesalink is essential. Pesalink is the first switch we’ve piloted for transaction termination in Kenya, and we are already seeing greater adoption by opening more channels for seamless, local-currency cross-border payments across Africa.” Pesalink CEO, Gituku Kirika, said “Kenyan banks will now be able to offer faster, cheaper cross-border payments. They will be helping their customers grow more regional trading relationships and thrive in a more integrated digital economy.”

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MAJID AL FUTTAIM LAUNCHES “BUY KENYA, BUILD KENYA” CAMPAIGN

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