Africa Reports

List of all articles filed under “africa-reports” category.

Bridging the Digital Divide: Farouk Ramji Speaks About How Mawingu Is Connecting Rural Kenya and Tanzania

July 29, 2025

In this exclusive interview, Farouk Ramji, CEO of Mawingu, a leading internet service provider in Kenya, outlines the company’s strategic growth across East Africa, with a strong focus on affordable internet in rural Kenya and Tanzania. Over the past four years, Mawingu has built a financially viable and scalable ISP business model—anchored in strong gross margins, profitability, and operational discipline—making it one of the most promising ISPs in Kenya and Africa connectivity pioneers.

The company’s journey from a venture capital-backed startup to a multi-country operator has been marked by an ambitious shift towards attracting long-term infrastructure investors and private equity in Africa. Ramji discusses Mawingu’s acquisition in Tanzania, its disciplined M&A strategy, and how the brand offers a unique blend of profit and purpose in the African digital infrastructure investment space.

The vision is bold: to connect one million Africans by 2028, using sustainable and smart investment strategies tailored for markets like Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Burundi. Instead of spreading thin, Mawingu aims to solidify operations in two or three key countries and replicate success through franchise models or an “ISP-in-a-box” approach—enabling accelerated pan-African expansion.

A core part of Mawingu’s impact strategy includes community-based internet connectivity. Ramji highlights the company’s 24/7 network operations center, in-house technical teams, and localized customer support, including Somali-speaking agents to serve marginalized regions such as Mandera. The company’s non-profit arm, MoYu Foundation, supports schools and community hubs with subsidized internet—building a bridge between digital inclusion and economic empowerment.

Ramji also emphasizes how increasing internet penetration in Africa—particularly in underserved communities—can directly boost GDP, citing World Bank statistics that link a 10% rise in connectivity to a 1.38% increase in GDP. By maintaining this focus, Mawingu not only builds a business but also delivers measurable socioeconomic returns.

Looking ahead, Mawingu plans to grow fivefold in the next three years, increasing subscriber numbers, revenue, and regional reach. The interview concludes with a strong message to global investors: despite past hesitations, the African internet market presents massive untapped potential. With only 1 million of 12 million Kenyan homes connected and just 300,000 out of 14 million Tanzanian homes online, the size of the opportunity is enormous.

Affordable Housing in Kenya: How Unity Homes Is Setting New Quality Standards Transforming Tatu City and Beyond

July 24, 2025

The interview with Jason Horsey, Executive Director of Unity Homes, offers a comprehensive overview of one of the leading residential real estate developers in Kenya. Founded in 2015, Unity Homes has established itself as a major player in affordable housing in Kenya, with a strong footprint in Tatu City and expansion into Nigeria through its sister brand, Universal Homes Nigeria.

Initially known for building affordable homes priced between KES 5 to 10 million, Unity Homes is now diversifying into premium real estate, such as the Silverhill project, inspired by London townhouses. With over 2,000 completed homes and 1,500 under construction, their developments include Unity West, Unity East, Unity One, and Unity Parkside, located in the master-planned Tatu City real estate zone. Projects like Unity West apartments and Unity East housing offer two- and three-bedroom options with world-class amenities such as parks, gyms, pools, and community spaces.

The company’s hallmark is its vertically integrated model. Unlike other real estate developers in Kenya who outsource key functions, Unity Homes has internalized architecture, engineering, and construction, allowing it to deliver high-quality homes with over 2,000 quality checks per apartment. The use of international HSE standards, implemented by a former Halliburton expert, sets them apart in real estate development in Nairobi and across East Africa.

A notable focus is Unity Homes’ commitment to serving the Kenyan diaspora real estate market. With 60% of local sales and up to 80% of Nigerian sales coming from diaspora investors, the company offers secure, trust-driven investment options for those seeking safe real estate investments in Kenya. Through partnerships with Kenya Mortgage Refinance Company (KMRC), Unity is also promoting subsidized mortgage products for affordable housing buyers, particularly in projects like Unity One.

Unity’s strategic vision includes scaling up through large-scale, integrated estates that support live-work-play real estate development models. Future plans include developing 3,000 to 5,000 homes in real estate development in Unity West and coastal areas, supported by clean land titles as found in Tatu City and Nigeria’s Lekki Free Trade Zone, where Universal Homes Nigeria is delivering 576 apartments aimed at investors.

From buying off-plan apartments in Kenya to securing real estate investment opportunities in Nairobi, Unity Homes continues to raise the bar in high-quality homes with excellent rental yields and strong capital appreciation — a compelling option for both homeowners and investors. With amenities that foster safe, family-friendly living environments and the backing of community initiatives like the “Our Community Foundation,” the company creates not just houses but vibrant ecosystems.

Kibo Africa’s Expansion Plan: Durable Motorcycles, Local Manufacturing, and Electric Innovation

July 23, 2025

In this interview, Peter Schokker shares his vision and strategic direction for Kibo Africa, a motorcycle manufacturer based in Kenya. He emphasizes quality, customer focus, rugged utility bikes built for African terrain, and growing partnerships to enhance customer value. Kibo has expanded its dealer and service network across Kenya and East Africa and is collaborating with financing partners to make its motorcycles more accessible to SMEs and Boda-Boda riders.

A key part of Kibo’s roadmap includes the phased introduction of electric motorcycles, with a strong focus on preserving the brand’s values of reliability, endurance, and suitability for difficult terrain. Schokker also outlines regional expansion plans, including Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan, DRC, and Ghana. Efforts are underway to strengthen local manufacturing, improve operational efficiency, and develop new service models to enhance customer experience.

Kibo’s motorcycles are used for a variety of purposes: by government agencies, SMEs, adventure riders, farmers, and logistics companies. The interview concludes with Schokker’s personal motivation—building a business that empowers people economically and working as a team to create impact.

How Kingsway Tyres Is Tackling Cheap Imports and Leading Kenya’s Tyre Recycling Revolution

July 23, 2025

In this in-depth interview, Manish Shah, Chairman of Kingsway Tyres, discusses how the company is adapting its market leadership strategy in Kenya’s rapidly evolving and highly price-sensitive tyre market. Amid increasing pressure from low-cost Chinese tyre imports and global trade shifts, Kingsway has pivoted from a purely product-focused business model to a service-oriented approach, prioritizing tyre safety, driver security, and customer experience.

To stay ahead in the Kenya tyre industry, Kingsway has taken proactive steps in tyre recycling. The company pioneered green tyre disposal in Kenya, establishing a plant that converts used tyres into oil for industrial furnaces. With a second recycling facility opening in Eldorado, Kingsway strengthens its position as a leader in sustainable tyre solutions in East Africa.

Beyond the automotive sector, the Kingsway Group is expanding into real estate development near diplomatic zones in Nairobi, especially in response to the expected influx of staff to the UN headquarters and foreign embassies. They are also active in Kenya’s hospitality sector, investing in Masai Mara eco-camps, Mount Kenya resorts, and coastal hotels, along with launching restaurant brands in Nairobi to support their hospitality and tourism strategy.

Shah also highlights the group’s commitment to developing infrastructure for foreign direct investment (FDI) within Kenya’s Special Economic Zones (SEZs). The SEZ projects include logistics centres, manufacturing hubs, and facilities to support international companies entering the East and Central African markets. These developments offer attractive features such as 10-year tax incentives, currency flexibility, and access to regional markets of over 500 million people.

The SEZ initiative is also fostering ICT sector growth in Kenya, particularly in call centre development, postgraduate education in computing, and the export of tech talent across Africa and the Middle East. Kingsway’s long-standing track record in commercial real estate development in Kenya, including industrial buildings, shopping malls, and hotels, provides a strong foundation for these efforts.

Manish Shah ends with a clear message to international investors: Kenya offers political stability, economic resilience, and a unique gateway to scale across sub-Saharan Africa, making it an ideal base for regional logistics, manufacturing, and ICT operations.

How Ariya Finergy Is Powering Africa’s Industry with Stable, Clean Energy Solutions

July 21, 2025

This interview with Jenny Fletcher, CEO of Ariya Finergy, offers a comprehensive look into the company’s mission and operations across East Africa. Founded in 2016, Ariya Finergy provides clean, renewable energy solutions, including solar installations, battery storage, and power stabilization systems tailored for commercial and industrial clients.

With over 65 systems built, the company has deployed 24 MWp of solar and 15 MWh of battery storage, making it a regional leader in power reliability. The firm differentiates itself by offering a proprietary energy management system that integrates solar, grid, batteries, and generators for uninterrupted power—a crucial asset in markets with unstable electricity like Uganda and Tanzania.

Their clients, such as Gentex, have experienced up to 30% increases in productivity and near-zero reliance on generators, even during 13-hour power outages. The company is eyeing expansion into Zambia, Zimbabwe, DRC, Somalia, and beyond, but faces challenges such as access to capital and the need for market education.

The interview highlights Ariya’s vision of transforming Africa’s industrial power landscape by enabling stable energy for production and operational efficiency.

Transforming Healthcare Access in Kenya: How Checkups Cova Is Making Healthcare Affordable Across Kenya Through AI and Microloans

July 21, 2025

This in-depth interview with Renee Ngamau, Co-Founder and President, and Dr. Moka Lantum, Co-Founder and CEO of Checkups Cova, explores how the company is disrupting the Kenyan healthcare sector through an innovative hybrid healthcare delivery model that combines telemedicine, mobile clinics, and AI-driven healthcare financing.

Checkups Cova has successfully pivoted from a direct-to-consumer model to a strategic enterprise partnership approach, especially with banks and microfinance institutions. Their core innovation lies in providing medical credit solutions that enable patients to access healthcare without upfront payment, targeting the uninsured and underinsured populations in Kenya and across East Africa.

A major highlight of the conversation is the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare to accelerate microloan approvals, enhance operational efficiency, and reduce healthcare delivery costs. The team emphasizes their mission to improve healthcare accessibility in remote areas, such as Turkana, and cites coverage in 23 Kenyan counties, including Nairobi, Kiambu, Meru, Nyeri, and Mombasa, among others.

Renee explains how their home-based care model helps reduce outpatient waiting times, cut costs, and offer healthcare at the workplace or at the patient’s home. This model is inclusive—serving everyone from diaspora families arranging care for loved ones, to small-scale traders and farmers who can’t afford to leave work.

On the financing side, Dr. Lantum compares traditional bank models with telecom competitors like Safaricom, noting the urgency for banks to adopt more agile, digitally enabled health finance models before telecom-led microfinance systems dominate the space.

The company’s technology roadmap includes building AI-enabled backend platforms, supporting cross-border payments, and scaling operations via smart contracts and franchise-like partnerships in new markets, including South Sudan.

The interview also highlights ongoing fundraising efforts, a strategic partnership with a coastal Kenyan county for chronic disease management, and their broader push for public-private partnerships in healthcare under the Social Health Insurance Fund.

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