This Week in African Tech 🌍

Hey 👋🏽, 

OpenAI just gave ChatGPT a serious glow-up. It can now generate and edit photos with GPT-4o, and the internet wasted no time flooding timelines with Ghibli-style art that looks straight out of a Miyazaki film.

Meanwhile, in African tech, it’s lawsuit season in Kenya. Marketforce has to cough up $16K, Safaricom just dodged a legal bullet, and Lipa Later’s troubles have landed it in administration.

We’ll get to the roundup in a sec.

But before we do, we have an announcement.

Now, on to this week’s roundup….

Tech Roundup

• African e-commerce platform Jiji is expanding to Bangladesh. With 131 million internet users and a growing demand for digital shopping, Bangladesh presents a key growth opportunity for Jiji.

• A Kenyan court has ordered collapsed e-commerce startup Marketforce to pay former product manager Tom Maina Chege KES 2.1 million ($16,000) in wrongful termination dues and compensation.

• Alibaba has partnered with Nigerian logistics platform Kwik to support local exporters with access and special rates. Kwik will promote the platform to Nigerian manufacturers and exporters, who will receive discounted membership rates.

• Russian automaker AvtoVAZ is expanding into Nigeria with plans to establish a spare parts hub and service center at Lagos' Lekki Free Trade Zone. The company is also in talks with the government to set up a local assembly plant.

• A Nairobi court has dismissed Davidson Ivusa’s lawsuit against Safaricom over its "Reverse Call" feature. Ivusa claimed Safaricom took the idea from his 2010 proposal, but the court ruled the case lacked merit.

• Zimbabwean fintech Mukuru is expanding across Africa as mobile money adoption grows. The firm serves 17 million users across Africa, Asia, and Europe, processing $3.5–$4 billion in payments annually.

• Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) plans to collaborate with tech companies to prevent AI-related harm, warning of risks like biased algorithms, privacy violations, and growing inequalities.

• Kenyan BNPL fintech Lipa Later has entered administration after months of financial difficulties and unsuccessful fundraising attempts. Joy Vipinchandra Bhatt of Moore JVB is presently serving as its administrator.

• Tunisia is suspending ride-hailing app Bolt over allegations of tax evasion, money laundering, and operating without proper licenses. The move comes as Tunisia prepares to launch a state-backed ride-hailing app to regulate fares, address driver concerns, and cap prices at 1.5 times the taxi meter rate.

Deal Roundup

• KCB Group is acquiring a 75% stake in Kenyan fintech Riverbank Solutions for $15.4 million, pending regulatory approval. Having used Riverbank’s platform since 2013, the bank now plans to expand SME services with financial tools, digital loans, and treasury management.

• South African HR startup Jem HR has raised $3.3 million in pre-Series A funding. The round includes equity led by Next176 and a $1.65 million private debt facility. The funds will support growth and product development.

• The International Finance Corporation (IFC) is lending $70 million to Airtel Kenya as part of a $100 million package for Airtel Africa’s East African operations. The funds will support network expansion, upgrades, and debt refinancing.

• Nigerian fintech Payhippo has rebranded as Rivy and secured $4 million in pre-Series A funding to expand its clean energy financing business. The funding, equally split between debt and equity, will support growth beyond Nigeria. EchoVC co-led the equity round, while local lenders provided the debt financing.

• Tunisian legal-tech startup Juridoc has secured funding from 216 Capital and Go Big Partners. The investment will enhance its AI-based search engine, expand its legal database for new markets, and boost marketing efforts to drive platform adoption.

• Egyptian fintech enza has raised $6.75 million in a seed round co-led by Algebra Ventures and Quona Capital. The funds will help expand its presence in key African markets, strengthen partnerships, and better serve local clients.

Other Events and Opportunities

• Applications are open for Phase 2 of the Spark Accelerator by Safaricom, M-Pesa Africa, and Sumitomo Corporation, designed to scale high-impact, commercially viable businesses driving societal change. Apply for the second cohort between April 1 and May 15.

• Thinking of expanding to Africa? Itana is hosting a Business Exploration Trip to Nigeria from April 29 to May 4. Meet government leaders, top investors, and tech founders while touring key hubs like Flutterwave HQ, and the Nigeria Stock Exchange. Only 15 spots available. Apply here.

• Applications are now open for the 15th Orange Social Venture Prize (OSVP) in Africa and the Middle East, which supports social innovation and entrepreneurship. Apply here before May 18^th.

And that's a wrap!

That’s it for this week. See you on Wednesday 😃 

Cheers,

The Tech Safari Team

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