Kenya Launches 2 Smartphones With Dual Cameras for N100 Daily Payment, Takes on iPhone and Samsung
- Kenya's president has launched the country's first two smartphones, which will be very affordable to citizens
- President William Ruto presided over the launch of the manufacturing plant in Mavako, Machakos County
- In May 2023, Safaricom announced plans to set up the plant and estimated its production at 1.4 million affordable smartphones annually
Legit.ng journalist Dave Ibemere brings over ten years of experience in financial, business, and technology reporting.
Kenya has launched two locally assembled smartphones called Neon Smarta and Neon Ultrav at a retail price of $50 (N38,807).
The smartphones were developed through a joint venture between Safaricom and Faiba, along with the assembly partner, East Africa Device Assembly Kenya Limited (EADAK).
Source: Facebook
The assembly plant, launched on Monday, October 30, 2023, is expected to produce 21,000 smartphones monthly.
More details about the Kenya phone
Techcabal reports that the Smarta is the smaller of the duo at 5 inches, compared to the Ultra's 6.5-inch display.
Both have 2 GB of RAM, 32 GB internal storage, and support 4G.
Kenya President William Ruto has assured that his administration will help scale production.
Ruto said:
"Three million devices that will be produced here will be 30% cheaper than if we had imported them as complete units.
"We have agreed with stakeholders that this phone will retail at about KSh 7,500."
Local media reports say that Safaricom and other stakeholders will allow Kenyans to pay a deposit of 1,000 Kenyan, which is $6.72(5,421) monthly starting January 2024 to get the phone.
The remaining balance will be paid at KSh 20 per day or $0.18(N104.88).
Safaricom Chief Executive Officer Peter Ndegwa explained further:
"In partnership with Google, we offer affordable smartphones payable in instalments which is called Lipa Mdogo Mdogo.
"Over one million customers have benefited as of March 2023. "We have since expanded this initiative and partnered with other manufacturers to include more smartphones on the programme."
NCC warns against the use of unapproved phones
Legit.ng earlier reported that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has cautioned consumers against the patronage and use of devices that have not been approved.
The commission also announced tough sanctions on marketers selling counterfeit devices to Nigerians.
Source: Legit.ng
