When you talk about FinTech, it is hard not to mention Kenya. The East Africa country was among the pioneers (if not the first) of FinTech with the M-Pesa mobile money. There is no doubt the platform is highly developed and matured compared to most countries.
As a vote of confidence in the maturity of FinTech development in Kenya, and the country is the pacesetter. The Norwegian browser maker Opera has appointed Kenya’s Eddie Ndichu to drive its FinTech strategy across Africa. The company is also prepping up to set up an office in Kenya’s capital Nairobi.
Opera issued a statement on Tuesday saying it had appointed Ndichu as the MD and VP for FinTech in Africa. The statement read in part:
“This appointment is the first step in the company’s plans to have a Kenyan office which will become the East African hub.”
Ndichu has previously served as head of financial services and mobile payments.
The appointment of Ndichu is in line with Opera’s plan of diversification. The Norwegian firm, which has primarily been known for its data friendly mobile browser, Opera Mini, has lately been planting its roots deep into FinTech.
In December 2017, the company introduced its browser-based electronic wallet, OPay, where users in Kenya and across Africa can send/receive money at the push of a button. Users can also pay for their utility bills and top up their airtime.
The company says it has set aside an investment worth over $100 million into the Africa digital economy over next two years. OPay will be the primary tool the company will be using on that front.