Mogo, a Kenyan fintech company, has partnered with Chinese technology firm ZTE Corporation and its distributor RSC to launch a financing scheme that enables consumers and small businesses to acquire ZTE smartphones with a KES 100 deposit and repay the remaining balance over 12 months. The scheme aims to increase access to affordable smartphones in Kenya, where affordability remains a significant barrier. The partnership combines ZTE's device portfolio with Mogo's flexible financing options.
Under the scheme, customers can obtain ZTE handsets, such as the Blade V80 Max, by paying a deposit as low as KES 100 and settling the remaining balance in daily instalments over a period of up to 12 months. Applications are processed in under 20 minutes, subject to verification, and repayments are managed through the Mogo mobile application. This financing model is designed to help everyday earners, entrepreneurs, and underserved consumers obtain the technology needed for digital commerce and services.
Mogo, which entered the smartphone financing market a year ago, has already seen significant uptake, with over 400 customers acquiring devices through its instalment arrangements. The company's financing scheme is part of a growing trend in Kenya, where hire-purchase and "lipa mdogo mdogo" arrangements have risen from 579,242 in 2021 to nearly 1.75 million in 2024, reflecting growing consumer appetite for instalment-based financing.
The Communications Authority of Kenya recorded 52.3 million smartphone connections as of June 2026, up from 27.4 million feature-phone connections, with smartphone uptake rising 4.2 percent between March and June while feature-phone connections fell 3.9 percent. However, affordability remains a key barrier, with a GSMA study finding that 85 percent of non-owners pointed to cost as the main obstacle.
RSC CEO Omar Abdi said the collaboration is intended to remove the upfront cost barrier and enable more Kenyans to participate fully in the digital economy. To apply for the financing scheme, applicants must present a national ID card, a six-month M-Pesa statement, and select their preferred device at a participating retailer. This financing model is expected to help bridge the gap in smartphone access and promote digital inclusion in Kenya.
The partnership between Mogo, ZTE, and RSC is part of a broader effort to increase access to affordable smartphones in Kenya. By providing flexible financing options and affordable devices, the scheme aims to promote digital commerce and services, particularly among underserved consumers and small businesses. The financing scheme is also expected to contribute to the growth of Kenya's digital economy.
The financing scheme is a significant development in Kenya's smartphone market, where affordability and accessibility remain key challenges. With its flexible financing options and affordable devices, the scheme is poised to make a positive impact on the lives of many Kenyans, enabling them to access the technology and services they need to participate fully in the digital economy.
Key points
- Mogo and ZTE have launched a financing scheme that allows Kenyan consumers and small businesses to acquire ZTE smartphones with a KES 100 deposit and repay the remaining balance over 12 months.
- The scheme aims to increase access to affordable smartphones in Kenya, where affordability remains a significant barrier, with 85 percent of non-owners citing cost as the main obstacle.
- The partnership combines ZTE's device portfolio with Mogo's flexible financing options, aiming to promote digital inclusion and bridge the gap in smartphone access in Kenya.
