Mogo, has partnered with technology firm ZTE Corporation and its Kenyan phone distributor, RSC, to expand access to affordable smartphones and support more Kenyans in participating in the digital economy.
The partnership combines ZTE’s smartphone portfolio with Mogo’s flexible financing solutions, allowing consumers and small businesses to acquire quality devices without paying the full purchase price upfront.
Under the arrangement, customers can acquire selected ZTE smartphones, including the ZTE Blade V80 Max, with an initial deposit starting at KES100. The remaining amount is payable through daily instalments over a period of up to 12 months.
Applications take less than 20 minutes to process, subject to verification and approval, while customers can manage their repayments through the Mogo application.
The partnership comes a year after Mogo entered the smartphone financing market, during which it has enabled more than 400,000 Kenyans to acquire devices through instalment-based payment arrangements.
Mogo Kenya Commercial Manager for Device Financing Pat Sharleen said the partnership would make quality smartphones more accessible to everyday earners, entrepreneurs and underserved consumers.
“At Mogo, our promise is simple: to put the power of a quality smartphone within reach of every hardworking Kenyan, without the burden of paying the full cost upfront,” Sharleen said.
She added that the company aims to provide affordable and flexible financing options that enable customers to access technology that supports their daily activities and business ambitions.
RSC Chief Executive Officer Omar Abdi said the collaboration would help address the initial cost barrier that prevents many Kenyans from acquiring reliable smartphones.
“Our partnership with Mogo is about making reliable smartphones more accessible to more Kenyans. By combining ZTE’s devices with flexible financing, we aim to help customers overcome the initial cost barrier and participate more fully in an increasingly digital economy,” Abdi said.
According to the Communications Authority of Kenya, the country had 52.3 million smartphones connected to mobile networks as of June 2026, compared with 27.4 million feature phones. Smartphone connections increased by 4.2 per cent between March and June, while feature-phone connections declined by 3.9 per cent.
According to the Communications Authority of Kenya, the country had 52.3 million smartphones connected to mobile networks as of June 2026, compared with 27.4 million feature phones. Smartphone connections increased by 4.2 per cent between March and June, while feature-phone connections declined by 3.9 per cent.
Smartphones have become important tools for accessing digital services, communicating and conducting business. Small businesses and informal traders increasingly rely on them to advertise products online, reach customers, receive orders and accept digital payments.
However, affordability continues to limit smartphone ownership. A GSMA study found that 85 per cent of respondents who did not own smartphones identified cost as the main barrier.
The 2024 FinAccess Household Survey also showed growing demand for instalment-based financing, with the number of Kenyans using hire purchase or lipa mdogo mdogo arrangements rising from 579,242 in 2021 to nearly 1.75 million in 2024.