Pure Digital Passion with Moses Kemibaro
Pure Digital Passion is a podcast hosted by Moses Kemibaro, a Kenyan digital marketer, tech blogger, and technology analyst. It features interviews and commentary on digital trends, technology, and innovation across Africa. The show shares African stories and perspectives on a range of digital topics and themes.
Episodes
Episode 199 - Jaza Supermarket's Willy Kimani, Visa's Anne Kinuthia-Otieno & KFC's Jacques Theunissen On The Future of Digital Commerce In Kenya
Three businesses, one Kenyan consumer, three very different answers. Willy Kimani left Naivas to build Jaza Supermarket, a neighborhood affordable supermarket chain that sells on WhatsApp. Anne Kinuthia-Otieno built Airtel Money Kenya and now runs Visa across East Africa. Jacques Theunissen turned KFC's regional franchise from 30 loss-making restaurants into more than 70. I moderated their dis
Episode 198 - Klaas Glenewinkel On Monetizing Africa's Radio Stations & Building An App To Stream African Radio
Not every episode of the Pure Digital Passion Podcast is recorded in a studio. This one was recorded a few weeks ago on a phone, audio only, at a restaurant table in Westlands, Nairobi, Kenya with Klaas Glenewinkel, Managing Director of MiCT (Media in Cooperation and Transition) in Berlin and Director of the East Africa Radio Service (EARS) in Kampala, Uganda. Seven years ago Klaas decided that ai
Episode 197 - Inside Glovo Kenya: 4x Growth, Retail Media & the Future of Commerce with Caroline Mutuku
Episode 196 - How This Is Digital Trained 800+ Professionals On AI & Became Meta's AI Training Partner In Kenya
Just over a year after launching This Is Digital, co-founders Grace Murugi and Greg Wanjama have trained more than 800 professionals, served more than 40 organisations, and reached a milestone that could significantly expand their impact: becoming Meta's AI training partner in Kenya.This episode of the Pure Digital Passion podcast was recorded in a wonderfully impromptu manner immediately afte
Episode 195 - Airtel Money Kenya’s Michael Bonke On Winning 14M More Users, Bizna Wallet & The Future Of Digital Finance
Airtel Money Kenya is entering a new chapter under Acting Managing Director Michael Bonke.In this episode of the Pure Digital Passion Podcast, I sat down with Michael shortly after Airtel Money launched its Bizna Wallet for small businesses and enhanced its cashback proposition from airtime rewards to actual cash a couple of weeks ago. We explore how Airtel Money has grown from a relatively small
Episode 194 - Produce in Shillings. License in Dollars: Jason Corder’s Plan for African Media
I met Jason Corder last week to discuss NorthSouth Media, and our meeting became what I like to call a “gangster podcast”: an informal, impromptu Pure Digital Passion conversation recorded without the usual studio production.Jason is the founder and CEO of NorthSouth Media, a Nairobi-based company building an end-to-end system for financing, producing, owning, localizing and distributing African c
Episode 193 - “This Is Just The Beginning”: Inside Djibril Tobe’s Airtel Kenya Growth Playbook
Airtel Kenya is entering a new chapter under Managing Director Djibril Tobe.In this special episode of the Pure Digital Passion Podcast, I sit down with Djibril shortly after Airtel Money launched Bizna Wallet and the “Si Ni Mi Nakushow” 50% cashback campaign earlier this week. The conversation moves beyond the product announcements to examine Airtel Kenya’s wider growth strategy across mobile mon
Episode 192 - 4 Perspectives, 1 Protection Gap: The Jubilee Health Insurance & bolttech Embedded Insurance Panel
This video captures the full "Connected to Protect" discussion panel on how health insurance can become more accessible, relevant and useful within the everyday lives of Kenyan and East African consumers.I moderated the panel during the launch of the strategic partnership between Jubilee Health Insurance and global insurtech bolttech last week. While the partnership provided the setting,
Episode 191 - Fixing The Nation On Ride Hailing Minimum Fares, Driver Welfare, & Passenger Affordability In Kenya
In this episode of NTV Kenya's Fixing The Nation, I joined Mariam Bishar, Eric Latiff and Fellaris Wambui to unpack Kenya’s growing debate around minimum fares for ride hailing.The discussion was focussed on the Business Daily's headline on Uber and Bolt drivers potentially getting more power in how fares are set, as well as broader proposed reforms that could bring ride-hailing platforms
Episode 190 - WhatsApp Usernames, Privacy, Fraud & Digital Identity: An Interview with the BBC's Nkechi Onyinyechi Ogbonna on the Focus on Africa Podcast
WhatsApp is preparing to introduce usernames that will allow people to communicate without publicly sharing their phone numbers.The feature could deliver a meaningful privacy improvement, particularly in group conversations, business interactions and chats with people who have only recently met. However, it has also raised questions about impersonation, phishing, financial fraud, mobile-money secu
Episode 189 - Africa’s Scam Economy Has Industrialized: What Telecom Operators Must Do Next
Africa’s scam economy is becoming more organised, automated and sophisticated.What was once the occasional fraudulent SMS has evolved into smishing, vishing, identity theft, business impersonation, SIM-swap-enabled account takeovers, AI-generated identity documents and deepfake voice calls.I moderated a discussion recorded at the TARS 2026 Telecom Africa Revenue Assurance & Fraud Management Su
Episode 188 - From Data-Rich to Insight-Driven: How AI Is Reshaping Retail in Kenya & Africa
Kenyan and African retailers generate enormous volumes of information through point-of-sale systems, inventory platforms, loyalty programmes, e-commerce, mobile applications, social commerce, delivery platforms and digital payments.However, much of that data remains fragmented, underused and disconnected from everyday business decisions.In this special episode of the Pure Digital Passion Podcast,
Episode 187 - The Future Of Lending In Kenya & Africa: AI, Alternative Data, Digital Identity & Automation
What does a truly future-ready African lender look like?Is it enough to launch a mobile application, automate loan approvals or introduce artificial intelligence into the credit-scoring process?Or does meaningful digital transformation require lenders to rethink the entire customer journey—from acquisition, onboarding and identity verification through credit decisioning, disbursement, repayment an
Episode 186 - CTRL + ALT + HUMAN: What a Room Full of Business Leaders Taught Me About AI and the Future of Work in Kenya & Beyond
What happens to the humans when the machines can increasingly do the work? Recorded live at the Ikigai Industry Nights event in Nairobi on the 2nd July 2026, this special episode of the Pure Digital Passion Podcast brings you the complete CTRL + ALT + HUMAN panel — as moderated by me (Moses Kemibaro), with Shikoli Makatiani (co-founder & CTO, Akili AI), Victor Ambuyo (Head of Growth, Madavi) a
Episode 185 - Building Innovation in Africa & the Middle East at Celpay & Zain: The Making of Tito Alai | Part 3
The final part of my three-part conversation with Tito Alai begins with one of the most important and least widely understood stories in African technology: the origins of Celpay.According to Tito’s first-hand account, Celtel’s mobile-money journey began with market research in Zambia. The company noticed that airtime purchased in one city was often activated in another. People were already findin
Episode 184 - Reinventing Brands Globally at Africa Online, Kodak, & Celtel: The Making of Tito Alai | Part 2
Part 1 of my conversation with Tito Alai ended just as he was leaving Unilever and joining Africa Online.Part 2 begins at that exact inflection point.After almost a decade in one of the world’s most sophisticated consumer-goods organizations, Tito deliberately moved into a young African internet business because he wanted a genuinely new learning curve.Africa Online was scaling across several mark
Episode 183 - From Kenya to Unilever’s Global Stage: The Making of Tito Alai | Part 1
I had initially planned to record one Pure Digital Passion Podcast conversation with Tito Alai. We ended up recording three.By the end of this first session, we had only managed to cover Tito’s early life, education, rise through East African Industries—now Unilever—and his move to London for international strategic responsibilities.We had not yet reached Africa Online, Kodak, Celtel, Celpay, One
Episode 182 - Akili AI’s Simon Bransfield-Garth & Shikoli Makatiani Unpack Practical AI For Businesses In Kenya
In this follow-up episode of the Pure Digital Passion Podcast, I sit down again with Simon Bransfield-Garth, Founder & CEO of Akili AI, this time joined by Shikoli Makatiani, CTO and technical lead at Akili AI.Our first conversation with Simon explored his remarkable journey from working on artificial neural networks at Cambridge in the mid-1980s, to Symbian, mobile security, off-grid solar in
Episode 181 - Farayi Ziswa On Selling To Africa’s Informal Markets, Route-To-Market Strategy & The Future Of African Retail
In this episode of the Pure Digital Passion Podcast, I had an in-depth conversation with Farayi Ziswa, Founder & Executive Director of BTL Consulting Ltd, Co-Founder of Mapepa Karatasi, Founder & Executive Coach at Inheritege Coaches, and author of Selling to Informal Markets.This is a deep and practical conversation about how African commerce actually works on the ground.Farayi shares his
Episode 180 - Creating Lasting Impact: A Conversation with Incoming Rotary International President Yinka Babalola
In this conversation recorded during the Rotary Zone 22 Regional Team Learning Seminar in Diani, Kenya, a few weeks ago, I sat down with Rotary International President-Elect Olayinka Hakeem Babalola for a deep and timely discussion about Rotary, leadership, emotional reconnection, impact, and Africa’s role in the organization’s future.For those who may not know Rotary closely, Rotary International
Episode 179 - The Current State & Future of BPO & AI In Kenya & Africa with Teleperformance's Sven De Cauter
In this recent episode of the Pure Digital Passion Podcast, I sat down with Sven De Cauter, CEO of Teleperformance (TP) Kenya and Nigeria, for a revealing conversation about the growth of one of Kenya’s most remarkable digital business services operations. From 60 employees in 2020 to over 2,500 today, TP Kenya has become a significant case study in what is possible when global scale meets local t
Episode 178 - Denis Bundi, Kenya, & the Agentic AI Era: Why Infrastructure, Not Hype, Will Decide Africa’s Future
In this episode of the Pure Digital Passion Podcast, I sat down with Denis Bundi, a Kenyan-born AI-Native business builder, engineer, and founder of Agentyc, DBX Engine, and ClawFolks, to unpack an extraordinary journey from Nairobi to Houston, Rice University, Texas Instruments, Google, Microsoft, and finally back home to Kenya. We talk about the evolution of computing, the rise of agentic AI, wh
Episode 177 - Earn in USD from Kenyan Real Estate – The TRIFIC Green USD I‑REIT with Brenda Mbathi & Pius Muchiri
Kenyans have always loved real estate – from shambas and plots to townhouses and apartments. But the classic model is capital‑intensive, illiquid, and almost always shilling‑denominated. In this episode of the Pure Digital Passion Podcast, we unpack a very different way to own prime Nairobi commercial real estate and earn in US dollars.The TRIFIC Green USD I‑REIT is an income‑generating Real Estat
Episode 176 - From Neural Networks at Cambridge to AI Governance in Kenya with Akili AI's Simon Bransfield-Garth
Simon Bransfield-Garth was writing his doctoral research on artificial neural networks at Cambridge in 1985 — forty years before most people had heard of AI. In this episode, he traces that journey through Myriad Solutions (a vector processor company that preceded the GPU era), Symbian (the smartphone OS that defined the pre-iPhone world), Cellcrypt (mobile voice security for governments worldwide
Episode 175: Kasi Insight’s Yannick Lefang On Building Africa's Leading Indigenous Decision Intelligence Company
In this episode of the Pure Digital Passion Podcast, I sit down with Yannick Lefang — Founder & CEO of Kasi Insight, Africa's leading decision intelligence company — for one of the most intellectually rich conversations I've had on this podcast.Yannick's path to founding Kasi is unlike almost any other founder story in the African technology biased ecosystem. Born in France, raised
Episode 174: Glass Houses & Glass Ceilings: Mary Njoki on Building A PR Agency & The State of PR in Africa Report
81% of African PR professionals are using AI — but are they using it right? Mary Njoki breaks it down. In this episode of the Pure Digital Passion podcast, I sit down with Mary Njoki — Founder & CEO of Glass House PR — for a wide-ranging, hour-long conversation covering her founder journey, the story behind the 2026 State of PR in Africa Report, and what the findings really mean for the indust
Episode 173: The Bolt Kenya & Ipsos Gig Economy Report Launch Media Discussion Panel
Kenya's gig economy drives over KES 100 billion in annual economic impact and supports 150,000+ jobs. Top Bolt drivers earn up to KES 400,000 monthly, with 53% citing ride-hailing as their primary income source and 98% reporting improved livelihoods. This 49-minute panel features Kenya's platform economy leaders—platform operators, policy experts, and ecosystem builders—breaking down the o
Episode 172: Actnable AI's Dharmendra Jain & Josiah Kimanzi Make African Research Faster, Smarter, & Actionable
Dharmendra Jain (Founder & CEO) and Josiah Kimanzi (Client Service Director) reveal how Actnable AI is transforming market research across Africa—from emotional response analysis to qualitative automation. Given their 30+ years running operations for Kantar/TNS across India, Nigeria, Kenya and beyond, they're now building Nairobi-rooted AI tools that fix slow fieldwork, manual analysis, an
Episode 171: Building Kenya’s & Africa’s Technology Talent with Moringa’s CEO Nikki Germany
In this episode of Pure Digital Passion, I sit down with Nikki Germany, CEO of Moringa, to explore how a girl from rural Australia — the Land of Oz — ended up leading one of Kenya's and Africa’s most impactful technology education institutions, and how Moringa is building tech talent not just for Kenya, but for the world.We talk about Nikki’s journey from Expedia and Google to Bridge International
Episode 170: A Conversation on AI, Cyber Risk & Digital Trust in Kenya & East Africa with Smartcomply’s Founder & CEO Gbemisola Osunrinde
Recorded live at Radisson Blu Nairobi – Hours before The Secure Horizon executive breakfast and the launch of Smartcomply's "AI & the Cyber Frontier" report with TechCabal on the 26th February 2026.Kenya recorded 4.5 billion cyber threat events (April-June 2025) and lost KSh 29.9 billion to cybercrime last year. As digital platforms become economic infrastructure (mobile money =
Episode 169: 30 Years In Technology, Content, & Digital Marketing | The First Tech It From Me Podcast Episode
I had a fantastic time joining Joan Anyango for the very first episode of her "Tech It From Me" podcast. We took a deep dive into what drives me from those early dial-up Internet days in 1997 to building Dotsavvy right out of my bedroom back in 2002, and now navigating the AI era that's changing everything as know it.Personal BrandingWhen Joan asked what sets me apart in this crowded
Episode 168 - Alice Ndung’u & Jacob Kyalo on the benefits of the Redington Sticker for the iPhone in Kenya
In this episode of the Pure Digital Passion podcast, I sat down with Alice Ndung’u, Head of Apple Marketing at Redington Kenya, and Jacob Kyalo, Apple Certified Trainer, to unpack everything you need to know about the Redington sticker — the black label found on Apple iPhone boxes across Kenya.We dove deep into what the sticker actually represents for consumers: a mark of authenticity, a 24-month
Episode 167: A Conversation with Martin Kigondu on the Casually Human Podcast: 25+ Years of Internet Startups, Digital Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Personal Branding & AI
I was recently a guest on the Casually Human podcast with Martin Kigondu for an in-depth and candid conversation covering my 25+ year journey in technology, digital marketing, entrepreneurship, personal branding, and the rise of Artificial Intelligence in Kenya and Africa.Hosted in the intimate upstairs space at Sugar Bowl — the creative home built by Betty Musyoki, who worked at Dotsavvy nearly t
Episode 166 - Planet Group International’s Fethi Amara On Transformational Enterprise Content Management In Africa
In this episode of the Pure Digital Passion podcast, I was joined by Fethi Amara, Senior Executive at Planet Group International (PGI), for a deep and inspiring conversation on the invisible but powerful engine behind Africa’s digital transformation: Enterprise Content Management (ECM) and Business Process Management (BPM), now enhanced with AI.Fethi shared over 30 years of experience, from Arabiz
Episode 165 - CarDuka's Steve Kahugu On Building A Trusted Digital Car Sales Marketplace For 3M Users in Kenya
In this episode of the Pure Digital Passion Podcast, I sit down with Steve Kahugu, the Chief Technology Officer at CarDuka, to unpack how one of Kenya’s fastest-growing digital car marketplaces is solving the country’s long-standing trust deficit in car buying and selling.CarDuka has grown from an online valuation platform in 2017 to a 2.5 million–user marketplace built around verification, safety
Episode 164 - ALN ATLAS 2025: Phyllis Migwi, David Bunei, & Shikoh Gitau On Building Africa’s Digital Legal Infrastructure
At the ALN ATLAS 2025 – Africa Law & Tech Symposium on the 12th November 2025, I had the privilege of moderating a panel discussion exploring one of the most important conversations of our time: How Africa can build a digital legal infrastructure that is trusted, inclusive, secure, and ready for the future.In this session, I was joined by three leaders who sit at the heart of Africa’s evolving
Episode 163 - Fuelling The Hustle: MESH CEO Anuj Tanna On Identity, AI, & The Future of Work In Kenya & Africa
In this episode of the Pure Digital Passion podcast, I sit down with Anuj Tanna, Co-Founder and CEO of MESH, for a deep dive into the platform that is fuelling Kenya's vibrant hustle economy. Anuj shares the foundational insights from his time at Telkom Kenya that led him to see the informal economy not as a problem to be fixed, but as a powerful engine to be supported. We discuss the specif
Episode 162 - Affordable eSIM Mobile Data Roaming For Kenyan & African Travellers with Mandeep Birdi & Peter Lubia
Tired of shocking data roaming bills after your travels? The eSIM revolution is here to put an end to that. In this episode of the Pure Digital Passion podcast, I sit down with Mandeep Birdi, CEO of RoamBuddy, and Peter Lubia, CEO of Flexicom Enterprises, to unpack how eSIM technology is making global connectivity affordable and seamless for travelers from Kenya and across Africa.We dive deep into
Episode 161 - Charting Africa’s Digital Transformation with Balancing Act's CEO Russell Southwood
In this episode, I sit down with Russell Southwood, CEO of Balancing Act and author of Africa 2.0 and the Africa Interconnection Report 2025, to unpack 20+ years of telecoms, internet, data centres, AI, and policy across the continent. We go from Celtel and M-PESA to today’s cloud & AI wave—and the human and cultural factors that make (or break) adoption.Chapters00:00 Intro01:30 Russell’s orig
Episode 160 - PAMRO Conference 2025 Preview: Joe Otin & Maggie Ireri On Trust, Truth & The Future of African Media
In this episode of the Pure Digital Passion Podcast, I got an exclusive preview of the landmark 25th Annual PAMRO Media Research Conference, which returns to Nairobi after a 16-year hiatus.I was joined by two industry titans and key members of the conference organizing committee: Joe Otin (CEO, The Collective & Former PAMRO President) and Maggie Ireri (CEO, TIFA Research). They discussed the c
Episode 159 - Unlocking Kenya's & Africa’s IoT Potential with Fahrettin Oylum of Teknopalas & Doğuş Teknoloji
In this episode of Pure Digital Passion, I speak with Fahrettin Oylum, the Co-Founder of Teknopalas and senior executive at Doğuş Teknoloji—two technology leaders from Turkey that are bringing their bold, future-focused vision of IoT and RFID transformation to Kenya and the wider African region.Teknopalas has been at the cutting edge of UHF RFID and IoT since 2005. Fahrettin walks us through their
![Episode 158 - Safaricom’s FY25 Annual Report Business Performance Analysis in Kiswahili [Uchambuzi wa Kina wa Utendaji wa Safaricom Kenya FY25] – A NotebookLM Audio Overview Experiment](https://d3t3ozftmdmh3i.cloudfront.net/production/podcast_uploaded_nologo/1038514/1038514-1623690874990-4d7b447740d6a.jpg)
Episode 158 - Safaricom’s FY25 Annual Report Business Performance Analysis in Kiswahili [Uchambuzi wa Kina wa Utendaji wa Safaricom Kenya FY25] – A NotebookLM Audio Overview Experiment
In this episode, I take you through my latest experiment with NotebookLM, converting my recent blog post, An In-Depth Analysis of Safaricom Kenya’s FY25 Business Performance, into a Kiswahili audio overview. This podcast delves into Safaricom’s financial highlights, strategic initiatives, and market performance over the past year, offering insights into the company’s growth trajectory and its impa
Episode 157 - Breaking Down Kenya’s National AI Strategy in Kiswahili [Mkakati wa Kitaifa wa AI wa Kenya] – A NotebookLM Audio Overview Experiment
In this episode, I share my first experiment using NotebookLM, Google’s AI-powered research and note-taking tool, to create a Kiswahili audio overview of my blog post, 30 Key Takeaways from Kenya’s Just Released National AI Strategy 2025-2030. This podcast explores the key takeaways from the Kenyan government’s ambitious AI strategy, including its KES 152 billion investment plan, and why this matt
Episode 156 - Anne Muhia's Improbable Journey From CFO In The Corporate C-Suite To Becoming A Successful Business & Entrepreneurship TikToker In Kenya
On the sidelines of the Zaumu launch yesterday, I finally met Anne Muhia in person — someone I had been introduced to virtually through a mutual friend a year or two ago. Life and packed schedules meant we never got to collaborate but meeting Anne was everything I expected — and more!For context, Zaumu is a newly launched Pan-African, creator-first digital marketplace designed to transform how bra
Episode 155 - Cedric Nzomo's Keynote From The Kenya Launch of Zaumu - Pan-African & Creator-First Content Marketplace
Yesterday, I attended the launch of Zaumu — a digital platform designed to reshape how content creators and brands collaborate, starting from Kenya but built for a Pan-African future.The event, hosted in Nairobi, featured a keynote by Cedric Nzomo, Zaumu’s Co-Founder, that felt more like an open letter to creators — a powerful and candid reflection on the challenges creators face and why Zaumu cou
Episode 154 - Rethinking Built Environment Security In Kenya: Insights from the RIANA Group Security Executives Forum 2025 Discussion Panel
On Friday, 11th April 2025, I had the privilege of moderating a high-impact panel at the RIANA Group Security Executives Forum at the Hyatt Regency Nairobi. Themed “Integrating Security from the Ground Up”, the discussion explored the vital collaboration between architects, engineers, surveyors, and security professionals in designing and delivering safer, smarter buildings.We’re in an era where t
Episode 153 - The Digital Hospitality Reset: Insights from Strathmore University's School of Tourism & Hospitality Digital Marketing & AI Roundtable
Yesterday, I had the pleasure of participating in a compelling and deeply insightful panel at Strathmore University’s School of Tourism and Hospitality, focused on how AI and Digital Marketing are transforming Kenya’s hospitality and tourism sectors.The event—hosted at the Microsoft Auditorium—was themed “Optimizing MarTech as a Strategic Tool for Business Success.” I joined a dynamic panel alongs
Episode 152 - How Citi, Visa, and Cellulant Are Transforming B2B Payments in Kenya With Citi Optimized Pay
Last week, I had the pleasure of sitting down at the Visa Innovation Studio in Nairobi 🇰🇪 with three exceptional leaders—Olivia Etyang’ from Visa 💳, Evans Toroitich from Citi 🏦, and Catherine Wangechi from Cellulant 🔗—to unpack one of the most exciting fintech collaborations I’ve come across in a long time.Together, these three premier organizations have launched Citi Optimized Pay 🚀—a bold and ti
Episode 151 - Creditinfo’s Michael Nyaga on Embedded Finance, AI, eKYC & Digital Lending As A Lifestyle In Kenya
🎙️ In this episode of the Pure Digital Passion Podcast, I sat down with Michael Nyaga, Regional Consultant for East and Southern Africa at Creditinfo Kenya, to explore how Creditinfo is transforming the onboarding journey in digital lending — starting with the launch of its next-generation eKYC platform in Nairobi.🇰🇪 Kenya is the first global market to experience this intelligent, modular Identity
Episode 150 - Creditinfo’s Rob Meakin On Digital Identity, Trust & The Future of eKYC To Fight Fraud At Scale
🎙️ In this episode of the Pure Digital Passion Podcast, I sat down with Rob Meakin, Director of Fraud & Identity at Creditinfo Group, during the official launch of Creditinfo’s new Identity | KYC | Fraud platform in Nairobi.🇰🇪 Kenya is the first global market to roll out this next-gen eKYC solution — designed to help digital lenders, banks, and fintechs verify identities, prevent fraud, and bu
Episode 149 - Creditinfo's Kamau Kunyiha on Credit Intelligence, Digital Identity & Fintech Innovation In Kenya & Africa
🎙️ In this episode of the Pure Digital Passion Podcast, I sat down with Kamau Kunyiha, the Regional CEO for East & Southern Africa and CEO of Creditinfo CRB Kenya, during the official launch of Creditinfo’s new Identity | KYC | Fraud platform in Nairobi.🇰🇪 Kenya is the first global market to roll out this next-gen eKYC solution — a modular, intelligent platform designed to tackle the biggest c
Episode 148 - A Conversation with Creditinfo's John Cannon On Scaling Trust, Fighting Fraud, & Reinventing eKYC in Kenya
In this episode of the Pure Digital Passion Podcast, I had the pleasure of sitting down with John Cannon, the Group Chief Commercial Officer at Creditinfo Global (Creditinfo), during his most recent visit to Kenya.We spoke at a pivotal moment — just as Creditinfo was officially launching its next-generation eKYC and fraud prevention platform right here in Nairobi. Kenya, as it turns out, is the fi
Episode 147 - A Long, Insightful, & Mind-Bending Conversation with Nendo's Mark Kaigwa On Kenya’s Digital Trends
Just over a week ago, I sat down with Mark Kaigwa – someone I’ve known, admired, and watched help shape Kenya’s digital ecosystem – for what turned out to be my longest podcast episode ever on Pure Digital Passion.We went deep — 1 hour and 40 minutes deep — exploring what we often get wrong, and what we’re finally beginning to get right, in Kenya’s fast-changing digital landscape.🎬 Mark Kaigwa’s O
Episode 146 - Loop's Sheila Kimani On Transforming Digital Banking In Kenya & Their Radically Different New Mobile App User Experience
In this episode of the Pure Digital Passion podcast, I had the pleasure of hosting Sheila Kimani, Chief Commercial Officer at Loop, a digital-first financial services platform from NCBA Bank Group. We unpacked Loop’s journey from a youth-targeted banking product when it launched in Kenya back in 2017 to what it has now become—a lifestyle-driven, embedded finance platform that's rapidly scaling acr
Episode 145 - Human-Centered AI, Digital Efficiency & Cybersecurity: Highlights from the Syntura Kenya CXO Breakfast Discussion Panel
On the morning of March 27th, 2025, I had the pleasure of joining fellow industry leaders at the Syntura Kenya CXO Breakfast held at the Capital Club, Nairobi, Kenya. Themed around AI, cybersecurity, and the future of the digital workplace, this private gathering brought together top executives and technology practitioners for a high-impact exchange of ideas and insights.I was honored to be part o
Episode 144 - The Digital Transformation of Insurance in Kenya & Beyond with Jubilee Health Insurance's Njeri Jomo
In the latest episode of the Pure Digital Passion Podcast, I had the pleasure of hosting Njeri Jomo, the CEO and Principal Officer of Jubilee Health Insurance (JHI). Our conversation was not only inspiring but also a deep dive into how JHI is leading Kenya’s insurance sector in digital transformation—with a particular focus on their latest innovation, J-Force.A Leader Who’s Walked the Insurance Jo
Episode 143 - Inside Jubilee Insurance's Digital Transformation & J-Force Insurance Agents App with George Makori
In my latest episode of the Pure Digital Passion Podcast, I had an insightful conversation with George Makori, the Head of Digital Innovation at Jubilee Insurance. Our discussion focused on Jubilee's ambitious digital transformation journey and how their latest innovation, J-Force, is set to revolutionize insurance distribution in Kenya.The Digital Transformation of Jubilee InsuranceFew player
Episode 142 - The Future of Selling In Kenya & Beyond: A Conversation with John Kageche of Lend Me Your Ears
Over the years, I've had the privilege of interacting with some of Kenya's most passionate sales professionals. However, few embody the art and science of selling quite like John Kageche, the Founder and CEO of Lend Me Your Ears, a leading sales training and consultancy firm.John and I go way back - almost 30 years to our days in Mombasa - when the Internet was still a novelty and email addresses
Episode 141 - The Launch of LINX Mombasa: A Conversation with Nurani Nimpuno on Expanding Kenya’s Internet Ecosystem
In this episode of Pure Digital Passion, I spoke with Nurani Nimpuno, Head of Global Engagement at LINX (London Internet Exchange), during the launch of LINX Mombasa at Bahari Beach Hotel on February 13, 2025. This conversation explores why LINX chose Mombasa as its next expansion after Nairobi, and what this means for peering, interconnection, and digital infrastructure in Kenya and East Africa.K
Episode 140 - The Digital Future of Salary Advances in Kenya: Insights from the MySalary Panel Discussion & Launch.
Last Friday, March 14, 2025, I had the privilege of moderating a panel discussion at the MySalary Launch & Experience Event at JW Marriott Nairobi. MySalary, a new fintech app developed by Little, is changing the way employees access their earnings by offering on-demand salary advances. Instead of waiting for payday, employees can now access a portion of their earned wages anytime, reducing re
Episode 139 - Eskimi's Cornelis Ouwehand On Transformative Creative-First Digital Advertising Strategies In Africa.
In this episode of the Pure Digital Passion Podcast, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Cornelis Ouwehand, Africa Sales Director at Eskimi, to discuss how digital advertising is evolving across the continent. Eskimi's transformation from a programmatic advertising platform into a comprehensive end-to-end digital advertising platform is redefining the industry. Their bold 'Don't Be
Episode 138 - Discussion Panel On AI & Workforce Empowerment From The InsurTech Forum Nairobi 2025
At InsurTech Forum Nairobi 2025, I had the privilege of moderating a highly engaging panel discussion on AI & Workforce Empowerment alongside industry leaders:Charles Washika – Director, ICT & Innovation, Co-operative Bank of KenyaGicheha Gitau – Talent Acquisition & People Analytics ExpertGeorge Hapisu – Partner, Deloitte East AfricaHere are the key insights and takeaways from our dis
Episode 137 - Eskimi's Betty Njiraini On Hyper-Localized Digital Advertising Campaigns In Kenya & East Africa
In this episode of Pure Digital Passion, I had an engaging conversation with Betty Njiraini, Regional Manager for Eskimi in East Africa, about the company’s game-changing approach to digital advertising. Eskimi is not just another DSP (Demand-Side Platform)—it is leading a creative-first revolution in programmatic advertising, blending data with innovation to create campaigns that don’t just sell
Episode 136 - A Conversation with Eskimi's Paul Thompson on Why Creativity, Not Just Data, Wins in Digital Advertising
In this latest episode of Pure Digital Passion, I sat down with Paul Thompson, Chief Commercial Officer at Eskimi, to dive deep into the company’s groundbreaking transformation in digital advertising. Eskimi is moving beyond being just a DSP—it’s now a full-stack creative and media tech platform that places creativity at the core of digital advertising.Why Creative Comes FirstPaul emphasized a cri
Episode 135 - Eskimi's Founder & CEO Vytas Paukštys On Ditching ‘Boring Digital Ads’ & Becoming A Leading Digital Advertising Platform In Africa.
Eskimi's story is one of bold pivots, relentless innovation, and a drive to redefine digital advertising. In an exclusive episode of the Pure Digital Passion Podcast, I sat down with Vytas Paukštys, Founder & CEO of Eskimi, to unpack the company's journey - from its early days as a mobile social network from Lithuania to becoming one of the most influential full-stack creative and digi
Episode 134 - An Interview with NTV Kenya's Julians Amboko on Samsung's Galaxy S25 Launch & Kenya's AI Imperative
In this episode of NTV Kenya’s Business Redefined, I sit down with Julians Amboko to discuss the Samsung Galaxy S25 Series and its transformative Agentic AI capabilities. We explore how Samsung’s AI-powered Companion AI is redefining mobile productivity and autonomy, and what this means for businesses and individuals in Kenya.
💡 Key Discussion Points:
1/ The evolution from Generative AI to Agent
Episode 133 - A Conversation with Samsung’s Evelyne Munene & Loop’s Sheila Kimani On All Things Galaxy S25
In this episode of the Pure Digital Passion podcast, I had an in-depth conversation with Evelyne Munene, Product and Marketing Lead at Samsung East Africa, and Sheila Kimani, Chief Commercial Officer at Loop, to explore the revolutionary Samsung Galaxy S25 Series and how Loop’s device financing is making premium smartphones more accessible across Kenya.
We discussed the following:
1/ The transit
Episode 132 - Insights into ICANN’s New gTLD Program and the Applicant Support Program (ASP) with Pierre Dandjinou
In an era where the internet drives commerce, education, and cultural exchange, ensuring equitable access is critical. ICANN’s New Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLD) Program and its Applicant Support Program (ASP) aim to democratize internet access, particularly in Africa.
In this exclusive episode of the Pure Digital Passion Podcast, I sit down with Pierre Dandjinou, ICANN’s Vice President for Stak
Episode 131 - The Future of Work in Kenya & Africa: Insights From My Interview With CNBC Africa's Tabitha Muthoni
Earlier this week, on Wednesday the 22nd of January 2025, I had the privilege of being interviewed remotely by Tabitha Muthoni on CNBC Africa’s Power Lunch East Africa Show. During this brief and engaging discussion, we delved into Kenya’s and Africa’s rapidly evolving labour market, focussing on the gig economy, fintech, and e-commerce sectors. These topics are particularly critical as digital tr
Episode 130 - An Interview with the BBC's Waihiga Mwaura on TikTok's Imminent Ban In The US
Last night I was a guest on the BBC News' Focus on Africa Show with Waihiga Mwaura where we had a brief but insightful conversation about the seemingly imminent banning of TikTok in the US which is due to happen tomorrow, Sunday the 19th January 2025.
In the attached video recording, we approached our conversation from a Kenyan and African perspective to better understand what the implications a
Episode 129 - Unlocking Africa’s Digital Trade Potential: Highlights From TradeMark Africa's Africa Trade Development Forum (ATDF) 2024 Discussion Panel In Kigali, Rwanda.
In this episode of the Pure Digital Passion Podcast, on the 2nd December 2024, I had the privilege of representing Dotsavvy on a distinguished panel discussion titled “I Like My Coffee Black: Trade Today and Trade Tomorrow – The Realities” during the recent Africa Trade Development Forum (ATDF) in Kigali, Rwanda.
This landmark event, jointly organized by TradeMark Africa and Rwanda’s Ministry of
Episode 128 - From the UK to Kenya: Building Kenya’s & Africa’s Digital Infrastructure Future with Ben Roberts
In this episode of the Pure Digital Passion Podcast, I sit down with Ben Roberts, one of Kenya's and Africa’s most influential technology and digital infrastructure leaders, to explore his journey and insights on technology, innovation, and education.
We start by uncovering Ben’s early years in the UK, where access to a physics lab and home computers sparked his passion for technology. He shares
Episode 127 - From Digital Education to Digital Careers: The Impact of Kenya’s Digital Hubs Initiative in Kakamega and Shianda Counties.
Last week, I had the privilege of attending the Digital Hubs Strategy Conference in Kakamega County, where Kenya’s ambitious Digital Superhighway initiative took center stage. The event marked the launch of two digital hubs at Kakamega County Polytechnic and St. Paul’s Shianda County Polytechnic, key milestones in Kenya’s journey to bridge the digital divide.
This transformative effort is driven b
Episode 126 - Teja Talks: Helping Brands Understand and Adapt to the Ever-changing Digital Environment with Andrew Barden.
On Wednesday, December 11, 2024, I had the distinct honor of being the Chief Guest at the inaugural Teja Talks Speaker Series hosted at Teja Spaces on Riverside Drive in Nairobi, Kenya. This event, organized in partnership with The Kenyan Wallstreet and Johnnie Walker, brought together a diverse audience of business leaders, professionals, and innovators to discuss the ever-changing dynamics of an
Episode 125 - AI-Ready Infrastructure and Cloud in Africa's Digital Transformation with Microsoft's Dele Akinsade
In this episode of the Pure Digital Passion Podcast, I had a great conversation with Dele Akinsade, Senior Director of Cloud Expansion at Microsoft, to explore the transformative role of cloud technology and AI in Africa’s digital economy.
From the challenges of building AI-ready infrastructure to the groundbreaking work Microsoft Azure is doing across the continent, this conversation dives deep
Episode 124 - Africa Data Centre's Dan Kwach On Their Current State & Growth Trajectory in Kenya & East Africa.
Earlier this month, I had the privilege of visiting Africa Data Centres’ NBO1 facility in Nairobi, where I sat down with Dan Kwach, the Regional Executive for East Africa, for an insightful session on the Pure Digital Passion podcast. The conversation was a deep dive into the critical role Africa Data Centres (ADC) plays in driving the region’s digital transformation and what the future holds for
Episode 123 - Mawingu's CEO Farouk Ramji on US$15M Fundraise & Tanzania Entry with Habari Acquisition.
I had the pleasure of sitting down with Mawingu’s CEO, Farouk Ramji, for an exclusive conversation on their latest milestone: a $15M fundraise and the acquisition of Tanzania’s Habari, a leading ISP based in Arusha. This move cements Mawingu’s position as East Africa’s largest ISP dedicated to rural and peri-urban markets.
Farouk shared insights into Mawingu’s disciplined expansion strategy, which
Episode 121 - Unpacking Kenya's & Africa’s Digital Transformation with Gideon Ruhara on the Kesho Insights Podcast.
I recently had the privilege of joining Gideon Ruhara on the Kesho Insights Podcast, where we explored some of the most transformative aspects of digital transformation in Kenya Africa.
From mobile technology and AI to overcoming barriers to digital transformation, we had an in-depth discussion on the opportunities and challenges shaping the continent’s digital future.
🎯 Key Topics Discussed
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Episode 122 - Adili Group's Cyber Training Arena Launch Discussion Panel: Fortifying Africa’s Digital Frontier – Empowering Cyber Resilience
I’m excited to share highlights from the panel discussion I moderated on the 12th November 2024 at the launch of Adili Group’s Cyber Training Arena, Africa’s first and only advanced cybersecurity training facility. This discussion brought together experts from key sectors to explore the challenges and advancements shaping cybersecurity in Africa.
Our Expert Panel Included:
Rosa Nduati-Mutero (ALN
Episode 120 - The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE Kenya Launch Unpacked: Insights from Samsung East Africa’s George Kebaso & Evelyn Munene.
Last week, I had the pleasure of moderating a panel discussion at the highly anticipated launch of the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE at the new Samsung brand shop in Shujaah Mall, Nairobi.
It was an insightful conversation with George Kebaso, Head of Product Marketing and Mobile Experience, and Evelyn Munene, Product & Marketing Lead at Samsung.
Together, we explored how this new device is set to re
