Kenyans will soon be able to buy smartphones on Jumia without paying the entire cost upfront, following a financing partnership with Watu Credit.
The arrangement introduces Buy-Now-Pay-Later options, allowing payments through daily, weekly, or monthly instalments via mobile money.
The move is aimed at easing both affordability and accessibility.
Despite smartphone penetration being estimated at 80 per cent, many people still use basic devices that limit access to modern services.
By financing brands such as Samsung, the two companies hope to give more Kenyans the chance to own dependable smartphones considered vital for education, healthcare, commerce, and social interaction.
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Watu Credit’s Country Manager, Erick Massawe, highlighted that smartphones have become necessities rather than luxuries and explained that their instalment model makes it easier for customers to pay gradually while building a credit record.
“Access to affordable smartphones is no longer a luxury, but a necessity. Our financing model allows customers to pay as they go, while building a credit history and unlocking opportunities to grow their income and digital skills,” Massawe said.
The financier added that it has adopted technology to ensure responsible lending, pointing to its IoT-based software that locks devices whenever payments are overdue.
Customers make their instalments through mobile money, a system Watu says has enabled it to finance nearly two million devices since 2022, creating measurable social and economic change.
Jumia’s East Africa Regional CEO, Vinod Goel, explained that smartphones remain some of the most popular products on the platform and that the partnership will help more Kenyans participate in the digital economy.
“Smartphones are among our top-selling products. By partnering with Watu, we can expand access to connected devices, making it easier for Kenyans to participate in the digital economy. Over time, we aim to make the entire process seamless and fully online,” Goel stated.
The programme will begin with Jumia agents assisting customers through the initial stages of financing.
A wider roll-out is expected to follow, giving buyers the ability to choose devices at checkout, complete digital know your customer (KYC) requirements, and have their phones delivered directly to their homes.
Both firms framed the collaboration as part of a wider effort to close Kenya’s digital divide.
They said that reliable smartphones can help small traders expand income, support students with access to online learning, and strengthen family connectivity.
By combining Jumia’s marketplace with Watu Credit’s financing model, the companies presented smartphones not simply as gadgets, but as tools of economic and social empowerment.
