(Nairobi) – M-Kopa, the financial and technology company known for affordable smartphone solutions, has announced a milestone of over 1.5 million smartphones assembled at its facility, East Africa Device Assembly Kenya (EADAK), based in Nairobi. Since beginning operations in January 2023, EADAK has emerged as the largest smartphone assembly plant in sub-Saharan Africa, marking a significant step in the continent’s technology manufacturing capacity.
EADAK was established through a partnership between M-Kopa and Human Mobile Devices (HMD), with the objective of supporting local manufacturing and enhancing digital connectivity. M-Kopa Kenya’s General Manager, Martin Kingori, emphasized that the facility demonstrates the company’s dedication to making quality, affordable smartphones available to millions across Kenya. According to Kingori, this initiative is not only about producing smartphones but also about expanding digital access for more Kenyans.
In its recently released 2024 Annual Impact Report, M-Kopa highlighted its success in reaching over five million customers in Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa. By providing these customers with affordable access to smartphones, M-Kopa has unlocked $1.5 billion in credit, advancing its mission of promoting digital and financial inclusion throughout Africa. Over the past year alone, M-Kopa has gained two million new customers across its active markets, reflecting the rising demand for digital access on the continent.
The Nairobi-based assembly facility has also had a positive impact on Kenya’s economy, contributing to the creation of skilled technology jobs, especially for Kenyan youth. These opportunities represent M-Kopa’s investment in fostering local talent and supporting economic growth through the technology sector.
Earlier in 2024, M-Kopa and HMD celebrated the successful release of the M-Kopa X20 model, marking a key milestone as the company reached its first million locally assembled smartphones. M-Kopa’s assembly facility has since continued to expand production, with a target of producing 10 million smartphones in Kenya by 2027. This long-term goal builds on M-Kopa’s sales history, having sold over 3.3 million smartphones in Kenya since 2020.