Kamusta,
Victoria from Techpoint here,
Here's what I've got for you today,
- Kenya cracks down on TikTok
- Chowdeck to let go of 86 contract staff
- Mali rolls out new taxes on telecoms and mobile money
Kenya cracks down on TikTok
The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) is taking swift action after a BBC investigation exposed child exploitation on TikTok livestreams in Kenya.
The report, published on March 3, 2025, claims that minors have been engaging in sexualised livestreams while TikTok profits from digital gifts sent by viewers. This has sparked public outrage and serious concerns over the platform’s content moderation policies.
In response, the CA has launched an urgent investigation and issued strict directives to TikTok. The regulator has demanded that all content involving child exploitation be removed immediately and has started a formal inquiry into the platform’s alleged violations. If found guilty, TikTok could face penalties under Kenyan law.
Authorities are also asking TikTok to explain how this kind of content slipped past its moderation system. Regulators want the platform to provide a clear plan for strengthening child protection measures, both under Kenyan law and international agreements. This isn’t just about enforcement, it’s about making sure children are safe online.
Beyond cracking down on TikTok, the Kenyan government is ramping up public awareness efforts. Parents and guardians are being urged to educate themselves on online safety and use available parental control tools to protect their children. This is part of a broader push to keep young people safe in the digital space.
Kenya already has strict laws on online child protection, including the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, the Films and Stage Plays Act, and the Children Act. These laws, backed by international agreements, reinforce the country’s commitment to safeguarding minors from online exploitation.
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With global scrutiny mounting over TikTok’s handling of content moderation, the pressure is on. Will the platform take stronger action to protect children, or will it face serious consequences in Kenya? The government has made it clear: it won’t hesitate to act.
Chowdeck lets go of 86 contract staff
Chowdeck is letting go of 86 contract staff after tweaking how it handles deliveries and works with restaurants. Over the past year, the operations team exploded from just 20 people in January 2024 to a massive 120 by January 2025.
But according to CEO Femi Aluko, that kind of growth wasn’t sustainable, especially since the company is trying to multiply its growth by five this year. So, they’ve cut down on manual processes and made things more efficient.
Last year, they hired a lot of contract staff to keep up with demand, but after optimising operations in the last two months, they realised they just don’t need as many people anymore. Aluko insists this isn’t a sign that the company is struggling; it’s just a move to make things run smoother. And so far, it’s working. Delivery times have dropped from 41 minutes to 33, and some teams that used to need 24 people now run fine with just two.
The affected staff got the news yesterday morning, with Chowdeck offering three months’ salary and health insurance as part of their severance. They’re also helping some find new roles elsewhere. Officially, only contract staff were let go, but some people on X aren’t buying it. They claim full-time employees were also affected.
Still, Chowdeck is growing at full speed. The company just crossed 10 million deliveries, with six million happening in just the last nine months. After raising $2.5 million in seed funding last year, it has been expanding aggressively.
Just in January, it launched in Kaduna and Owerri, and next week, it’s taking things international with a Ghana launch. A Country Manager is already in place, and they’re keeping the team small to maximise efficiency.
Despite the rapid expansion, they’re taking a careful approach. Even in Ghana, they’re only launching in Accra for now, with no plans for Kumasi or other cities yet. Aluko explains that rather than rushing into every possible location, they’d rather double down on cities where they know they’ll thrive.
With all these efficiency improvements, Chowdeck can now launch in new cities way faster. What used to take three months now happens in just a week. Case in point: their Owerri launch reportedly came together over a single weekend.
Mali rolls out new taxes on telecoms and mobile money
Mali has just introduced new taxes on telecom services and mobile money transactions, and as you'd expect, reactions are all over the place. These taxes, which kicked in on Wednesday, March 5, were initially set for February but faced a couple of delays. Now, they're affecting mobile top-ups and withdrawals, making everyday transactions a bit pricier.
So, what's the deal? Every time you top up your phone, 10% of your airtime vanishes. For instance, if you load 1,000 CFA francs ($1.64), you'll only get 900 CFA francs ($1.47) worth of airtime. On top of that, withdrawing cash via mobile money now comes with a 1% fee, doubling the cost of pulling out 10,000 CFA francs ($16.38) from 100 to 200 CFA francs ($0.16 to $0.33). According to Orange Mali, this revenue is earmarked for funding basic infrastructure and social development projects.
Telecom companies didn't waste time informing their customers about these changes. But this isn't happening in isolation. Sub-Saharan Africa's telecom sector is already heavily taxed. A 2023 GSMA report highlighted that, in 2021, the mobile sector generated 8% of the region's GDP, equivalent to over $140 billion in economic value. Despite this, significant usage (61%) and coverage gaps (17%) persist, partly due to the substantial tax burden on the sector.
Consumers aren't exactly happy. Many feel these additional costs are straining already tight budgets, especially given Mali's ongoing security, economic, and political challenges. Consumer rights groups are also voicing concerns, demanding transparency in how this new tax revenue is spent. They want assurances that the funds will indeed go toward infrastructure and social projects, rather than disappearing into bureaucratic black holes.
Adding to the skepticism, there's been a noticeable uptick in government spending. The National Transitional Council's (NTC) budget has jumped from 11.7 billion CFA francs ($19.1 million) in 2024 to 13.9 billion CFA francs ($22.7 million) in 2025, with the Transitional Presidency's budget also seeing an increase. This has people questioning whether these tax hikes are genuinely for development or just a means to bankroll higher government expenditures.
To top it off, these taxes were implemented without the NTC's approval, sidestepping the next parliamentary session slated for April 2025. Instead, the government pushed them through via an order, sparking debates about the legality of this move.
While the government insists these taxes are essential for national development, rising costs and growing public frustration mean all eyes will be on where this money actually ends up.
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Opportunities
- MTN is hiring a Manager for Customer Acquisition and Compliance in North East Nigeria. Apply here.
- Standard Bank Group is looking to fill several positions across Africa. Apply here.
- Kuda is looking for a Product Designer. Apply here.
- Vesti is hiring for several roles. Apply here.
- Paystack is hiring a Payroll specialist for Africa and Europe. Apply here.
- Lendsqr is looking for interns. Apply here.
- YC is offering summer grants this year to support undergraduate computer science and engineering students. Apply here.
- Lagos Business School has several openings. Apply here.
- IHS Towers is looking to fill different positions across Africa. Apply here.
- Kuda is hiring a content editor. Apply here.
- Selar is giving out 5 million naira in tuition support to 50 final-year Nigerian students through the Selar Tuition Fund. Apply here.
- Bamboo is looking for a Senior treasury and settlement associate. Apply here.
- Paystack is hiring for several roles. Apply here.
- Taptap Send is hiring a regional director. Apply here.
- MTN is hiring for several positions. Apply here.
- PalmPay is looking for an asset officer. Apply here.
- FairMoney is looking for Business Operations Manager. Apply here.
- Paga is hiring for several roles, including CRO, Treasury Manager, and Doroki Growth Manger. Apply here.
- AltSchool Africa is hiring several instructors. Apply here.
- Moniepoint is hiring for several roles. Apply here.
- Celebrate the New Year with delightful stories like Smart Couples. Call 421 on your Airtel line now — you won't be charged! Alternatively, call 07080601391 at your network's regular rate. Learn more here.
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Have a fun weekend!
Victoria Fakiya for Techpoint Africa.
