Shalom,
Victoria from Techpoint,
Here’s what I’ve got for you today:
- Egypt joins global trend on child digital safety
- Kenya rolls out green number plates for electric vehicles
- Forex crisis puts Malawi’s Malcel telco on ice
Egypt joins global trend on child digital safety
Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly convened top ministers and regulators on Monday at the government headquarters in the New Administrative Capital to push forward new rules aimed at keeping kids safer online. The high-level meeting came in response to growing concerns that social media and gaming platforms aren’t doing enough to protect children and youth from harmful content.
Madbouly said the discussions are part of sweeping presidential directives and stressed that other countries are also tightening rules to shield younger generations from digital risks. He pointed out that Egypt’s parliament is already working on a law to regulate children’s use of social media and online games and that the government will work closely with lawmakers to finalise it.
Health and Human Development Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar outlined a proposed framework that borrows ideas from international examples, with age-based content ratings, better verification, stronger parental controls and fines for platforms that don’t comply. The aim, he said, is to make Egypt’s digital space safer while reinforcing national values and preparing young people for a rapidly changing tech world.
Social Solidarity Minister Maya Morsy highlighted how harmful online content can affect children’s mental and behavioural health, and echoed global legal standards like the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in the digital environment. She also called for tech companies operating in Egypt to appoint local legal representatives who can be held accountable for breaches.
Officials agreed on the urgent need for comprehensive legislation and a national committee to build a regulatory framework with clear timelines, a move that puts Egypt in step with a growing list of countries that are now hardening laws on social media and online safety for minors.
Kenya rolls out green number plates for electric vehicles
If you spot a car with a green number plate on Kenyan roads from now on, it’s not a diplomatic vehicle; it’s electric. Kenya has officially rolled out distinctive green licence plates for electric vehicles, giving EV owners a visible badge of their low-carbon choice.
Victoria Fakiya – Senior Writer
Techpoint Digest
Stop struggling to find your tech career path
Discover in-demand tech skills and build a standout portfolio in this FREE 5-day email course
Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir announced in Nairobi during the launch of Kenya’s National Electric Mobility Policy, where he stood in for President William Ruto. All electric vehicles will now be registered with green plates, replacing the standard reflective ones used by the country’s more than 24,000 EV owners.
The plates cost KSh 3,000 to replace, and while drivers aren’t being forced to switch immediately, the government is nudging EV owners to do so over time. Chirchir admitted the move doesn’t yet come with special perks, saying the plates are mainly “good optics,” a public signal of Kenya’s push to cut carbon emissions.
Beyond the colour change, the move fits into a much bigger plan. Kenya wants electric vehicles to make up at least 5% of all new vehicle registrations by 2025, with a long-term goal of full electrification and net-zero emissions by 2050. That ambition matters because transport is one of the biggest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions globally.
Kenya is betting on its clean energy advantage to make this work. With about 90% of its electricity coming from renewables, lower EV import duties, cheaper off-peak charging tariffs, expanding charging stations, and plans to electrify the public service fleet, the green plates are less about aesthetics and more about signalling where the country’s transport future is headed.
Forex crisis puts Malawi’s Malcel telco on ice
Malawi’s plan to launch a new mobile network operator called Malcel has hit a major snag because of the country’s ongoing foreign currency crisis, the company’s CEO, Boniface Ndawala, told MBCDigital this week. The lack of access to dollars and other hard currencies has made it extremely hard for the startup to buy essential network gear from abroad, forcing it to delay its commercial launch.
The company had planned to invest over $220 million to build out its network and bring more competition to Malawi’s telecoms scene, but without reliable forex, those rollout targets were thrown off. Ndawala said Malcel has secured a co-investor to help cushion some of the financial strain, but the full rollout will still depend on when dollars become more available.
Malawi’s telecom market has long been dominated by just two players — Airtel Malawi and TNM — which has kept prices high and competition limited. A third licence was issued a few years back in hopes of shaking up that duopoly and improving services and data access for consumers, particularly outside big towns.
The currency crunch itself isn’t new: businesses across Malawi have struggled for months to get foreign exchange to import goods, parts or technology, leaving many firms operating below capacity and forcing higher costs across the economy. The problem shows up in everything from slow network upgrades at existing telcos to expensive phones on shop shelves, because imports become costlier without easy access to forex.
Malcel has kept its test network running in the capital, Lilongwe, since late 2024 to meet regulatory requirements, but its digital financial service “M-cash” platform also remains on hold until the company can access the tech and integration support it needs from abroad. In a country where mobile money already counts millions of users, a newcomer could have been a big boost for competition and financial inclusion, but for now, the launch is waiting on better economic conditions.
In case you missed it
- GoCab raises $45m to scale its drive-to-own model after hitting $17m in ARR
What I’m watching
- These 3 Habits ACTUALLY Took Me From Broke To 7 Figures | Hayley Mulenda
- Comforting Truths About Human Nature – Alain de Botton (4K)
Opportunities
- Don’t Miss the Africa Business Convention (ABC) 2026. It’s Africa’s #1 Business Conference & Investment Expo. It continues today, February 4. Book your seat today here.
- Credpal is hiring for several roles. Apply here.
- Lagos Business School is recruiting a Programme Officer (Delivery and Coordination). Submit a cover letter and your CV here.
- Kuda Technologies is looking for a Head of Product (Credit). Apply here.
- MTN Nigeria is hiring a Specialist – International Remittance (Product Manager). Apply here.
- Moniepoint is hiring for several roles. Apply here.
- Bamboo is hiring a quality assurance manager. Apply here.
- Paystack MFB is hiring for a few roles. Apply here.
- Don’t miss the Cavista Technologies Hackathon happening between February 21 and 22. Register your team and go home with cash prizes here.
- Kuda is recruiting a Head of Product (Credit). Apply here.
- Jumia is looking for a Senior Key Account Manager. Apply here.
- MTN is hiring a Specialist, International Remittance (Product Manager). Apply here.
- Moniepoint is hiring for over 100 roles. Apply here.
- We’re hosting a debate on AI in daily life. Join us to share your insights and perspectives.
- Techpoint Africa is creating a video series where people discuss and debate policies and current events. If you enjoy thoughtful conversations, fill out this form. Apply here.
- Are you building a startup can feel isolating, but with Equity Merchants CommunityConnect? You can network with fellow founders, experts, and investors, gaining valuable insights and exclusive resources to help you grow your business. Click here to join.
- Help us make Techpoint better for you! Your feedback shapes what comes next (your responses may potentially save my job. A bit dramatic, but still). It will only take 30 seconds to tell us what works and what doesn’t. Fill it here.
- To pitch your startup or product to a live audience, check out this link.
- Have any fresh products you’d like us to start selling? Check out this link here.
- Follow Techpoint Africa’s WhatsApp channel to stay on top of the latest trends and news in the African tech space here.
Have a wonderful Wednesday!
Victoria Fakiya for Techpoint Africa
