OPPO Kenya has partnered with asset financier MOGO Kenya to roll out installment-based smartphone payment plans, a move aimed at expanding access to mid- and high-tier devices in one of Africa’s fastest-growing mobile markets.
The agreement introduces “lipa mdogo mdogo” financing options across OPPO’s retail network, allowing customers to acquire devices through structured installment plans rather than upfront payments. The initiative comes as smartphone penetration deepens in Kenya but rising handset prices continue to limit access for lower- and middle-income consumers.
Kenya has more than 42 million smartphone users, according to industry estimates, with demand driven by mobile money usage, e-commerce and content creation. Still, affordability constraints have widened as global supply chain pressures and currency volatility push device prices higher.
Under the partnership, customers visiting participating OPPO stores will be able to apply for MOGO-backed financing on-site, with repayment plans tailored to income cycles. The companies did not disclose financial terms of the agreement.
For OPPO, the arrangement offers a pathway to boost sales volumes and deepen customer loyalty in a competitive market dominated by price-sensitive buyers. Flexible credit models have increasingly become a lever for smartphone brands seeking to maintain growth without aggressive discounting.
“Removing affordability barriers is central to expanding digital participation,” Fredrique Achieng, public relations manager at OPPO Kenya’s authorized distributor, said in a statement, adding that the collaboration aligns with the company’s strategy to broaden access to its devices.
MOGO, which operates locally as part of Latvia-based Eleving Group, has positioned device financing as a core growth segment. The lender says it has financed more than 100,000 smartphones in Kenya since launching the product, alongside loans for motorcycles and vehicles targeting micro-entrepreneurs.
“Flexible financing models are critical as smartphones become essential tools for income generation,” said Fred Muoka, head of sales for device financing at MOGO Kenya.
The partnership underscores how handset makers and non-bank lenders are converging to capture growth in East Africa’s digital economy, where access to affordable hardware remains a bottleneck despite widespread mobile connectivity.
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