Sun King launches EZ 3 smartphone in Kenya with KES 2,299 deposit + KES 55 daily payments

Sun King, the off-grid solar startup, now manufactures smartphones in Kenya, launching the EZ 3 model requiring a KES 2,299 ($18) deposit and KES 55 ($0.43) daily for 365 days—totaling KES 22,374 ($173). The phone remains locked until payments complete via the device's lock screen, Sun King app, SIM Toolkit, or USSD, giving the lender control if payments stop.

This expands Sun King's PayGo model into Kenya's financed-device market, directly competing with M-KOPA and Watu. The EZ 3 offers a cheaper daily rate than their earlier EZ 1 (KES 2,999 upfront + KES 60/day) and competitors like Tecno Pop 10 (KES 2,799 upfront + KES 55/day). Sun King's Tatu City factory (north of Nairobi) produces up to 700,000 units yearly, assembling phones and solar TVs.

The move targets micro-entrepreneurs who rely on phones for business—GSMA found 86% of African male and 79% of female micro-entrepreneurs used mobile phones for work in 2024, while a 2026 Nairobi study showed smartphone-based POS apps improved record-keeping and sales. "A good phone should not need a large sum of money on one single day," said Victor Agandi, Sun King's VP for PayGo in East/Southern Africa.

For Nigerian traders and artisans, this highlights growing accessible financing options—but note full ownership only after 365 days of payments. Will you consider such daily-payment smartphones for your business despite the long-term commitment, or prefer saving for outright purchase?

SOURCE: https://techcabal.com/2026/09/04/sun-king-takes-on-m-kopa-in-kenyas-financed-phone-market/