Chinese mobile phone maker Lenovo launched the most affordable 4G smartphone in the Kenyan market on Thursday.
Danish Oyugi, the business head of Lenovo East Africa, said at a press conference in Nairobi that there is growing demand for smartphones, with consumers looking to upgrade the features of their phones.
"We are trying to give Kenyans an opportunity to own high-end phones that are affordable," Oyugi said at the press conference.
Lenovo has smartphones for as low as $50.
The multinational company is betting that there will be a rise in usage of 4G technology and Internet usage by younger people in Kenya, and that this will be enough to fuel its smartphone business.
Oyugi said that Lenovo hopes to use innovative marketing strategies to capture at least 10 percent of the smartphone market in the next six months.
He added that the company is concentrating on making smartphones in the $50-$300 price segment, which accounts for half of all smartphones sales in Kenya.
Lenovo already has a strong presence in Tanzania and Ethiopia, with plans to enter the larger East and Central African region.
Head of Operations for Middle East and Africa of Lenovo Business Mobile Group Sharay Shams said that the company is optimistic in the success of the mobile phone business in the East African region.
"Kenya is without doubt the gateway into East Africa, and we are keen on building on our success in the PC business as we get more Lenovo smartphones into the market," said Shams.
Globally, Lenovo is the number one PC maker and among the top five smartphone makers.