By 
A Digital Solution For Harambees
The impact of Nobuk Collect has been remarkable.
In just over a year, the platform has empowered more than 800 communities, facilitating the collection of over KES 50 million.
Pooling funds for a common cause is an age-old practice, but so are the challenges that come with managing these contributions transparently.
Like many Kenyans participating in chamas or using WhatsApp to organize family contributions, Elvis Bando faced recurring issues—poor communication and a lack of financial transparency.
“There were cases of fraudulent messages being sent, and the treasurer stopped providing regular reports. By the time statements were shared, discrepancies had already surfaced, leaving us questioning what was really going on,” he recalled.
A Digital Solution For Harambees
With a background in software development, Elvis saw an opportunity to solve this problem through technology.
In 2022, he co-founded Nobuk, a digital platform aimed at enhancing transparency, accountability, and efficiency in community fundraising.
The name “Nobuk” reflects its core mission—eliminating traditional accounting books and replacing them with a fully digital system.
“Nobuk is an app available on both web and mobile—Android and iOS. Our goal is to do away with physical record-keeping entirely,” Elvis explained.
This vision led to the creation of Nobuk Collect, the platform’s flagship product designed to streamline the process of collecting funds from multiple contributors.
Unlike traditional fintech platforms that store money, Nobuk operates differently.
It does not hold any funds; instead, all contributions go directly to the group’s designated bank account, paybill, or till number.
Nobuk’s platform simply records and tracks these transactions, ensuring seamless reconciliation.
A standout feature of Nobuk is its integration with WhatsApp, the widely used messaging platform.
Whenever a payment is made, it is automatically recorded, and a notification is sent to the group’s WhatsApp chat, ensuring real-time updates and full transparency.
The response to Nobuk Collect has been overwhelmingly positive. In just over a year, it has facilitated transactions for nearly 20,000 users, proving its effectiveness in simplifying community fundraising. “The growth has been exciting,” Elvis shared. “Seeing how much trust users have placed in our platform has been truly encouraging.”
A year after its launch, Nobuk was selected for the Spark Accelerator Program, a Safaricom initiative designed to scale promising businesses.
The program has been instrumental in refining Nobuk’s business model and ensuring its long-term sustainability.
“The Spark Accelerator has been invaluable,” Elvis noted. “Beyond funding, it has provided essential training on HR, investment, due diligence, and overall business management. It has also connected us with advisors and partners we wouldn’t have accessed on our own.”
While Nobuk’s primary focus remains on strengthening its presence in Kenya, the company has long-term plans for expansion across Africa.
However, Elvis emphasized the importance of establishing a solid foundation first.
“We want to cement our position in the Kenyan market before scaling further,” he said. “Right now, our priority is embedding ourselves deeply within this ecosystem. Once we’ve built a strong base, we’ll be ready to expand beyond Kenya.”
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