Nairobi, July 6 -- For more than a decade, exchanging phone numbers has been the first step in almost every Kenyan digital interaction, but WhatsApp is preparing to change this familiar routine fundamentally.

The messaging platform is introducing unique usernames that will eventually allow users to connect without revealing their mobile numbers, marking one of its biggest identity changes since launching in 2009.

The shift promises greater privacy for millions of users but also threatens to reshape how Kenyans network, verify businesses, avoid scams and even build new personal and professional relationships online.

Unlike today, where every WhatsApp account is tied directly to a visible mobile number, users will instead create unique u...