Tanzania, March 27 -- Dar es Salaam. East Africa's fintech sector is entering a new phase, with industry leaders calling for a shift from expanding access to delivering measurable economic impact across households and businesses.

While mobile money has reached between 90 and 95 percent of the population in parts of the region, stakeholders say the next frontier lies in ensuring digital financial services translate into improved livelihoods.

Speaking at the East Africa Investment Forum 2026, Bank of Tanzania Director of Financial Deepening and Inclusion Kennedy Komba said the sector is at a turning point, with progress now defined by outcomes rather than uptake.

"The real question is no longer whether people can access these tools, but ...