Pioneering Africa: Inside smartphoner company founded by Charlene's bae Isaya
This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.
- Isaya Yunge, the Tanzanian entrepreneur who got engaged to Charlene Ruto on August 8, founded Goodsam Technologies in 2019
- Yunge's company markets the REX 300 as Africa's first affordable premium smartphone, built for ordinary consumers across the continent
- Beyond hardware, Yunge is pushing a broader vision that includes AI tools, grassroots distribution agents and mobile financing for the unbanked
When Isaya Yunge walked into President William Ruto's family farm in Naserian Village, Kilgoris, Narok County on August 8, 2026, to complete the traditional Kalenjin engagement ceremony known as Koito with Charlene Ruto, he arrived not just as a suitor but as a man with a mission that predates his relationship with the President's daughter by several years.
Yunge, born in Tanzania in 1990, had a childhood shaped by hardship.
He was largely raised by his grandmother, moved between foster families and herded animals while finding ways to stay in school. Yet by the age of 17, he had become a UNICEF Africa Youth Ambassador and went on to become the first African Junior 8 delegate to address the G8 Summit in Germany in 2007.
Forbes Africa named him to its 30 Under 30 list in 2017, and Queen Elizabeth II presented him with the Queen's Young Leaders Award in 2018.
What is Goodsam Technologies?
Yunge founded Goodsam Inc in 2019 in Dar es Salaam, with a goal that goes well beyond selling budget phones.
The company describes its ambition as building an indigenous African digital ecosystem, targeting consumers who have historically been priced out of quality technology.
Its flagship product, the REX 300, is marketed as Africa's first affordable premium smartphone.
The handset features a 6.5-inch HD+ IPS LCD display, an octa-core processor, a 5,000mAh battery with USB-C charging, 4GB of RAM and storage options of 64GB or 128GB.
It supports dual SIM cards and 4G LTE connectivity, running on an optimised Android platform.
Assembly is linked to technology hubs in Shenzhen and Sichuan in China, while the company operates across East Africa and the United States.
What is the vision for Goodsam Technologies
Yunge's stated vision extends well beyond the device itself. Goodsam is developing localised AI applications designed for African contexts, covering areas such as education, agriculture and digital commerce.
For customers who cannot afford upfront payments, the company offers Pay-As-You-Go financing and microcredit options aimed specifically at people outside traditional banking systems.
One of the more distinctive features of the Goodsam model is what Yunge calls the Shangazi Agent Network, a grassroots structure in which local community members are trained as sales and after-sales support agents.
The model is designed to reach rural and underserved areas, create local employment and reduce reliance on conventional retail chains.
Watch the video below:
What did Isaya say after getting engaged to Charlene
The engagement ceremony in Narok County drew prominent Kenyan political figures and Cabinet Secretaries.
Following the event, Yunge described Charlene as a "great blessing."
The union attracted wide attention given Yunge's Tanzanian roots and Charlene's standing as the daughter of the Kenyan head of state.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
Reporting originally appeared via TUKO. Read the full source for additional context.