Kenya’s National Fire Brigades Association (KENFIBA) has become the first labor union in the country to adopt Bitcoin as part of its financial reserves.

The initiative was announced on ‘X’ during the Africa Bitcoin Conference in Nairobi on 11 December 2024.

The announcement was made by ‘Proof of Workforce,’ a non-profit organization focused on helping unions and workers adopt Bitcoin.

KENFIBA (Kenya National Fire Brigade Association) becomes the first Kenya government organization to hold Bitcoin in its balance sheet courtesy of @Beiwatch1 pic.twitter.com/W94RTMKrq9

— Rufas Kamau (@RufasKe) December 11, 2024

Dom Bei, founder of ‘Proof of Work,’ congratulated the team behind the African Conference. Bei said that Kenya, along with the  African continent, will continue to lead in the adoption of Bitcoin.

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What Are The Benefits Of Adding BTC To Reserve?

The bitcoin donation was transferred to KENFIBA’s custody during the Africa Bitcoin Conference. It is reportedly intended to improve emergency response systems, member recruitment, and overall operational efficiency within the organization.

Magdalena Gronowska, an advisor for Proof of Workforce, elaborated on the benefits of the Bitcoin reserve.

According to him the initiative would not only enhance KENFIBA’s emergency response capabilities but also provide its leadership and members with access to education, tools, and resources from Kenya’s Bitcoin ecosystem.

This includes collaborations with local Bitcoin developers, such as Noelyne Sumba and Jodom Konami, who will support the union in utilizing the cryptocurrency effectively.

KENFIBA’s leadership, which includes CEO Bernard Omwono and Secretary General Francis Omolo, expressed optimism about the initiative, emphasizing its potential to modernize and streamline operations.

Moreover, the Proof of Workforce Board of Directors and its resources is expected to remain available to KENFIBA along their Bitcoin journey.

However, as soon as the news of KENFIBA’s adoption of Bitcoin came out, questions were raised about its status as the first labor union in Africa to hold the cryptocurrency.

James Otudor, a user on ‘X,’ claimed that an academic staff union at a federal university in Nigeria had already implemented a Bitcoin reserve as part of their non-compulsory contributions for members.

“Great but definitely not first in Africa. I have a group of Academic Staff Union of University in a popular federal university in Nigeria who keep bitcoin on their balance sheet as part of their non compulsory contributions for over 7 months now. They just shared the proceeds,” he said.

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Bitcoin Adoption Reflects Broader Crypto Trends In Africa

The Africa Bitcoin Conference also tweeted that, “the KENFIBA leadership will have access to visionary Bitcoin builders in Kenya.” This includes assistance from Noelyne Sumba and Jodom Konami, both local Kenyans building in the Bitcoin ecosystem, in providing the union and its members with tools, education, and resources.

Countries like Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa have already introduced policies to light up innovation in these fields.  Meanwhile, countries such as Egypt, Algeria, and Rwanda have launched national programs dedicated to Artificial Intelligence (AI). 

Kenya has embraced blockchain and cryptocurrency as part of its efforts to modernize industries and improve financial inclusion. In the context of Kenya’s Cryptocurrency market, the number of users is projected to reach 733.30k users by 2025. 

Nigeria maintained its position as a top global player on the Global Adoption Index, ranking second worldwide, while Ethiopia (26), Kenya (28), and South Africa (30) also made the top 30.

Roughly 40% of the African continent’s population is 15 or younger and demographically constitutes 27% of the world’s population. Forecasts call for Africa’s digital economy to grow as much as 600% by 2050.

The economic outlook across the continent looks set for quick expansion, with growth expected at roughly 3.7 percent in 2024 and 4.3 percent in 2025.

Meanwhile. the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) region ranks as the seventh-largest crypto market globally in 2024, with an estimated $338.7 billion in on-chain value received between July 2023 and June 2024, accounting for 7.5% of the world’s total transaction volume.

 

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