Overflows of Technological Innovation in Emerging Economies: The Case of M-Pesa

This paper contributes to the debate on technological innovation in the domain of emerging economies. Using the example of M-Pesa, the well-known m-banking application developed in Kenya, we argue that technological innovation in emerging markets should be seen as arising from an assemblage of actors in which context matters. We develop this argument by drawing on concepts from the sociology of markets. Through our detailed empirical analysis of the career of M-Pesa in Kenya, we propose that innovation in this case is emergent, highly provisional and politically constituted. Overall we provide insights into the non-technological issues critical to technological innovation in emerging economies. We will conclude by discussing the implications for future mobile technological innovation specifically and technological innovation more broadly in emerging economies.