Telecommunications services provider Safaricom has partnered with Tecno Kenya to launch the Tecno Phantom 6s smartphone to the Kenya market, making the East African country the first on the continent to receive the device following its recent global launch.

The Phantom 6s is marketed as Tecno's flagship smartphone that features dual camera set-up, a wide-angle selfie camera and all-day battery, according to developers.

The battery is said to provide 124 minutes of talk time and 30 minutes of high-speed 4G internet after 10 minutes of charging.

"As we continue to leverage the power of our partnerships to the benefit of our customers, I am pleased that this device will unlock the ability for more customers to access our growing 4G network," said Steve Okeyo, Director, Regional Operations, Safaricom.

Okeyo said the launch of the device represents a commitment from both partners to provide affordable 4G devices and enable customers upgrade to 4G and "boost more usage of the technology which allows customers to access a wide variety of services from the network."

Developers highlight other features of the phone, including the ability to unlock the phone using biometric eye pattern recognition, as well as earphones that can be customised to offer varying levels of bass.

"Mobile consumers in Kenya and other emerging mobile device markets have not seen anything like the Phantom 6 series. This smartphone took three years in the making and the global expertise of over five hundred engineers to deliver right on schedule," said Tecno Regional Director East Africa, Livingstone Migwi.

The phone is loaded with a version of Android 6 Marshmallow that has been optimised to run more smoothly and provide better power saving with the "doze" mode.

According to Tecno the Phantom 6s is available exclusively at Safaricom retail shops until mid-October at a retail price of Ksh. 26,999.

Tecno says it aims to sell 500 units in the first week and a further 10,000 units in the next 3 months.

Regional media have quoted statistics from the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) which state that the country is home to approximately 38 million active mobile numbers, and as at the end of the July - September 2015 quarter, mobile penetration was at 88,1% with 37,8 million subscribers.