Nairobi, March 4 -- The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has allowed the Nairobi-based arm of Indian multinational Zoho to provide electronic signature services in the country, intensifying competition in the space.

The software as a service (SAAS) company got the CA's nod this week to roll out Zoho Sign on the Kenyan market, allowing its clientele to digitally sign contracts without the need for paperwork. This is a step closer to ending the oligopolistic nature of the digital signature service business, which so far has only four licensed providers in Kenya.

The CA approval follows Zoho's partnership with Tendaworld, one of the four firms currently licensed by CA to operate as electronic certification service providers, allowing...