Author: Alfred Onyango

Most Kenyan employers to freeze hiring in 2025 despite economic optimism – CBK survey Apr 26, 2025

Notably, the gloomy employment outlook is against the backdrop of recent reports of recovery in the country’s macroeconomic environment and declining...

Kenyan shilling, Africa’s best-performing currency in 2024 - World Bank Apr 25, 2025

The local currency appreciated by 20 per cent against the global benchmark, the US Dollar, over the year, marking the highest gain across the region.

Banks face additional reporting rules as sector moves to spur green credit growth Apr 25, 2025

The push seeks to disclose data under the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) S1 and S2, steered by the Kenya Bankers Association (KBA)...

Trump’s protectionist tariffs dent global economic growth prospects to 2.8 per cent Apr 24, 2025

Were it not for the tariffs, the lender says the global economic growth would have seen only a modest cumulative downgrade of 0.2 percentage point, to...

Kenya on the verge of agreeing with US to scrap 10% import tariff - PS Mukhwana Apr 23, 2025

He added that Kenya hopes the agreement will be extended to ensure the continuation of a strong bilateral relationship, noting the urgent need to fina...

Kenya unveils new manufacturing blueprint to double exports by 2028 Apr 23, 2025

Spearheaded by the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) in partnership with the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry, the strategy seeks to...

Rwanda overtakes Kenya to become second freest economy in EAC Apr 22, 2025

The Index by the economic think-tank The Heritage Foundation ranks Rwanda second in the bloc, with an economic freedom score of 54.8, behind Tanzania,...

Earth Day marked as global risks report warns of escalating environmental threats Apr 22, 2025

This year’s Earth Day theme, ‘Our Power, Our Planet’, draws attention to the shared responsibility to protect the planet and the immense influence ind...

Kenyan shilling rebounds with 14 per cent year-on-year gain in Q1, 2025 Apr 19, 2025

In real figure terms, the 14 per cent gain during the quarter means importers in the country were spending Sh14 less to buy a dollar for importation c...

Job loss fears surge as state shuts 62 companies in latest purge Apr 19, 2025

The Registrar of companies has earmarked a further 101 companies for closure in the coming 3 months unless a valid reason is given to prevent the diss...

Sudan conflict enters third year as UN warns of aid collapse, deepening refugee crisis Apr 18, 2025

With millions displaced and countless more in dire need of humanitarian support, UNHCR says current aid funding stands at less than 10 per cent of wha...

Kenya's small-scale farmers to benefit from Sh10.9 billion funding boost Apr 18, 2025

The funding initiative aims to enhance food security and sustainability for the country’s growing population amid increasing threats posed by climate...

US aid cuts threaten youth development gains globally, study warns Apr 18, 2025

The impact goes beyond healthcare, with experts now warning that the cuts will significantly affect youth development, a critical yet often overlooked...

Renewable energy surges to record highs but remains off track for 2030 goals – Report Apr 17, 2025

According to IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera, renewables keep breaking their own expansion records each year, but there are challenges of g...

DIB Bank Kenya opens 7th branch in South C, Nairobi Apr 16, 2025

The lender also said the launch reinforces its commitment to providing accessible Shariah-compliant financial solutions in the country.

Why only 2% of Kenyan startups grow into large businesses Apr 15, 2025

Kenyan SMEs were urged to brace for impact and rethink strategy amid the prevailing tariff wars.

Experts urge swift adoption of clear food products labelling to warn of harmful ingredients Apr 12, 2025

Front-of-pack labelling refers to a system that places nutritional information directly on the front of packaged food products, intended to provide co...

Climate change, AI to drive power demand over the next 2 years, IEA Report shows Apr 12, 2025

The findings by the International Energy Agency suggest the twin trends will eclipse the traditional focus on universal electrification as the primary...

Trade between African countries up 8pc to Sh27 trillion in 2024, report shows Apr 11, 2025

Despite the positive growth and outlook, Afreximbank says Africa's trade landscape remains vulnerable to global price volatility and external shocks,...

Symbolism over true actions: Why Kenya's disability inclusion progress stagnates Apr 11, 2025

UNDP says individuals with disabilities in the country continue to face significant challenges in accessing essential services, securing employment an...

Kenya Dairy Board launches four-year initiative to transform informal dairy sector Apr 09, 2025

Dubbed ‘MoreMilk2’, the programme initially covers the counties of Uasin Gishu, Nakuru and Nyandarua and is being implemented in collaboration with th...

150,000 more customers targeted under phase 6 of Last Mile power project Apr 08, 2025

The customers, comprising households and MSMEs, will be spread across 45 counties, except Nairobi and Mombasa.

CBK slashes lending rate to 10.0%, narrows its interest corridor for stability Apr 08, 2025

The slash is a 75 basis points cut and the fifth consecutive one from the decade high rate of 13 percent.

Kenya faces increased trade imbalance with US amid new 10% export tariff - KAM Apr 05, 2025

Data from the office of the United States trade representative shows that the US total goods trade with Kenya stood at $1.5 billion (Sh193.9 billion)...

CBK unveils green businesses' classification tools to unlock more climate funding Apr 05, 2025

CBK says the models will play a key role in unlocking sustainable finance and stimulate the allocation of capital to support a climate-resilient econo...

Private sector activity rises to 10-month high in March Apr 04, 2025

The Stanbic Bank Kenya Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), which gauges the level of private sector activities, rose to 51.7 from 50.6 in February.

Report: East Africa to power Africa’s economic growth in 2025 Apr 04, 2025

East Africa’s projection is an upgrade from 4.4 per cent in the previous year, with the lender backing agriculture and services sectors as the main dr...

Kenya announces 50% duty waiver on importation of yellow maize Apr 04, 2025

The move aims to stabilise ‘unga’ prices while easing pressure on the limited maize grain stocks in the country.

Lee: Trump's new tariff policy brings challenges and opportunities for Kenya Apr 04, 2025

Since May 2000, Kenya has been exempted from tariffs when exporting to the world's largest economy under the African Growth and Opportunity Act which...

Developers face scrutiny over safety of high-rise buildings after Myanmar quake Apr 03, 2025

The World Economic Forum recommends that buildings be fitted with "base isolation" systems to separate the building from its foundations using springs...

Kenya to benefit from Sh6.5 billion funding to tackle hunger in schools Apr 03, 2025

The approval of the kitty follows the lender’s visit to Kenya’s Food4Education programme in March, an initiative intended to end classroom hunger by s...

Increased food prices push March inflation to 3.6% Apr 02, 2025

The record marks the fifth consecutive month of rising inflation since October last year.

Kenya embraces e-mobility as global electric vehicle sales surge Apr 02, 2025

Kenya is following the global trend with a sharp increase in electric vehicle and motorcycle adoption.

Relief for Kenyans as food prices drop in March after months of rising costs Apr 01, 2025

The March edition of food security update by the World Bank shows a drop in the agricultural, cereal and export price indices by 8, 4 and 11 percent,...

Frequent commodity price shifts impacting household budget plans - Study Mar 31, 2025

With the trend largely attributed to manufacturers and suppliers, these fluctuations may reflect the challenges faced by the industrial sector in the...

Kenya’s food insecurity to worsen further as global 2030 zero hunger goal falls short Mar 30, 2025

FAO notes that the progress towards the broader goal of ensuring regular access to adequate food for all has stalled, highlighting the need to re-look...

Why Kenya is currently not the best destination choice for investors - KAM Mar 28, 2025

KAM says the country’s business environment is rallying behind its aforementioned neighbours in critical industry aspects such as the cost of producti...

Government rolls out new e-procurement system to curb corruption Mar 28, 2025

The Exchequer therefore noted that suppliers, contractors, and consultants should self-register on the e-GP portal.

Kenya’s power imports double in 6 months on low wind, solar output Mar 27, 2025

The highest energy imports were recorded in November at 134.18 GWh, while the lowest occurred in July at 106.11 GWh.

Kenyans connected to the grid hit 9.8 million in December 2024, Epra says Mar 27, 2025

However, the record of new customer connections is a decline compared to the same period in the previous financial year, which recorded a total of 260...

Kenya not likely to attain debt sustainability until after 2029 – Treasury Mar 26, 2025

CBK data shows Kenya's public debt hit Sh10.027 trillion in the last week of June 2023, effectively breaching the then statutory debt ceiling which wa...

Treasury CS John Mbadi addresses concern over budget cuts to counties Mar 26, 2025

Mbadi said the claim that the National Treasury was diverting funds was completely out of tune with the normal budgetary process.

Insurance fraud up 45% in Q3 2024, motor industry lead surge - regulator Mar 25, 2025

Most cases emanated from the motor industry, with fraudulent motor accidents recording 16 cases, up from two in the previous corresponding quarter.

Why employers must prioritise workers' happiness Mar 23, 2025

Ideally, a satisfied, happy and engaged workforce tends to produce higher quality work, fosters creativity and is more likely to contribute positively...

Kenya ranks among top most benevolent nations globally, but police fall behind in acts of kindness Mar 22, 2025

The national average frequency of Kenyans engaging in donations placed the nation at position 24 out of 147 countries globally.

Government’s inequality solutions not doing enough - World Bank report Mar 22, 2025

Despite the combination of wealth tax and redistribution policies over the past years, the levels of poverty are still high, continuously extending th...

Kenyans’ happiness levels drop for second year running in 2025 Mar 22, 2025

The annual World Happiness Report 2025 edition, ranks Kenya at position 115 out of 147 surveyed countries.

First-ever data tool to shape Kenya's environmental policy guidelines Mar 21, 2025

Data by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction shows an estimated three to four million Kenyans are affected annually by natural and human-made dis...

TikTok now allows parents to see, block their teens’ followers Mar 19, 2025

Among the new additional updates on the feature is the Expanded Family Visibility, which enables parents to track who their teen follows, see who foll...

Government urged to boost investment in organic farming for sustained production Mar 19, 2025

Amudavi emphasised that Kenya is one of the top six African countries, out of the ten, that have expanded their land acreage dedicated to organic agri...

US-China trade war threatens global science and research collaboration Mar 19, 2025

WEF, in its deliberations, reiterates that the ripple effects of these tensions are expected to extend far beyond the two nations, affecting other cou...

Kenyans in diaspora sent home Sh5.8 billion less in February on strong shilling Mar 16, 2025

The US remained the largest source of remittances to Kenya, accounting for 53 per cent in the month under review.

Kenya’s economic growth to be powered by women and diaspora remittances -Report Mar 14, 2025

It says the prospect will be supported by a robust remittance ecosystem from Kenyans living abroad and high female labour force participation, which c...

Hopelessness as only 4pc of unemployed Kenyans actively engage in job search Mar 14, 2025

The report says job search efforts for women, particularly mothers, are significantly hindered by childcare responsibilities thus limiting their activ...

Africa dragging growth in global food production despite vast potential – WB Report Mar 14, 2025

The findings come against the backdrop of concerns over the ability of current agricultural production to meet current and future food demand as the p...

Money agents transactions by Kenyans hit Sh8.7 trillion in 2024 - CBK Mar 13, 2025

Mobile transactions jumped 9.3 per cent from the previous year’s total of Sh7.95 trillion.

Not a choice anymore? Why borrowing is becoming a necessity in Kenya Mar 12, 2025

Slightly over one-third of Kenyans have increased their borrowing, a trend that aligns with rising living costs and delays in income.

Experts call for higher carbon credit pricing as global trading takes shape Mar 12, 2025

The current pricing mechanisms are insufficient to meet the ambitious goals of the Paris Agreement which aims to limit global temperature to 1.5°C abo...

Report shows Kenya loses Sh14-Sh19 billion each time there’s a statutory holiday Mar 11, 2025

The report gives a case study of Singapore, which cut its statutory holidays from 16 to 11 days in 1968 to bolster labour efficiency.

CBK proposes new license fee structure for banks Mar 11, 2025

In the first year of implementation, CBK plans to set the rate at 0.6 per cent.

Kenya strides towards gender parity with notable gains in women's inclusion Mar 08, 2025

KNBS says 86 per cent of married women are actively involved in decisions regarding their health, a sign of growing empowerment in women’s healthcare...

International Women's Day 2025: Progress and setbacks in strive for gender parity Mar 08, 2025

Experts from different sectors worldwide have warned that a faster, more comprehensive approach is needed to accelerate change.

Somalia to get over $10.7 million in budget support from EU Mar 07, 2025

The Somalia-EU programme, which dates back to 2014, has been instrumental in supporting the East African nation as it continues to recover from more t...

State plans to boost local leather production with new facilities in Northern Kenya Mar 06, 2025

Somewhat similar to Nairobi's Kariokor leather market, the initiative will focus on creating a space dedicated to the local production of leather prod...

Kenya’s private sector sees fifth consecutive month of growth but outlook dims Mar 06, 2025

The Stanbic Bank Kenya Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), which gauges the level of private sector activities, rose to 50.6 in February, up from 50.5 i...

Capitalise on microinsurance for underserved to boost insurance coverage - IRA Mar 05, 2025

The call to refocus on microinsurance comes at a critical time when climate-related disasters are becoming more frequent and severe, further exacerbat...

Expert calls for skills training to help struggling grassroots businesses become profitable Mar 05, 2025

From her daily interactions with farmers and traders, Joyce says training and upskilling tops the list of the needs mostly required by grassroots busi...

Certified experts to empower SMEs in export trade growth Mar 01, 2025

The ministerial branding agency, KEPROBA, in a statement, said that the inaugural graduates of the Diploma in International Trade will equip Kenya's...

Eastleigh traders brace for uncertainty, decry harsh economic times Feb 28, 2025

A spot check across the business district revealed a contrasting perspective, with business owners sharing a different outlook than the reports sugges...

Olkaria made a Special Economic Zone to boost industrialisation Feb 28, 2025

Spanning approximately 8,292 acres, the facility will serve as a key driver for industrial investment, clean energy manufacturing and export-oriented...

Inflation up to 3.5 per cent in February on increased food and transport costs Feb 28, 2025

Notably, core inflation, which measures the cost of living excluding volatile components like food and energy prices from the overall Consumer Price I...

UN warns of 30% surge in hunger crisis in Somalia by June Feb 27, 2025

The study report says 3.4 million people are already experiencing crisis levels, or higher, of hunger in Somalia, and the number is projected to rise...

Mitumba expansion risks Kenya’s textile sector leverage on AfCFTA - manufacturers Feb 26, 2025

KAM warns that Kenya stands to lose a great deal on textile and apparel export trade if the policies promoting mitumba trade aren't re-looked and the...

Economy recovery to double lending to small businesses, experts say Feb 22, 2025

The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) early this month scaled down its base lending rate by 0.5 per cent to 10.75 per cent.

Farmers to benefit from FAO's Sh6.5 billion climate resilience programme Feb 22, 2025

FAO says the project will focus on six key agricultural value chains: Dairy, poultry, coffee, tea, fruit trees, and African leafy vegetables.

KRA announces start of reforms to enhance efficiency, grow tax base Feb 21, 2025

The internal alignment will further focus on enhancing workflow processes to reduce redundancies, optimise internal resources and leverage advanced an...

JKIA named African Cargo Airport of the year Feb 21, 2025

In 2024 alone, data by KAA shows the airport handled 112,000 tons of cargo in the first quarter alone, reflecting its critical role in supporting regi...

Kenya on track to achieve universal electricity access by 2030 - report Feb 21, 2025

It projects that electrification growth will accelerate even further in the coming years, driven by increasing power demand, which is forecast to grow...

Kenya braces for fresh IMF loan conditions as Treasury reaffirms extension Feb 20, 2025

These loans, arguably, help the country address challenges such as budget deficits, maintaining public debt sustainability and alleviating foreign exc...

Nairobi airlines summit champions collaborative efforts to drive Africa’s cargo trade Feb 19, 2025

Stakeholders further emphasised that adopting such policies could help unlock substantial growth potential for the freight business.

Africa’s climate financing must quadruple by 2030 to bridge investment gap Feb 18, 2025

The global economic think tank, Wef, therefore reckons that the continent faces a significant climate financing gap, causing the region to miss out on...

Remittances by Kenyans in diaspora reduce by Sh2.3 billion in January as US remains largest source Feb 15, 2025

With the shilling constantly trading at an average of 129, it arguably means diaspora Kenyans are left in a tight spot while deciding whether to send...

Alarm over escalating ASAL community conflicts amidst growing climate disasters Feb 14, 2025

The KIPPRA study report says Kenya, as well as other parts of Africa, will experience greater climatic variability and increasing rates of drought in...

Cab drivers are fully compensated on discounted rides, don't pay more - Bolt Feb 14, 2025

Bolt reaffirmed its commitment to educating drivers through in-app notifications, direct communication, and training sessions to ensure they understan...

Faith-based lobby calls for cancellation of unjust debt to boost funding to critical sectors Feb 12, 2025

Delegates at the launch reiterated calls for the cancellation of unjust debts, which they argue undermine human dignity and hinder sustainable develop...

Why youth unemployment crisis persists despite post-Covid economic recovery Feb 11, 2025

ILO says a primary issue is the distinct lack of productive opportunities in African countries especially, with many young people unable to access dec...

Beyond health: Economic toll of FGM in affected countries hit Sh181bn annually Feb 08, 2025

It says the economic burden of FGM is staggering, with the healthcare cost for survivors in prevalent countries reaching $1.4 billion (Sh180.9 billion...

Kenya's small businesses call for tangible solutions for growth, denounce global rhetoric Feb 07, 2025

The challenges faced by small businesses in the country are rooted in more immediate concerns that may not be so easily addressed by the overarching g...

Consumers brace for tougher times as report shows global rise in food prices Feb 07, 2025

Ideally, when agricultural, cereal and export price indices increase, it often signals a rise in the cost of essential food commodities like grains an...

Tough economic conditions slow down private sector customer demand in January Feb 06, 2025

Despite the marginal decline in growth of the business activities, the index report maintained that general business conditions improved further.

Kenyan Shilling maintains stability at 129 against the dollar six months running Jan 29, 2025

The gain was attributed to the successful settlement of the inaugural $2 billion (Sh259 billion) Eurobond buyback plan

Business sales dipped in Q4 as Kenyans cut back on Christmas spending Jan 29, 2025

he brunt felt by businesses in the quarter under review could also be a result of the static income trends which dominated during the review period.

Kenya’s credit outlook rating by Moody’s incorrect, detrimental - AU Jan 28, 2025

AU pointed out that Kenya has not yet navigated through a stable economic outlook to justify such a shift.

Africa is second most unequal region in the world - World Bank Jan 26, 2025

Additionally, the lender highlights that the region has also made slow progress in expanding the ranks of its middle class, additionally stating that...

Kenya sees 41.9 per cent drop in cybercrime incidents in Q1 2024/25 Jan 25, 2025

The Communications Authority of Kenya reports that the number of cyber threats dropped by 41.9 per cent to 657.8 million from 1.13 billion in the prev...

Migrant workers up by more than 30 million on increased pursuit for greener pastures Jan 24, 2025

In 2022, Kenyan expatriates living and working in Saudi Arabia sent home a total of $302.26 million (equivalent to Sh48 billion then).

Foreign investor outflows at NSE hit Sh16.6 billion in Q4 on political instability Jan 24, 2025

However, the reduction in market concentration reflects investors' growing preference for diversifying their portfolios beyond the traditional blue-ch...

Report paints a grim picture of Kenya’s public expenditure, projects hurdles ahead Jan 22, 2025

The latest figures show the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) missed the tax collection target in the first half ending December 2024 by Sh163.46 billion.

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