Business

According to the survey, 75 per cent of respondents said the increase was not justified, while only a smaller share (4 per cent) believe it was necessary due to wider economic conditions.

According to regional trade advisor and lawyer at Bowmans, Wathingira Gituro, emerging businesses must adopt a more deliberate, country-by-country approach to expansion.

An autonomous AI shopping assistant performing the same task might scan 5,000 websites, compare prices, analyse reviews, and generate recommendations, all within seconds.

The downturn comes amid a broader contraction in private sector activity, which has now declined for three consecutive months.

The accreditation follows an independent audit of YouTube's advertising systems, measurement processes, and controls designed to help brands ensure their ads appear alongside suitable content.

Oparanya noted that while new registrations have resumed, stricter conditions will now guide approval to ensure only stable and well-prepared SACCOs are licensed.

NCBA projects East Africa will maintain strong growth above 5 per cent through 2026–2027, driven by resilient domestic demand, rising trade flows and improving investor sentiment despite global geopolitical headwinds.

Since March, agricultural and cereal price indices have increased by three per cent and four per cent respectively.

The ministry further explained that any review of electricity tariffs must follow the legal process set out under the Energy Act, 2019. This includes submission of an application to the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority, technical assessment, stakeholder engagement and public participation before any changes are approved.

Instead of treating photos as isolated memories, the system categorises outfits as wearable combinations. It then separates these into categories such as tops, trousers, dresses, shoes, and accessories.

Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o has previously warned that rising debt servicing costs could take up a growing share of government revenue, leaving less funding for development projects.

Clement Tulezi, CEO of the Kenya Flower Council, said that the industry is actively diversifying beyond traditional markets in Europe and Asia due to an increasingly volatile global environment.

The World Bank Group is seeking to become a “bigger and better” bank. This involves promoting more collaboration between the five entities that make up the group. It is doing so under the banner of “One WBG”.

The feature is being positioned as an alternative to the traditional Repost button and Quote Post system, encouraging users to directly record and attach video responses to posts instead of simply re-sharing or typing reactions.

African firms are prioritising resilience, governance and long-term value as funding conditions tighten, but the shift could slow startup growth and job creation in the short term.

Benchmark crude falls below Sh12,255 per barrel as investors weigh renewed diplomatic hopes against persistent geopolitical risks in the Middle East.

The feature, currently spotted in the One UI 9 beta, requires users to verify their identity using a PIN, password, or unlock pattern before a phone can be powered off or restarted while locked.

The vulnerability, which Meta says has now been patched and is under control, allowed attackers to manipulate the company's AI support assistant into changing the email address linked to targeted Instagram accounts.

The project will support urban policy formulation, institutional strengthening, and improvement of rail infrastructure to enhance commuter services across the capital region.

The National Treasury is proposing to amend the First Schedule to the Excise Duty Act by deleting the description “imported cellular phones” and replacing it with a 25 per cent excise duty on the excisable value of telephones for cellular networks and other wireless networks under tariff heading 8517.

As AI tools become increasingly common in southern African newsrooms for tasks such as transcription, headline writing and content drafting, editors are embracing efficiency gains while insisting that human expertise and editorial judgement remain essential to safeguard accuracy and credibility.

According to Transparency International Kenya (TI) Research Lead Lyla Latiff, the current reliance on Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE), Value Added Tax (VAT), and import duties is increasingly placing the burden of fiscal adjustment on ordinary citizens. This, while leaving significant corporate tax potential underutilised.

While supporting Kenya’s participation in international tax cooperation frameworks led by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, stakeholders cautioned that the current drafting could result in overly broad access to sensitive personal and financial data.

Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have already triggered sharp increases in urea fertiliser prices, ranging between 20 per cent and 60 per cent, while raising transport, irrigation and fuel costs for farmers across multiple regions.

Ericah Shafudah, Namibia’s Finance Minister, acknowledged persistent skills mismatches, noting that education systems in many countries are not aligned with labour market demand, leaving economies unable to absorb graduates at scale.

The proposals, estimated to cost about Sh9.83 billion per month, are expected to feature in further parliamentary debate on the Finance Bill as lawmakers weigh immediate relief against fiscal sustainability.

The Menlo Park-based company confirmed on Friday that more than 2,000 local positions will be eliminated in late July, marking one of the largest regional workforce reductions in its ongoing restructuring.

The regulator urged the public to rely only on verified communications issued through its official platforms, warning against the spread of unverified information purporting to represent its actions.

CS Hassan Joho argued that the proposed changes would strip the State Department of a key mandate in the mining sector.

The AfDB says job creation has become central to its long-term development strategy, with a growing focus on linking young people to agricultural value chains, financing and skills development.

MCAK told the Committee that the proposal would enable small-scale traders to plan their businesses with certainty and protect them from abrupt tax increases that could disrupt the sector.

Overall, the headline figure has now risen for the third straight month from 4.3 per cent recorded in February, pointing towards mounting price pressures across the economy.

The US and India are expected to maintain moderate to strong growth, supported by investment and consumption, but face inflationary pressures.

Analysts have cautioned that major obstacles remain unresolved, including Iran’s nuclear ambitions, sanctions relief, and control of the Strait of Hormuz, leaving markets sensitive to any renewed escalation or breakdown in talks.

The features are currently being introduced to YouTube Premium users on Android in selected markets, with iOS and wider global availability expected later.

The East Africa region continues to outperform other parts of the continent, with North Africa projected at 4.2 per cent in 2027, West Africa at 4.5 per cent, Central Africa at 4.1 per cent, and Southern Africa at 2.7 per cent.

The budget is anchored on projected revenues of Sh3.629 trillion, including Appropriation-in-Aid, and a fiscal deficit of Sh1.111 trillion, equivalent to 5.3 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP).

The report warns that renewed geopolitical tensions and disruptions in global supply chains could reverse recent gains, potentially pushing the gap back towards pre-2019 levels.

Experts at the AFRODAD debt summit warned that Africa’s growing reliance on expensive borrowing, coupled with untaxed digital economies and illicit financial flows, is shrinking fiscal space for healthcare, education, and other critical public services.

Under the rollout, Instagram Plus and Facebook Plus will each cost $3.99 per month (Sh515), while WhatsApp Plus will cost $2.99 per month (Sh385).

The partnership between I&M Bank and Google will offer Kenyan SMEs free training in AI, digital marketing, leadership and business strategy as firms adapt to a rapidly evolving digital economy.

Speaking on Thursday during the National Prayer Breakfast held at Safari Park, Nairobi County, Ruto emphasised that prayer also played a central role in guiding reflection and national decision-making.

In addition, the regulator wants to introduce quarterly penalties for operators that fail to comply with the new requirements. Operators who fail to meet the new performance standards risk financial penalties and business sanctions under a stricter compliance regime.

Nyoro said Kenya’s electricity pricing challenge is largely driven by the cost of producing power, rather than only taxes and levies imposed on consumers.

The moderation reflects mounting external pressures, including tighter global financial conditions, persistent geopolitical tensions, and ongoing disruptions in supply chains and energy markets.

Inflation is projected to average 5.4 per cent in 2026, remaining within the Central Bank’s target band, while fiscal pressures are expected to persist with the budget deficit widening to 6.1 per cent of GDP.

The Kenya Flower Council (KFC) estimates that around Sh518.36 million worth of flower exports are at risk every week, with some farms reporting revenue drops of up to 75 per cent due to shipment delays and rising input costs.

According to the patent filing, the technology would use motion sensors and on-device intelligence to recognise sudden movements commonly associated with phone theft, such as a device being grabbed and rapidly moved away from the owner.

After nearly 10 years, YouTube Music’s playlist sorting update may not be the platform’s flashiest feature launch, but for many loyal users, it represents something equally important: finally being heard.

The rising unpaid interest has further strained the airline’s financial position, with Kenya Airways disclosing that it had not met its government loan interest obligations as required under its loan agreements.

The report ranks Kenya 11th in Africa with a score of 0.6058, placing it in the upper-middle industrialisation quantile.