Business

Kenya has launched the Magical Kenya Souvenir Passport and a new ‘Hapa Ni Wapi’ platform to deepen visitor engagement and spur both international and domestic tourism across all 47 counties.

The African Development Bank has approved an extra $76.37 million for Somalia’s road upgrades, targeting key corridors to Ethiopia and Djibouti to ease trade, improve services and support regional integration.

Land purchases attracted Sh17.37 billion while housing loans reached Sh15.33 billion, underscoring SACCOs’ critical role in helping members acquire land and homes despite challenges in the real estate sector.

The shift comes as authorities try to complete the long-delayed modernisation initiative designed to bring order and reliability to Kenya’s transport licensing system.

The reduction in power costs comes at a critical time, giving households more purchasing power during the holidays and helping businesses lower their operational expenses.

Miriam Bomett, KAM’s head of policy and regulatory advocacy, said the country must address structural and regulatory challenges to close the export gap.

Despite the reduced shareholding, the government is demanding to retain two seats on the Safaricom board to remain influential in the company.

Foreign direct investment to Africa fell 42 per cent to $28 billion in early 2025. Business leaders urge faster reforms on payments, integration and local capital to unlock the continent’s investment potential.

Google's new Gemini 3 model challenges OpenAI's dominance in the global artificial intelligence (AI) race. As rivals invest billions and competition grows, OpenAI faces pressure to innovate - and finally turn a profit.

A new Oxfam and IPF report finds Kenya loses up to Sh130 billion annually due to weak taxation of the wealthy, limiting funding for key services such as the Ministry of Health.

Industry analysts view the launch as a strategic alignment with YouTube Shorts’ rapid expansion and a direct response to editing tools offered by TikTok and Instagram.

Kenya’s 2012–2030 National Industrialisation Policy is missing key targets, with manufacturing’s GDP share falling and financing tools stalling, the Institute of Economic Affairs warns in a new assessment.

The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) says the legislation fails to clarify funding and operational responsibilities for the proposed Business Council of Kenya.

Mbadi said shifting commercially viable projects to specialised entities is now necessary to reduce pressure on public finances.

For users who rely on Google Photos for storing memories, the redesign transforms the app from a simple photo library into a versatile video creation platform.

The decline extends a steady easing in costs that have strained household budgets in the better part of last year and this year.

The Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) reported that Kenya imported 183,139 tonnes of edible oils during the period, a modest rise from 182,209 tonnes in 2024.

The move follows long-standing concerns from parents and lawmakers about social media's effects on young people's mental health.

An ILO report warns that over half of global circular economy workers remain in informal, unprotected jobs and urges governments, including Kenya’s, to link circular policies with stronger labour and social safeguards.

The High Court in Mombasa has ordered the government to pay nearly Sh24 billion to Kwale International Sugar Company over a breached land deal that crippled a major sugar project.

Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) Chairman Kamau Thugge said the move is designed to sustain economic growth while keeping inflation and exchange rates stable.

Empowering courts to intervene in unfair contracts strengthens protections for small businesses, consumers, and other parties who have historically been disadvantaged under existing contract rules.

The report urges the government to strengthen governance frameworks, ensure transparency, and tie public funding to measurable outcomes.

The growth rate during this period was far higher than the 5.4 per cent rise seen between April and June, signalling that Kenyans are increasingly turning to advanced mobile networks for daily internet needs.

The Bill would require digital platforms to implement verification systems capable of confirming seller certification and product registration before allowing listings to go live. This step is designed to prevent unlicensed dealers from exploiting online channels and to safeguard consumers from unsafe or unapproved chemical products.

In a notice, National Assembly Clerk Samuel Njoroge said the submissions will guide parliamentary committees as they scrutinise the plan, ensuring transparency and public participation.

According to the report, current mobile termination rates remain far above actual costs, favouring dominant firms like Safaricom and placing smaller operators at a disadvantage.

The legislators questioned why some of the 77 KTDA-managed factories paid up to Sh50 per kilogramme, while others offered as little as Sh12 per kilo, despite all operating under the same national framework.

Kenya Power disclosed that the value of tenders awarded to these groups jumped 470 per cent to Sh3.5 billion during the year as the firm stepped up efforts to meet the constitutional requirement.

Tatu City hosted Nairobi’s Muslim business community to outline property acquisition, tax incentives and expansion options in its special eEconomic zone, highlighting new opportunities beyond traditional hubs like Eastleigh.

The Bill, developed by the State Department for Investment Promotion under Principal Secretary Abubakar Hassan, aims to create a legal framework for engagement between government and private sector actors.

At the forum, an additional 15 National Health Compacts, country-led, five-year reform plans that align health and finance institutions behind measurable goals, were introduced.

The deal is poised to reshape entertainment consumption for millions of viewers across Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

World Bank Group’s Chief Economist and Senior Vice President for Development Economics, Indermit Gill, therefore warns that despite the improving global financial conditions, developing countries should not deceive themselves as they are not out of danger.

Companies operating in these markets typically gain access to cheaper capital and often enjoy premium valuations on capital markets, it adds in part.

Treasury CS John Mbadi has defended the sharp rise in State House spending, after figures showed over 80 per cent of its Sh7.68 billion annual budget was used in four months, raising accountability questions.

Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro has challenged the government’s plan to sell a 15% Safaricom stake to Vodacom, alleging undervaluation and lack of open bidding, as Treasury defends the deal as a funding strategy.

Kenya’s financial inclusion has soared, yet financially healthy households have nearly halved. A new 2025–2028 national strategy aims to curb debt, gambling risks and weak consumer protection.

Kenya’s national parks generated Sh7.92 billion in 2024/25, meeting targets on rising visitor numbers, even as a High Court order halted proposed park fee increases challenged by tourism stakeholders.

Kenya is phasing out funding for merged and dissolved state corporations by mid-2026, limiting budgets mainly to salaries as it restructures agencies to cut recurrent costs and streamline operations.

Parliament’s investments committee has queried over Sh1 billion in unsupported spending and irregular staffing at NKPCU, demanding documents on coffee subsidy funds, debts and board appointments within two weeks.

Workspace Studio brings together Google’s existing AI tools under one simplified dashboard.

This move could transform ChatGPT from a general-purpose conversational tool into a personalised wellness guide.

Recap will appear on users’ homepages, inside the “You” tab, or on a dedicated recap page on desktop.

Kenya has adopted the WE Finance Code, a global framework to expand credit for women-led businesses, aiming to close gender financing gaps and support data-driven financial inclusion reforms.

The President also noted that the Fund’s continued engagement has offered vital expertise in managing external debt and technical support across multiple economic sectors.

Kenya’s government plans to sell a 15 per cent Safaricom stake to Vodafone Kenya for Sh244.5 billion, cutting its holding to 20 per cent and funding key infrastructure via new sovereign funds.

Rwandan miners are set to benefit from new robotics, sensors and AI tools designed to detect hazards, prevent equipment failure and improve underground safety across the country’s growing mining sector.

The growth also followed an expansion in international flight services, with several airlines increasing their frequencies into Nairobi and Mombasa. Kenya Airways and Etihad introduced new routes, while Air France deployed a larger aircraft on its Paris–Nairobi service.

Kenya’s private sector PMI rose to 55.0 in November, the highest since 2020, as stronger demand, softer cost pressures and faster deliveries lifted output, orders and employment across all monitored sectors.

WhatsApp now lets users safely run two accounts on a single phone using official tools. Here’s how to set up WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business, plus multi-account support on Android and iOS.