Business

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.

At the top of the manufacturers’ concerns is a call to remove the 25 per cent excise duty proposed on kraft liner used in packaging cartons for export goods such as fresh avocados and horticultural produce.

This means businesses struggling under mounting tax obligations will now be required to pay only the original tax they owe, instead of the previous system where penalties and interest kept increasing the total amount, making the debts much heavier and harder to clear.

Sodium-ion batteries are a promising alternative because they use abundant materials. But sodium has shortcomings that have blocked it from being used as a replacement for lithium.

To put it in context, the alliance warns that the government is pursuing a Sh3.38 trillion ordinary revenue target for the 2025/2026 financial year even as the formal economy remains under mounting pressure and continues to contract.

At the centre of social media is a powerful psychological mechanism: validation. Platforms, such as Instagram, TikTok, X, Facebook, and YouTube, are built around feedback loops. Likes, shares, comments, and views act as signals of social approval.

Unlike conventional vessels that rely on heavy fuel oil, the ship operates mainly on LNG, a fuel viewed within the maritime industry as a lower-emission alternative.

Among the major state entities transferred are the Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen), Kenya Power (KP), Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO) and Geothermal Development Company (GDC).

Pope Leo XIV called for artificial intelligence to be more strictly regulated, warning that it can help spread misinformation and normalize war. He also issued an unprecedented apology for the church's role in slavery.

Treasury CS John Mbadi said the government intends to streamline existing levies and improve efficiency in tax collection rather than impose fresh charges on citizens.

The project, which was unveiled with high expectations during President William Ruto’s 2024 State Visit to the United States, is now facing renewed scrutiny over its energy requirements and long-term feasibility.

Following the listing, the European Commission also placed Kenya on its list of high-risk third countries due to AML deficiencies.

Before full electrification, Kenya still faces more immediate structural priorities: reliable electricity supply, better roads, stronger drainage systems, rural electrification, and affordable transport access.

The war has disrupted energy markets and supply chains, contributing to higher fuel costs, increased transport and production expenses, and added pressure on already fragile fiscal positions in several developing economies.

The number of women actively using Pochi la Biashara has grown by about 92 per cent between December 2024 and December 2025, outpacing men at 78 per cent, with women now accounting for just over 52 per cent of active users, more than 900,000 in total.

To mitigate against the risks, FAO says governments, financial institutions, UN agencies and the private sector must urgently work together to help vulnerable economies absorb the shock.