Central Bank of Kenya Stories

CBK expands list of licensed digital lenders as review of 700 applications continues
Lucy Mumbi  |  Jun 05, 2025

In a statement on Thursday, CBK said the approvals are part of an ongoing review of over 700 applications it has received since March 2022.

Chad suspends visas for US citizens in retaliation for inclusion in travel ban
Mwangi Maina  |  Jun 05, 2025

Chad joins seven other African countries affected by Washington's travel ban.

AU warns Trump’s travel ban threatens decades of Africa-US cooperation
Mwangi Maina  |  Jun 05, 2025

AUC chairperson Mahamoud Ali Youssouf acknowledged the US government's sovereign right to protect its borders and ensure the security of its citizens...

World Bank delays Sh96.9 billion loan to Kenya over anti-corruption law standoff
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Jun 05, 2025

The government now plans to borrow Sh591.9 billion from the local credit market to bridge a Sh876.1 billion budget deficit in the financial year start...

Kenya’s hospitals in financial crisis as only 20pc of primary health facilities get full payments
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Jun 05, 2025

Despite President William Ruto’s public acknowledgement of the issue three months ago, the government has yet to allocate funds to clear the billions...

Ethiopian parliament passes Bill banning single-use plastic bags
XINHUA  |  Jun 05, 2025

According to data obtained from the Ethiopian Environmental Protection Authority, plastic bags constitute 46 per cent of the plastic waste generated b...

Women lead sanitation drive in Tana River to curb cholera ahead of floods
Farhiya Hussein  |  Jun 04, 2025

With technical guidance and financial backing from the Supporting Community-Led Response initiative, more than 300 households constructed latrines and...

Why Kenya’s debt outlook is improving: Stronger shilling, weaker dollar, policy shifts drive decline
Alfred Onyango  |  Jun 04, 2025

According to Afreximbank's 2025 report on the state of debt burdens, a major external influence behind this shift is the changing economic policy envi...

Kilifi North MP Owen Baya withdraws controversial Muguka Bill after DP Kindiki meeting
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Jun 04, 2025

The Deputy President confirmed that the withdrawal followed consultations with stakeholders from Embu, where muguka farming supports thousands of live...

What is Hajj? Understanding the sacred journey millions of Muslims make each year
Abdirahman Khalif  |  Jun 03, 2025

The pilgrimage follows a specific set of rituals and is carried out in and around the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

Bangladesh: Exiled ex-PM Sheikh Hasina on trial
DW News  |  Jun 01, 2025

Bangladeshi prosecutors have accused former leader Sheikh Hasina, who is currently in India, of "crimes against humanity" during last year's uprising...

Arab ministers slam 'Israel's obstruction' in decision to postpone West Bank visit
DW News  |  Jun 01, 2025

The ministers slammed the reported Israeli decision, calling it a "flagrant violation of Israel's obligations as the occupying power," the ministry ad...

Over 800,000 youths to benefit from Sh20 billion Nyota project- Ruto
Lucy Mumbi  |  Jun 01, 2025

Ruto emphasised that it aims to support at least 70 youths per ward across the country by providing grant funding, business training, and market linka...

World Bank urges 16 per cent VAT on meat, wheat flour, avocado, coffee to boost Kenya’s revenue
Lucy Mumbi  |  Jun 01, 2025

The lender argues that taxing these items would expand fiscal space without burdening the poor, as they form a minor part of low-income households’ sp...

Three suspects detained in Sh10.4 million Safaricom Sacco fraud case
Carolyne Kubwa  |  May 30, 2025

Kaburu was arrested in May 2025 at a mall parking lot in Nairobi, while Ombogo and Mugambi were arrested in a lodge at the Namanga border.

World Bank urges Kenya to implement fuel carbon tax for Sh40.5 billion revenue boost
Alfred Onyango  |  May 30, 2025

However, the Bank strongly recommends imposing the tax on fuels at the point of entry into the country, saying this would better reflect the true soci...

US prosecutors reveal how Lebanese man was part of a plot to trade cocaine for Syrian weapons in Nairobi
Mary Wambui  |  May 30, 2025

Antoine Kassis was extradited from Kenya in February following an Interpol arrest warrant requested by the United States over his involvement in narco...

Ethiopian bank denies report of Sh6.7 billion theft, says attempted fraud “thwarted within minutes”
Addis Standard  |  May 30, 2025

In a statement issued in response to a May 27, 2025 broadcast by Ethiopian Media Service (EMS), the bank said it was “compelled to provide a brief sta...

Mauritania’s Sidi Ould Tah elected AfDB president, succeeding Akinwumi Adesina after close vote
Mwangi Maina  |  May 29, 2025

Tah, who officially begins his five-year term on September 1, 2025, brings over 35 years of financial and development experience, most recently leadin...

Plastic bag ban widely ignored as Kenyan traders cite cost, convenience challenges
Alfred Onyango  |  May 30, 2025

A sugarcane hawker in Eastleigh’s Kamukunji area who identified himself as Waweru says he finds the prohibited bags convenient to his business and app...

World Bank flags wasteful spending on public servants’ travel allowances
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  May 29, 2025

When travelling abroad, especially to the United States, civil servants receive about $513 (Sh66,317) daily, a figure the World Bank says needs urgent...

Why Kenya risks losing billions if it ignores World Bank public sector reform recommendations
Lucy Mumbi  |  May 28, 2025

The World Bank indicated that inefficiencies in payroll management, excessive allowances and unchecked staff expansion, particularly at the county lev...

10 years ago Kenya set out to fix gender gaps in education – What’s working and what still needs to be done
The Conversation  |  May 28, 2025

Our study found that Kenya needs to review its teacher education curriculum to make it more gender responsive. Teachers also need more training to fol...

World Bank urges scrapping of SHIF deductions for low-wage workers, cites threats to UHC goals
Bashir Mbuthia  |  May 27, 2025

A recent World Bank report states that the 2.75 per cent SHIF payroll deduction places a financial strain on low-income workers and small businesses.

World Bank warns of mounting fiscal pressure as Kenya faces debt distress risk
Alfred Onyango  |  May 27, 2025

The lender highlights the narrowing room for manoeuvre in the country’s budget, driven by ballooning debt servicing costs, persistent revenue shortfal...

Muguka farmers face uncertain future as new Bill seeks delisting
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  May 27, 2025

The Anti-Muguka Bill, tabled by Kilifi North MP Owen Baya, proposes a change to the Crops Act that would formally differentiate muguka from miraa and...

Uganda’s exports to Kenya decline by 65%, marking sharpest drop in six years
Bashir Mbuthia  |  May 26, 2025

The decline in Uganda's exports to Kenya and Rwanda has been linked to trade barriers introduced by the two countries, reportedly aimed at shielding t...

Kenya’s loan defaults surge to Sh717.5bn as banks intensify recovery efforts amid financial strain
Lucy Mumbi  |  May 26, 2025

The CBK survey revealed that banks plan to ramp up loan recovery efforts in eight of the 11 economic sectors and maintain the current pace in the rema...

Government clears Sh118.3bn pending bills in Q1 2025 as Treasury pushes to cut arrears
Lucy Mumbi  |  May 26, 2025

According to Treasury data, the reduction is partly attributed to the ongoing settlements in the infrastructure docket.

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