CBK,CBK interest rates,CBK lending rate,CBK Survey Stories

Businesses project job growth, stronger sales as festive season draws near
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Oct 25, 2025

According to the findings, most firms still have unused capacity, allowing them to respond to surging demand without making large new investments.

Motor vehicle sales soar as lending rates fall amid economic recovery
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Oct 24, 2025

The rebound follows a period of slow sales in 2024, when reduced government spending and tighter financial conditions dampened demand.

KRA retains fringe benefit tax rate at 8 per cent for October–December 2025
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Oct 23, 2025

The CBK on October 7 reduced its Central Bank Rate to 9.25 per cent from 9.50 per cent, continuing a trend of monetary easing that began in August 202...

Why farmers are not taking up loans for scaling up- experts
Alfred Onyango  |  Oct 22, 2025

CBK in its latest Monetary Policy Committee meeting slashed the base lending rate for the eighth consecutive time to 9.25 per cent, from the highs of...

Kenyan CEOs warn of tough times as high costs, taxes squeeze businesses
Alfred Onyango  |  Oct 21, 2025

Concerns over taxation also increased sharply, with the proportion of CEOs identifying it as a major challenge climbing from 15 per cent to 19 per cen...

Auditor General flags CBK for hiring unqualified managers, ignoring HR Policies
Lucy Mumbi  |  Oct 21, 2025

The report notes that the CBK recruited managers who did not fully meet the mandatory experience or service period requirements.

Construction sector seen as Kenya’s weakest job creator in 2025, CBK survey shows
Lucy Mumbi  |  Oct 21, 2025

A new CBK survey shows none of the firms in the sector plans to hire new workers in 2025, raising questions over the government’s affordable housing p...

CBK under fire for withholding Sh3 billion in upfront agency fees, auditor-general says practice breaches law
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Oct 20, 2025

Under current arrangements, CBK charges 1.5 per cent commission on funds raised through Treasury bills and bonds, with a cap of Sh3 billion per year.

IMF revises Kenya’s 2025 growth forecast upward to 4.8 per cent
Alfred Onyango  |  Oct 17, 2025

Kenya’s upgraded forecast comes amid signs of recovery in key sectors such as agriculture, services, and construction, as well as improving investor s...

Kenya’s economic activity set for strong year-end boost, says CBK
Alfred Onyango  |  Oct 15, 2025

CBK this month lowered the base lending rate to 9.25 per cent from the previous ceiling of 9.5 per cent, marking the eighth consecutive reduction.

Treasury rolls out new plan to expand financial inclusion in Northern Kenya
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Oct 11, 2025

John Mbadi explained that the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) and the Treasury are jointly driving reforms to ensure that residents of northern Kenya, par...

Kenyans to access cheaper loans as CBK cuts lending rate to 9.25 per cent
Lucy Mumbi  |  Oct 07, 2025

The MPC said the decision aims to stimulate lending by banks to the private sector while ensuring that inflation expectations remain anchored and the...

Banks urge CBK to cut base rate to spur private sector lending
Lucy Mumbi  |  Oct 06, 2025

Commercial banks argue that low inflation, a stable exchange rate and strained private sector credit make a strong case for further easing of the Cent...

CBK threatens daily penalties as eight banks defy lending rate cuts
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Oct 02, 2025

Only six institutions: Citibank N.A. Kenya, Absa Bank Kenya, Credit Bank, Standard Chartered Bank Kenya, Stanbic Bank Kenya and Victoria Commercial Ba...

Commercial banks with highest interest rates
Charity Pancras  |  Oct 01, 2025

These elevated rates highlight a competitive banking sector where the cost of credit differs significantly, directly impacting borrowers’ financial bu...

Senators push for real-time access to county bank accounts amid Auditor-General warnings
Lucy Mumbi  |  Sep 25, 2025

Beyond real-time access, senators also directed the National Treasury to work with the Auditor-General’s office to conduct a comprehensive audit of al...

CBK's Kamau Thugge scores ‘A’ in global finance rankings for steering Kenya’s economy through turbulence
Rachael Mutabasi  |  Sep 23, 2025

Over the past year, Kenya has maintained inflation within the target range, while the shilling has remained stable against major currencies. Interest...

Saccos outpace banks with affordable loans, but face liquidity challenges - Sasra
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Sep 16, 2025

The Central Bank of Kenya raised the base lending rate to 13 per cent in February 2024 and maintained it until August, driving some commercial lenders...

83 per cent of Kenya’s microloans under Sh1,000 go unpaid, says CBK
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Sep 13, 2025

CBK statistics show that default rates drop as the size of the loan increases, with loans between Sh1,000 and Sh5,000 showing a 69.4 per cent non-perf...

Court trims interested parties in Hustler Fund’s legality case
Carolyne Kubwa  |  Sep 11, 2025

CBK, in its defence, insisted it has no role in the establishment or management of the fund, distancing itself from allegations touching on financing...

KPMG report: Jobs at risk as banks prioritise automation over staff training
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Sep 11, 2025

The report notes that 82 per cent of banks intend to shrink their cost base by at least 10 per cent by 2030, with around a third aiming for reductions...

Kenya has introduced new banking policies; an economist weighs them up
The Conversation  |  Sep 09, 2025

The lifting of the moratorium on new banks and raising capital requirements could be the start of more changes in the Kenyan banking sector.

CBK: Microfinance banks struggling with loan defaults amid shrinking deposits
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Sep 04, 2025

The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) reports that the 14 licensed microfinance institutions (MFBs) are finding it difficult to grow their lending portfolio...

Foreign workers in Kenya remitted home Sh91 billion - CBK
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Aug 30, 2025

In contrast, thousands of Kenyans continue leaving the country in search of employment and higher wages, particularly in the UK, the US, Canada, and S...

CBK revises credit pricing model, adopts new benchmark rate for loan pricing
Lucy Mumbi  |  Aug 26, 2025

CBK said starting September 1, 2025, all new variable rate loans will be priced under the new framework, while existing variable rate loans will shift...

Tourism and agriculture leading in hiring as other sectors stumble
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Aug 26, 2025

Data from the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) shows that these two sectors are the most confident about expanding staff numbers in 2025 compared to last y...

Kindiki welcomes CBK lending rate cut, says economy on recovery path
Bashir Mbuthia  |  Aug 25, 2025

Kindiki said it showed that the country is beginning to overcome a decade of high interest rates that had weakened household incomes, slowed down priv...

Kenyan farmers abandon Hustler Fund for commercial and digital Loans, CBK survey shows
Lucy Mumbi  |  Aug 25, 2025

The survey, covering March to May 2025, found that 11 per cent of farmers who borrowed from the Hustler Fund and 13 per cent who relied on microfinanc...

Food prices expected to decline despite inflation rise, CBK survey reveals
Lucy Mumbi  |  Aug 25, 2025

The July 2025 CBK agriculture survey showed that while inflation rose slightly to 4.1 per cent in July compared to the same period last year, most far...

Kenya’s credit rating upgraded to ‘B’ as investor confidence grows
Alfred Onyango  |  Aug 23, 2025

The new rating comes with a stable outlook, indicating growing confidence in Kenya’s ability to meet its debt obligations amid better access to intern...

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