In a decisive move to eradicate costly “ghost projects,” the Kenyan government now requires all national and county agencies to include precise geographic coordinates for every project listed in tender documents, leveraging a newly launched digital procurement system. The mandatory provision of GPS coordinates took effect on July 1, 2025, as a core feature of the nationwide rollout of the electronic Government Procurement System (e-GPS). This fundamental shift replaces the previous practice where projects were identified only by name—a system exploited for years to siphon billions of shillings through fraudulent duplication and non-existent initiatives. Government sources confirm the new requirement…
Author: NBM CORRESPONDENT
Public Service, Performance and Delivery Management Cabinet Secretary Moses Ruku has publicly admitted that Kenya’s public servants are grossly underpaid—a statement that lays bare the widening cracks within the country’s civil service structure. Speaking at a public engagement forum, CS Ruku painted a grim picture of overworked and undervalued government employees, calling for an urgent review of compensation policies and structural reforms across ministries, counties, and state agencies. His comments mark one of the strongest acknowledgments yet by a senior government official regarding the long-standing grievances of public sector workers, who continue to shoulder heavy national responsibilities amid rising living…
The Ministry of Health has issued a clarification regarding the salaries of medical interns, addressing widespread confusion and debate over their remuneration. This followed an announcement by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale on Monday, stating that medical interns would receive KSh206,000 per month. Depending on their placement, the salary will vary between KSh180,000 and KSh206,000. “They will earn everything. That’s why I came here — to ensure there will be no more industrial disputes involving health workers in Kenya, for the success of universal health coverage,” Duale affirmed on Monday. However, in a statement released on Wednesday, the Ministry confirmed…
Jubilee Allianz General Insurance Kenya has been bolstered by a Sh2.75 billion capital injection from its major shareholders, SanlamAllianz and Jubilee Holdings, effectively resolving a two-year breach of regulatory capital requirements stemming from record losses in 2023. Sylvester Nzioka, Principal Officer at Jubilee Allianz, confirmed in a statement on Tuesday, July 2nd, 2025, that the funds were received on June 27th. This infusion has restored the insurer’s capital adequacy ratio (CAR) to levels mandated by Kenya’s Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA), which requires all insurers to maintain a CAR of at least 100 percent at all times. “This move was undertaken…
Shareholders of Equity Group Holdings Plc have granted approval for the financial services giant to establish a representative office in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), pending regulatory clearances. Concurrently, they endorsed a substantial cash dividend payout of Sh16 billion for the year. During the Group’s 21st Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Nairobi, shareholders backed management’s plan to open the UAE representative office. This move, subject to approvals from Kenyan and UAE authorities, marks a deliberate step to enhance Equity’s regional and global reach. Equity Group Chairman Prof. Isaac Macharia emphasized the strategic intent, stating the office aims to “deepen…
The Court of Appeal has delivered a significant ruling, ordering Stanbic Bank Kenya to compensate logistics firm Kenya Haulage Agency Ltd (KHA) Sh25 million for negligence arising from a critical error in a tender security bond that cost the firm a lucrative Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) contract. The dispute originated from a 2018 tender where KHA sought to supply KPA with ribbed-type pneumatic rubber fenders, a crucial port equipment. To secure its bid, KHA required a bank guarantee (performance bond) from Stanbic Bank, valid for the mandatory 120 days stipulated by KPA. Stanbic Bank issued a bond for USD 1,250,000…
Two Kenyan tech innovators, agricultural platform Shamba and logistics solution Apexloads, have been selected for Google’s prestigious AI-focused accelerator program, positioning Kenya at the forefront of Africa’s artificial intelligence revolution. This development coincides with new insights revealing how Generation Z’s social media-driven shopping habits are reshaping Kenya’s retail landscape. Shamba and Apexloads are among 15 African startups chosen for the Google for Startups Accelerator: AI First program (Class of 2025), following a competitive selection process that drew nearly 1,500 applications across the continent. The intensive three-month hybrid program (running from June 22 to August 22, 2025) provides critical support including: ü Technical mentorship…
Kenyan businesses, particularly SMEs targeting younger consumers, must urgently adapt their marketing strategies as new data reveal social media platforms have become the primary shopping destination for Generation Z, fundamentally altering traditional retail pathways. This shift is driven by seamless in-app purchasing and a strong preference for authentic content over conventional advertising. Research indicates social media is now the dominant product discovery channel for Gen Z (those born roughly between 1997 and 2012). In 2024, 68 percent of Gen Z consumers globally discovered new products via social platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube—a significant rise from 60 percent just a…
Kenya has launched an ambitious and highly coordinated financial risk mitigation strategy aimed at shielding the economy from internal and external shocks. For the first time, regulators, policymakers, financial institutions, and international partners are coming together under a unified risk governance framework. Dubbed the National Integrated Financial Risk Mitigation Strategy, the initiative seeks to identify vulnerabilities in advance, absorb disruptions effectively, and ensure recovery mechanisms are in place to protect the economy from systemic collapse. This comes in the wake of recent economic turbulence, including currency depreciation, rising public debt, and recurring climate disasters that have tested the resilience of…
Amid rising trade and geo-economic tensions, extreme weather events, social polarization and disruptive technological changes, the global outlook may seem more uncertain than ever. Yet it is in such turbulent times that entrepreneurship demonstrates its enduring value. Entrepreneurship often thrives in difficult times, prompting shifts in our worldviews and ways of working, creating opportunities for new businesses to emerge and for existing ones to evolve and build new capabilities. Two areas are especially critical for entrepreneurial action and new collaborative frameworks: addressing the climate emergency and shaping global technology governance. Vision and strategy must be anchored in values, ethics and…