Mobile phone ownership is a key indicator of digital connectivity and access to information. It reflects the socioeconomic capacity of households to stay informed, communicate, and utilise essential digital services such as mobile banking. The table below presents the percentage of households in selected counties in Kenya that owned mobile phones in 2022. These figures offer insight for stakeholders involved in economic planning, digital inclusion, and ICT development, highlighting disparities and areas of progress in mobile access. Household Mobile Phone Ownership by County (%) County Mobile Phone Ownership (%) Nairobi City 98.8 Garissa 97.4 Kiambu 97.4 Mombasa 97.1 Uasin Gishu…
Author: NBM CORRESPONDENT
The distribution of the working female population in Kenya highlights critical socio-economic dynamics, including gender disparities in labour force participation, unequal access to employment opportunities, and regional development imbalances. These patterns are shaped by various factors, such as education levels, cultural norms, household responsibilities, and broader economic structures. The table below presents the estimated proportion of the female population engaged in economic activities across various counties for the most recent reference year. It offers valuable insights for policymakers, gender advocates, and development planners by identifying regions with low female workforce participation—areas that may benefit from targeted employment programmes and inclusive…
Kenya’s Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy, along with the ICT Authority, has announced full readiness for the highly anticipated Connected Africa Summit 2025, set to take place at Diamonds Leisure Beach and Golf Resort in Diani, Kenya, from May 26-29, 2025. The event will bring together over 2,000 delegates from governments, tech industries, and development sectors across Africa under the theme: “Tupatane Diani.” At a press briefing held at Serena Hotel in Nairobi on May 19, 2025, John Tanui, Principal Secretary for ICT and the Digital Economy, and Stanley Kamanguya, CEO of the ICT Authority, highlighted preparations…
Kenya’s National Assembly is set to debate the Finance Bill 2025, a legislative proposal tabled on 30th April 2025. The bill aims to streamline tax administration, close loopholes, and foster economic resilience amid ongoing fiscal consolidation in the country. Notably, it avoids introducing new taxes following public backlash over the 2024 bill. Instead, it prioritises efficiency and compliance while offering targeted relief to small businesses and digital innovators. A key highlight of the bill is a 100 per cent immediate tax deduction for small businesses acquiring tools and equipment. This measure is intended to spur growth and eliminate bureaucratic delays…
Equity Bank emerged as the top performer at the 20th edition of the Think Business Banking Awards 2025, receiving 16 accolades across various categories. The bank claimed first place in nine key categories, including Best SME Bank, Asset Financing, Sustainable Corporate Social Responsibility, Financial Literacy, Agriculture Financing, the Special Judges’ Award for Product Innovation, Mortgage Financing, Microfinance, and Agency Banking. Equity was also named first runner-up in Product Marketing and second runner-up in Mobile Banking, Retail Banking, Trade Financing, Bank with the Lowest Tariff, and Best Bank in Tier 1. These results highlight the competitiveness of Equity Bank across multiple…
The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has reported a 6.1% increase in revenue collection for the 2024/2025 financial year, reaching Sh1.243 trillion by 31 December 2024. This marks an improvement over the previous year’s figure of Sh1.189 trillion for the same period. The growth is largely attributed to the implementation of strategic reforms and contributions from key sectors such as energy and manufacturing. KRA Commissioner General Humphrey Wattanga highlighted that the performance surpassed the initial target of Sh2.189 trillion, achieving 96.5% of the expected revenue. Speaking to the media, he said: “This growth reflects the effectiveness of the ongoing reforms and…
Enwealth Financial Services, a leader in promoting financial wellness, has awarded scholarships to 40 bright and needy students to support their secondary school education. Through its Corporate Social Investment arm, Enwealth Foundation, the financial services firm has allocated Sh2 million for 2025, with each student receiving up to Sh50,000 annually. This highlights the company’s focus on supporting the education of young men and women. The programme is part of Enwealth Foundation’s mission to uplift communities through education. Over the years, the foundation has supported more than 400 students, the majority of whom have transitioned to universities and are now contributing…
Building a successful business takes years, from registration to profitability and scaling. Yet, a single incident can damage its reputation and bring everything crashing down.
Billionaire businessman Jammy Roger Bebwawana, who was recently ranked among top ten Fordes 600 richest men in Kenya has opened up about how he built his logistics company,
Equity Bank Kenya and International Finance Corporation (IFC) are jointly providing marginalised groups in Kenya with a $20 million (about Sh2.58 billion) Risk Sharing Facility (RSF) to enhance financial inclusion. This is the first global risk-sharing facility dedicated to financial inclusion for refugees and their host communities. It will be implemented in 14 marginalized counties across Kenya, among them Turkana and Garissa which host Kakuma and Dadaab refugee camps, with the goal of supporting refugees and their host communities towards social economic empowerment that ultimately lead to self-reliance. “The Risk Sharing Facility (RSF) program is a crucial component of our…