The Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASP) Bill 2025, having cleared its final hurdle in the National Assembly, the third reading, now sits on President William Ruto’s desk, waiting for the signature that will make it law. The bill is set to finally drag the world of crypto into the disciplined light of day, offering consumers much-needed protection and giving legitimate businesses the legal certainty they’ve been craving. Once signed into law, every company dealing in digital assets will now have to find a home within the formal financial system, answering either to the steady hand of the Central Bank of…
Author: Antony Mutunga
Antony Mutunga
Antony Mutunga holds a Bachelors degree in Commerce, Finance from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. He previously worked for Altic Investment & Consultancy before he joined NBM team in 2015. His interest in writing ranges from business, economics and technology. He is also our lead researcher in matters business.
A significant resurgence in lending by commercial banks to the private sector has emerged as a pivotal factor behind the Central Bank of Kenya’s (CBK) latest decision to lower its benchmark interest rate. After a period of contraction earlier in the year, growth in private sector credit has shown a remarkable and steady improvement, climbing to 5% in September 2025. This recovery from a -2.9% in January signals a revitalisation of business and consumer confidence, providing the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) with the evidence it needed to enact a further 25-basis-point cut, bringing the Central Bank Rate (CBR) down to…
With geopolitical tensions currently having a greater effect on the world, Africa has decided to increase its reliance on intra-African trade. As a result, a quiet revolution is underway at Africa’s borders, one that promises to reshape the continent’s economic destiny. The vision, championed by leaders and participants at the recent Africa Resilience Forum 2025, seeks to replace the traditional, often cumbersome, border checkpoints with single, digitized posts that facilitate, rather than hinder, the flow of commerce and people. This practical step emerges as a critical pathway to unlocking the immense potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),…
The Nairobi Securities Exchange Plc (NSE) recently launched a dedicated Banking Sector Index. This new benchmark, which took effect from October 1, 2025, is designed to provide investors with a transparent and reliable gauge for tracking the performance of one of the market’s most vital segments. The index, which is both market capitalization-weighted and float-adjusted, will meticulously track the freely tradable shares of eleven listed banking institutions which include Absa Bank Kenya Plc, BK Group Plc, Diamond Trust Bank Kenya Ltd, Equity Group Holdings Plc, HF Group Plc, I&M Group Plc, KCB Group Plc, NCBA Group Plc, Stanbic Holdings Plc,…
The Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) has announced a significant reduction in this year’s second payment, commonly known as the bonus, creating waves of concern across tea-growing regions. The agency attributed the lower earnings to a complex interplay of international market forces and a critical shift in currency exchange rates. With the Kenyan shilling averaging Sh129 to the dollar this year compared to Sh144 last year, revenue from tea sold in dollars translated into far fewer shillings, creating a financial headwind for the entire sector. This currency shock is reflected in regional price data, where tea from areas like Kericho…
Global trade turbulence has been the norm around the world, marked by sweeping US tariffs and persistent geopolitical frictions. However, the Eastern Africa region has managed to defy expectations of a downturn, actively expanding its export footprint on the world stage. According to recent data from the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, the region has carved out new opportunities in the shifting landscape, reporting a surge in economic activity, driven by a combination of strategic trade diversions, a continent-wide push for integration, and a fortuitous boom in global commodity prices. The region has witnessed a significant uptick in exports…
Kenya Airways (KQ) has slumped back into deep financial losses, reporting a staggering loss after tax of Sh12.15 billion for the first half of 2025. This dismal performance stands in sharp contrast to the modest net profit of Sh513 million the national carrier achieved in the same period last year and the Sh5.43 billion net profit it recorded as at 31st December 2024. The airline’s half-year results reveal a company grappling with severe operational headwinds that have crippled its revenue stream. Total income fell sharply by 19% to Sh74.50 billion, down from Sh91.49 billion in June 2024. Despite an increase…
M-KOPA, the continent’s leading inclusive fintech, has announced it has surpassed three million active customers as of September 2025, inching closer to its mission to serve 10 million customers by 2030. The company’s latest Impact Report shows that an overwhelming nine out of ten active customers state that M-KOPA has made their lives better, a significant increase from eight out of ten just a year prior. According to Jesse Moore, Co-Founder and CEO of M-KOPA, the focus is on active, engaged customers. “What matters most to us is how many people we’re actively serving every day, those who stay engaged…
As the world celebrates United Nations World Tourism Day, the government has announced a special gift for all Kenyans. This Saturday, September 27th, 2025, all citizens will be granted free entry to every national park, reserve, and sanctuary managed by the Kenya Wildlife Service. This generous initiative, which honours the day that aims to raise awareness of tourism’s social, cultural, political, and economic value and its potential contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals, will carry the powerful theme of “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation” this year. It will serve as a poignant reminder of tourism’s unique ability to foster positive change…
Afrobarometer, a pan-African, non-partisan research network responsible for high quality data and analysis on Africa, has unveiled a new virtual training video library. This move will serve as a significant step towards democratizing data and ensuring that African voices are central to policy and development conversations. This initiative provides free, step-by-step guidance through a series of short and user-friendly videos, designed to empower anyone, from government officials and journalists to students and the general public, to confidently navigate and utilize its vast survey data. The training focuses on the organization’s online data analysis tool, which offers free access to more…