Author: Antony Mutunga

The horticulture export sector has recorded robust growth in the first quarter of the 2025/2026 financial year. According to data from the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA), between July and September 2025, the sector saw a 3.5% rise in export volume and a 6.2% surge in export value compared to the same period last year. This translated into total revenues of Sh34.41 billion, an increase from Sh32.38 billion the previous year, highlighting a strengthened capacity for generating foreign exchange. Kenya exported 108,584 metric tonnes, up from 104,951 metric tonnes, while the financial value grew by Sh2.02 billion. The notable divergence…

The government has officially launched preparatory work for the major upgrade of the vital Mau Summit–Eldoret–Malaba road corridor. Spearheaded by the Public Private Partnerships (PPP) Directorate of the National Treasury, in collaboration with the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) and with support from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the project marks a decisive step towards modernizing a key segment of the northern corridor. The journey began with a kick-off meeting between a joint venture of consultants from CPCS, an international infrastructure development firm based in Canada, and Avatech Consult, a Kenyan-based consulting engineering firm, who are going to conduct…

In the world of finance, the prosperity of a region depends heavily on a strong financial center. This is the hub where capital converges, ideas intersect, and international business plans come together to drive growth. Since the year started, Kenya has continued to prove it is the financial hub of Africa. After Standard Bank Group CEO, Simpiwe Tshabalala visited the country last month, this week Absa Group’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Kenny Fihla, arrived in Nairobi for a series of strategic meetings with the public and private sector leaders. Fihla is accompanied by Charles Russon, Group Executive: Africa Regions, and…

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) is proposing to make a major change to how it tracks cargo. It aims to make the process more efficient, secure, and responsive to the needs of modern trade. In recognition of changing business dynamics, technological progress, and growing demand, the authority is moving towards a multi-vendor, user-owned seals model. This means that in the near future, businesses involved in moving both dry cargo and wet cargo will have the opportunity to own their own compliant electronic seals, sourcing them from a range of approved vendors. The goal is to create a more flexible and…

Kenya Power and Lighting Company Plc (KPLC) announced an uplifting performance for the six months ended 31 December 2025. The national electricity distributor recorded a profit after tax of Sh10.40 billion, marking a notable increase of Sh433 million from the Sh9.97 billion reported in the same period the previous year. This increase was mirrored in profit before tax, which grew by 5.5% to reach Sh14.83 billion, up from Sh14.06 billion, due to a period of strengthened profitability. The driving force behind this performance is the 6.9% growth recorded in revenue, which surged to Sh114.87 billion from Sh107.42 billion. This revenue…

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a major new initiative to connect millions of people in Africa who currently lack electricity. The project, called the Africa Energy Technical Assistance Program (AESTAP) Mission 300 Phase II, will help several African countries turn their National Energy Compacts into actual electricity connections. Over the next two years, Chad, Gabon, Tanzania, Mauritania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Nigeria, Madagascar, Ethiopia, Malawi, Lesotho, Namibia, and Uganda will receive technical assistance through the Sh507.53 billion ($3.9 billion) project. Energy compacts are national plans where governments outline strategies to expand access, strengthen power sectors, and…

Africa Mega Agricultural Corp PLC (AMAC), an agricultural firm based in Kenya, announced it will be integrating over 1,500 international buyers onto its digital commodities exchange during the Gulfood 2026 event held in Dubai. This deal is set to dramatically expand the global marketplace for agricultural exporters in Kenya and East Africa. The company, which underwent a strategic transformation from Kenya Orchards Ltd in 2024, operates an integrated digital trade platform that seamlessly connects a network of vetted exporters with institutional buyers, logistics partners, and financiers. The platform brings structure and transparency to the complex trade of fresh produce, long-life…

ZARIBEE Kenya, a mobility fintech, has officially become part of the WASSHA Group, a Japanese social enterprise, marking a new chapter in its mission to empower motorcycle taxi riders. The move combines ZARIBEE’s local market expertise with WASSHA’s pan-African operational platform, creating a stronger base for sustainable growth. Since its establishment, ZARIBEE has supported boda boda riders through a rent-to-own model that addresses the high upfront cost of motorcycles. Through structured payment plans and on-the-ground engagement, the company has enabled riders to move from daily rentals to ownership, turning motorcycles into income-generating assets. ZARIBEE CEO Renji Morita said the acquisition…

Nairobi’s rental market has just hit a new high. According to the most recent data from HassConsult covering the end of 2025, Nairobi’s suburban rental market achieved a significant benchmark as yields increased to 7.4%, marking the highest performance observed in reports since 2007. This peak was driven by consistent rises in rent alongside more moderate growth in property values, a trend especially noticeable in the neighborhoods surrounding the city center. This means the yields people are getting from rent, compared to the price of their property, are very good right now. However, this isn’t a simple boom story; it…

The government, through the National Treasury, is set to replace the rustle of paper with the secure hum of digital processes. On 2 February 2026, a fully automated platform for external debt payments is scheduled to go live, marking the culmination of a significant reform aimed at overhauling the nation’s approach to managing its sovereign obligations. This shift from manual, paper-based systems to integrated digital workflows promises to redefine transparency and efficiency in public financial management. The innovative system, developed within the Treasury Single Account (TSA) framework, represents a sophisticated digital nexus, seamlessly integrating several critical national systems. It brings…