The KCB Group and the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) have formalized a strategic partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding. The agreement, which was signed in Vipingo located in Kilifi County, is designed to channel substantial financial resources and trade facilitation support to investors within the Vipingo Special Economic Zone (SEZ). This collaborative framework sees Afreximbank committing an initial Sh64.60 billion ($500 million), with KCB Group providing an additional Sh38.76 billion ($300 million), to create a powerful financial pool aimed at transforming the zone into a hub for export-led growth. The announcement, made during the Arise Integrated Industrial Platforms – Kenya…
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.
Kenya is set to bring a powerful and unified vision for the future of transport to the forefront at the upcoming Smarter Mobility Africa 2025 summit in Johannesburg. The event, scheduled for 30th September to 2nd October, will feature a high-level delegation coordinated by GIZ Kenya’s Promotion of E-mobility project, showcasing the nation’s comprehensive approach to building a thriving electric mobility ecosystem. This delegation represents the very heart of the county’s drive, uniting senior figures from Nairobi City County, the State Department for Transport, the State Department for Energy, Kenya Power & Lighting Company, and the Energy & Petroleum Regulatory…
Absa Bank Kenya PLC has announced the appointment of Mohammed Nyaoga, EBS, SC, as the new Chairperson of its Board of Directors effective 1st October 2025. He will be taking over the role from Charles Muchene, whose nine-year tenure as a Director and Chairman concludes at the end of September. The move marks the end of a notable chapter for the bank under Muchene’s guidance and the start of a new one led by one of the country’s most esteemed legal and corporate figures. Nyaoga brings an exceptional wealth of experience to the position, with a distinguished career in legal…
The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and Shelter Afrique Development Bank (ShafDB) have formalized a strategic alliance. The two institutions signed a Joint Project Preparation Facility (JPPF) Framework Agreement on the sidelines of the recently concluded fourth Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2025). The agreement, signed by Ms. Oluranti Doherty, Afreximbank’s Managing Director of Export Development, and Mr. Thierno-Habib Hann, ShafDB’s Managing Director and CEO, is designed to unlock a cumulative investment value of at least one billion dollars, marking a pivotal step towards transforming housing and urban development across Africa. The partnership aims to address the critical gap in the development cycle:…
Kenyans will see a slight drop in fuel prices following a new review by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA). Effective September 15, 2025, and lasting for one month, the maximum retail prices for Super Petrol, Diesel, and Kerosene have been reduced. Super Petrol will now retail at Sh184.52 per litre after a decrease of Sh0.79. Diesel will cost Sh171.47 per litre, down by Sh0.11, while Kerosene has seen the biggest drop of Sh0.80, bringing its new price to Sh154.78 per litre. EPRA attributed the price cuts to recent drops in global petroleum prices. The average landed cost of…
Access Bank Kenya has ushered in a new chapter with the appointment of Ralph Chinedu Opara as its Country Managing Director, following approval from the Central Bank of Kenya. Opara takes over from Lillian Odhiambo, who provided capable acting leadership since 2024. He arrives from a highly successful tenure as Group Head of Access Bank Group’s Commercial Banking Division, which he transformed into the group’s largest commercial business, boasting a balance sheet of over Sh155.40 billion (1.2 billion USD) and risk assets exceeding Sh168.35 billion (1.3 billion USD). A seasoned banker and Senior Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers…
Of the countless shipping lanes that criss-cross the globe, few are as vital, or as vulnerable, as those weaving through the Indian Ocean. It’s here, in these strategic waters critical to global trade, that Kenya has just assumed a pivotal role, unanimously elected to chair a key maritime security working group, the Djibouti Code of Conduct’s Working Group 3. The decision, reached by the 20 signatory nations during a meeting at the Serena Beach Resort and Spa in Shanzu, Mombasa County, is a profound gesture of trust placed in Kenya to spearhead efforts against a relentless spectrum of threats, from…
Jubilee Holdings Limited (JHL) has announced its decision to divest from its general insurance operations across five African nations, according to Margaret Kipchumba, the Group General Counsel and Company Secretary. The company’s Board of Directors has confirmed entering into a formal agreement with Sanlam Allianz Africa Proprietary Limited (SAZ) for the sale of all its directly and indirectly held shares in its general insurance subsidiaries. The transaction encompasses Jubilee Allianz General Insurance in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Mauritius, as well as Jubilee Insurance Company of Burundi S.A. This decision is being executed under pre-existing commercial arrangements, specifically a put option…
The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) is in the final stages of introducing its proposed new fees for accessing the country’s national parks, national reserves, national marine parks, national marine reserves and national sanctuaries. The proposed Wildlife Conservation and Management (Access and Conservation) (Fees) Regulations, 2025, have been developed by Rebecca Miano, Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife and are now set for a final stakeholder validation forum before being officially gazetted. This process is a continuation of extensive public participation efforts that are a mandatory requirement under Kenyan law. The journey for these new regulations began with a notification published…
The allure of instant messaging is undeniable in the modern workplace. Platforms like WhatsApp have woven themselves into the fabric of our daily routines, offering a familiar and frictionless way to connect with colleagues. According to the 2025 KnowBe4 Africa Annual Cybersecurity survey, 93% of African professionals now use the app for work, even surpassing traditional email and dedicated tools like Microsoft Teams. Yet, this convenience, so prized by employees, casts a long shadow over organisational security, opening a Pandora’s box of cyber risks that leaders can no longer ignore. The very qualities that make these apps so popular, their…