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…
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.
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…
TIME, an iconic global brand, has announced the launch of TIME Africa, a new regional expansion dedicated to the continent. The over 100-year-old brand is embarking on this new chapter in collaboration with Global Venture Partners (GVP), marking a major investment in African storytelling and discourse. Scheduled to debut digitally in September 2025 at Africa.TIME.com, the platform will serve as a hub for trusted journalism and live events, designed to connect with audiences across the continent. The initiative aims to leverage TIME’s century-long legacy of credible reporting and its unique ability to convene important conversations, bringing a focused lens to…
The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Regional Office for Africa and the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) have solidified a new partnership. The agreement, formalized during the Seventy-fifth Session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa, signals a deepened commitment to advancing vaccine equity, fostering local production, and accelerating health innovation across the region. The memorandum of understanding (MoU), signed by Dr. Mohamed Janabi, WHO regional director for Africa, and Dr. Jerome H. Kim, director general of IVI, represents a strategic escalation in the mission to strengthen Africa’s self-reliance in health security. It represents a joint ambition to build robust regional capabilities…
The recently concluded Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), hosted in Yokohama from August 20-22, 2025, served as a powerful reaffirmation of the dynamic and enduring partnership between Africa and Japan. Under the leadership of Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, the African delegation articulated a clear and strategic vision for a future built on mutual respect and shared prosperity. Chairperson Youssouf’s central message throughout the conference was a compelling call for bold and innovative partnerships, urging a collaborative effort to co-create transformative solutions. He positioned the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as…
The Ministry of Health has entered a strategic partnership with the Association of Medical Engineering of Kenya (AMEK). This collaboration, spearheaded by Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr. Ouma Oluga, aims to comprehensively strengthen the field of biomedical engineering and overhaul the nation’s health technology management systems. The high-level meeting, which featured AMEK’s leadership including Chairman Symon Mbakah and Secretary General Hesbon Obaigwa, focused on critical interventions designed to ensure the reliability and safety of medical equipment services from national to county levels. The discussions charted a clear course for action, centering on the urgent need to revise and relaunch…
A groundbreaking Sh10.66 billion ($82.5 million) initiative is set to transform aviation safety and environmental protection across Africa as the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) jointly launched the Fortifying Infrastructure for Responsible Extinguishment (FIRE) project. This ambitious program targets the phase-out of toxic fluorinated firefighting foams containing PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), dangerous “forever chemicals” linked to severe environmental and health risks, at major airports in Kenya, Egypt, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and South Africa. Supported by a Sh1.29 billion ($10 million) grant from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and Sh9.37 billion ($72.5 million) in…