Broke Kenyans cut spending as Iran war drives up costs

Kenya’s private sector activity shrank in March for the first time since August last year

By Brian Ngugi 19 hrs ago

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KBA hosts forum to strengthen credit analysis in banking

The Kenya Bankers Association hosted a forum with CISI and CareEdge Ratings to strengthen credit analysis and improve lending decision frameworks in Kenya’s banking sector.

By Brian Ngugi 15 hrs ago

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Iran war hits kitchens as shilling slumps, forex reserves dwindle

Shockwaves of the conflict are squeezing consumers already battered by years of economic hardship.

By Brian Ngugi 3 days ago

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Cash bunkers: Top State officials hoard millions in home vaults

It emerged that about Sh500 million could have been recovered during the arrest of three top ministry of energy officials.

By Brian Ngugi 3 days ago

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Kenya slashes dollar debt to record low as Chinese yuan gains ground

President William Ruto’s administration has reduced the share of its external debt denominated in US dollars to the lowest level on record.

By Brian Ngugi 4 days ago

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Co-op bank shares set for further gains on strong profit growth, lower rates

Tier one lender Co-operative Bank of Kenya (Co-op Bank) shares could rise nearly a quarter over the next 12 months

By Brian Ngugi 3 days ago

China woos Kenyan producers with '800-million opportunity' as zero-tariff deal takes effect

China has unveiled a detailed plan to integrate Kenyan producers into its high-tech industrial chains.

By Brian Ngugi 3 days ago

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From bribes to opaque tender deals: Why Trump has flagged Kenya as corruption haven

The Trump administration criticises Kenya’s business climate as corrupt and skewed toward the powerful, highlighting challenges ahead of a planned trade deal.

By Brian Ngugi 6 days ago

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HF Group posts 40pc jump in full-year net profit to Sh1.4 billion

HF Group reported a 40 per cent rise in net profit for the year ended December 2025, driven by higher interest income

By Brian Ngugi 6 days ago

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'Fuliza' republic: Ruto's government spends 80pc of tax money on debt

Kenya’s government is spending almost 80% of its tax revenue on debt repayment, leaving minimal funds for development amid looming short-term debt maturities.

By Brian Ngugi 8 days ago

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Inside Afreximbank's Trade Push to Shield Africa from Global Shocks

Kenya and other African economies are being urged to fast-track regional trade integration as a buffer against rising global shocks.

By Brian Ngugi 7 days ago

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Why Kenyans prefer digital lenders, chamas for emergencies

A new report by Tala shows Kenyans increasingly prefer digital lenders over chamas and family support for emergency credit.

By Brian Ngugi 7 days ago

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As Kenya braces for Iran war fallout, CBK forex reserves hit Sh1.82t

Kenya’s forex reserves have surged to a record $14.02 billion, offering a six-month import cushion as the country prepares for economic shocks from rising oil prices and Iran war disruptions.

By Brian Ngugi 9 days ago

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Oil shock looms as State maintains studious silence

Kenya faces looming fuel supply risks from global oil tensions as the government remains largely silent on potential impacts and preparedness.

By Brian Ngugi 15 days ago

Kingdom Bank hits jackpot with SMEs, rural push as net profit hits Sh946m

SME focussed lender Kingdom Bank posted a 59 per cent surge in full-year profit

By Brian Ngugi 15 days ago

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Kenya eyes new trade deals as Chinese VP lands in Nairobi

Kenya prepares for new trade deals as Chinese Vice President Han Zheng arrives in Nairobi, signalling Beijing’s strategic focus on East Africa.

By Brian Ngugi 16 days ago

Ketraco gets nod to reappoint board after petition struck out

The High Court has struck out a petition that had blocked the reappointment of three board members at KETRACO, clearing the path for the Energy Cabinet Secretary to reconstitute the board.

By Brian Ngugi 18 days ago

Co-op Bank posts Sh29.75b profit, proposes a record Sh14.67 billion dividend

Co-operative Bank of Kenya reported full-year 2025 results on Thursday, proposing a record Sh14.67 billion dividend payout that will deliver a substantial windfall to shareholders

By Brian Ngugi 19 days ago

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NSE hit as Iran-Israel war threatens economy

Nairobi Securities Exchange lost significant valuation as global markets reacted to escalation in the Iran–Israel conflict, while the Kenyan shilling showed resilience despite economic pressures.

By Brian Ngugi 21 days ago

Co-op Bank secures Sh233M boost for Kenya's digital enterprises

Co-operative Bank of Kenya has partnered with United Nations Capital Development Fund to unlock Sh233.1 million in financing for youth-led digital businesses across Kenya.

By Brian Ngugi 20 days ago

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Kenya's REITs market surges as investor appetite grows

Kenya’s REITs market capitalisation has nearly tripled in five years, reflecting rising investor interest in property through alternative, low-hassle investment channels.

By Brian Ngugi 20 days ago

StanChart rewards shareholders with Sh11.7B dividend despite profit slump

Standard Chartered Bank Kenya is maintaining a high dividend payout despite a sharp profit drop caused by a one-off pension charge.

By Brian Ngugi 20 days ago

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State faces new hurdle in meeting Safaricom stake sale conditions

The National Treasury is facing growing pressure to meet strict parliamentary conditions required for the sale of a 15 per cent stake in telecoms giant Safaricom to South Africa’s Vodacom.

By Brian Ngugi 22 days ago

Naivasha businesses light up as firms rush to showcase Safari Rally-style services

An estimated 600,000 spectators are attending the four-day event, including visitors from Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia, injecting millions of shillings into the local economy.

By Brian Ngugi 25 days ago

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End of an era as Kirubi family exits Sidian Bank in multi-billion deal

The late Chris Kirubi’s family has sold its remaining stake in Sidian Bank, marking the end of their involvement in banking and concluding a multi-billion divestment.

By Brian Ngugi 24 days ago

KCB unveils record Sh22 billion dividend payout as profit surges

The lender proposes a Sh7 per share dividend, distributing Sh22 billion to its 193,000 shareholders.

By Brian Ngugi 27 days ago

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Revealed: Why local companies are shutting down

Manufacturers are appealing to the Ruto administration to turn back the tide before it's too late.

By Brian Ngugi 28 days ago

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Inside Ruto's push to negotiate new IMF loan

Central to the impasse is the classification of billions in off-budget debt, including a Sh452.31 billion conversion of Chinese railway debt into a securitised loan.

By Brian Ngugi 28 days ago

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Inside William Ruto-IMF fallout

President Ruto's government is resisting IMF demands for a painful debt restructuring, setting the stage for a high-stakes confrontation with the global lender.

By Brian Ngugi 29 days ago

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Central Bank warns Middle East conflict could reignite inflation

Central Bank of Kenya has warned that rising tensions in the Middle East could push inflation up again and make it harder to maintain stable prices ahead of the next interest rate decision.

By Brian Ngugi 29 days ago

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Ruto man Ndii rules out new negotiations with IMF team

A standoff between Kenya and the IMF over a new multi-billion-dollar loan programme deepened last week after David Ndii, declared that the country was “not negotiating” with the lender.

By Brian Ngugi 30 days ago

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Ruto's economy thrown into turmoil by Iran crisis

Escalating hostilities involving Israel, the United States and Iran are shaking Kenya’s economy.

By Brian Ngugi 1 month ago

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Loan talks stall as IMF tells Kenya to brace for Iran war fallout

The IMF has warned Kenya to prepare for economic fallout from the Middle East conflict as talks for a new financing programme remain stalled.

By Brian Ngugi 1 month ago

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Mini-budget tests IMF austerity demands as State spending soars

The Treasury has unveiled a Sh287.4 billion supplementary budget that appears to contradict IMF demands for fiscal consolidation and wage restraint, setting the stage for tense negotiations.

By Brian Ngugi 1 month ago

GCR affirms Afreximbank ratings, removes rating watch on reduced sovereign risk

The rating agency also affirmed the international scale long-term programme rating on the bank’s $5 billion Global Medium Term Note Programme at A.

By Brian Ngugi 1 month ago

Police ink Sh1.9 billion deal with Co-op Bank to boost mobility

The National Police Service has launched a new Sh1.9 billion vehicle fleet financed through a deal with Co-op Bank to strengthen mobility and improve crime-fighting operations across the country.

By Brian Ngugi 1 month ago

Afreximbank tops Bloomberg's Africa borrower loan league tables for 2025

The rankings underscore the multilateral institution's growing dominance in mobilising large-scale capital from within and outside Africa to finance the continent's critical sectors.

By Brian Ngugi 1 month ago

Dividend boom for Absa shareholders as profit up 10pc to Sh22.9B

Absa Bank Kenya has increased its shareholder payout after reporting a 10% rise in profit to Sh22.9 billion for 2025 and declaring a total dividend of Sh2.05 per share, up 17% from the previous year.

By Brian Ngugi 1 month ago

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How Kenya missed out on Sh125b World Bank project

Kenya has been excluded from a new, ambitious $972 million (Sh125.38 billion) regional World Bank programme designed to tackle youth unemployment.

By Brian Ngugi 1 month ago

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The irony of JKIA unveiling airport makeover plan without funding clarity

The Kenya Airports Authority is pressing on with an ambitious multi-billion dollar plan to transform Jomo Kenyatta International Airport into a world-class aviation hub

By Brian Ngugi 1 month ago