Govt Returns to Market With KSh 50Bn February Bond Reopening
Kenya has opened a KSh 50Bn February bond reopening days after completing a switch auction that extended maturities without adding new debt, returning to the market for fresh funding as domestic bonds continue to plug the FY2025/26 budget gap. From July through January, Treasury bond reopenings raised about KSh 646Bn, delivering net borrowing of roughly KSh 526Bn, excluding Treasury bills, as IMF-linked external budget support remains unresolved.
A County Industrialization Fund Could Unlock Kenya’s Manufacturing Potential
Kenya’s manufacturing sector remains stuck at 7.3% of GDP, far below Vision 2030 targets, with industrial activity concentrated in a few urban counties. As global manufacturers shift from high-cost economies like China, Kenya has a narrow window to absorb labour-intensive industries and tackle rising rural poverty and youth unemployment. Analysts are calling for a USD 4.7 billion County Industrialization Fund to anchor factories, agro-processing and exports across all 47 counties, leveraging public-private partnerships to drive rural industrialization and position Kenya as a regional manufacturing hub.
Nigerian Banking Group Zenith Bank Inches Closer to Acquiring Paramount Bank
Zenith Bank has secured Competition Authority of Kenya approval to acquire 100% of Paramount Bank, removing the competition hurdle to its entry into Kenya. CAK found the deal would not alter market concentration, noting Paramount’s small market share and Zenith’s lack of prior Kenyan operations. The approval is subject to staff retention conditions, with Central Bank of Kenya clearance now the final step.Kenya's Headline Growth Is Not Shielding Households from Economic Pains-IPF
Kenya should move beyond headline GDP growth and macroeconomic stability and refocus fiscal policy on outcomes that improve citizens’ lives, cushion households from shocks and protect hard-won social gains
Billionaires Have Tightened Grip on Global Media – Oxfam
After Senegal’s Turbulent Triumph, East Africa Prepares for AFCON 2027
Senegal’s dramatic AFCON triumph was overshadowed by controversy, security concerns and accusations of unequal treatment, reigniting debates about fairness and trust in African football. As East Africa prepares to host AFCON 2027 for the first time in decades, the lessons from Senegal’s experience highlight that success will depend not only on infrastructure, but on transparency, equity and credible tournament governance.Why the Global Payments Race Is Pushing Banks Toward PayTech Acquisitions
Banks are increasingly acquiring payment technology firms as competition intensifies for control of payments infrastructure, customer data, and low-cost liquidity.Kenya’s Foreign Exchange Buffers Hit All-Time High Of KSh 1.61 Trillion
Kenya’s foreign exchange reserves rose to a record KSh 1.61 trillion (US$12.477 billion) in the week ended Jan. 15, 2026, CBK data shows. The stockpile is KSh 430.1 billion higher than a year earlier, a 36.5% increase, reflecting sustained net FX inflows and reserve accumulation. Import cover rose to 5.4 months, up from 5.3 in the prior week and above the four-month statutory threshold.From East African Industrial to NSE 20: The Forgotten Roots of Kenya’s Market Benchmark
The NSE 20 Share Index, Kenya’s oldest stock market benchmark, began in 1964 as the East African Industrial Share Index—tracking regional blue chips across Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. It evolved into a purely Kenyan index after the collapse of the East African Community in 1977. Through market liberalization, privatizations, and financial crises, the NSE 20 has reflected Kenya’s shifting economic landscape. Though now overshadowed by broader indices, its legacy remains vital for historical analysis and regional market integration.How Iran Revealed that Elon Musk's Starlink is Not Invincible
Following the events in Iran, one may be tempted to ask: will Starlink be reliable during a state-backed internet crackdown? Or will governments deploy military tech to impede a service that was revered as almost invincible?How Kenyan Businesses Can Stay Resilient and Risk-Proof in 2026
With improving credit conditions and steady GDP growth, 2026 presents a critical window for businesses to fortify their foundations while actively positioning themselves for long-term expansion.
LAPTRUST Imara I-REIT Issues Profit Warning on Lower Rental Income
LAPTRUST Imara I-REIT has issued a profit warning, cautioning that earnings for the year ending December 31, 2025 will decline by at least 25% compared with the previous period, driven mainly by weaker gross rental income. The warning marks a shift from 2024, when operating performance improved sharply but results were weighed down by non-cash property valuation losses. The REIT said the outlook is based on management accounts to October 2025 and did not revise distribution guidance, placing focus on the durability of rental cash flows going into 2026.
