Kenya's Stock Market Closes First Week of February at All Time High
The NSE finished Week VI at an all-time NASI high of 202.73, pushing market value to KSh 3.199 trillion. Banks led trading, lifting the NSE 20 by 1.46%, while equity turnover rose to KSh 4.76Bn. Foreign investors sold KSh 1.06Bn net, but local demand kept prices firm. Bond turnover eased to KSh 57.5Bn, and derivatives activity jumped to 4,693 contracts.
EV Adoption Will Threaten Kenya’s Lucrative Fuel Levy
The government is vague on what alternative revenues it shall develop to reduce over reliance on the fuel levy as EVs become more popular on Kenyan roads.
Rebranding Plans Tanked Stanbic-NCBA Merger, Insiders Say
Standard Bank subsidiary Stanbic Bank's insistence on rebranding NCBA may have been the final nail on the coffin in the long-running merger negotiations,
From Collapse to Control: The Evolution of Bank Mergers & Acquisitions in Kenya
Kenya’s banking sector has consolidated repeatedly over the past four decades through a mix of failure, regulation, and strategic takeovers. From the 1989 state-led rescue that created Consolidated Bank to the regional expansion wave of the 2010s and foreign-led acquisitions in the mid-2020s, mergers and acquisitions have been the system’s primary correction mechanism. What began as crisis containment evolved into scale-driven growth and, more recently, a contest over ownership and control, with foreign capital increasingly shaping governance and strategy across the sector.The Vast Potential of the India-EU Trade Deal
The India–EU free trade agreement would rank among the world’s largest trade deals by economic scale, covering about 1.9 billion people and nearly a quarter of global GDP. Beyond headline size, its significance lies in deeper regulatory and services integration between two structurally different economies. The agreement could reshape trade and investment flows, but its real impact will depend on implementation, regulatory alignment, and how adjustment pressures are managed across sectors.Why Institutional Resilience Is Now a Core Corporate Governance Imperative
The world is entering an era of overlapping global crises, from pandemics and financial shocks to geopolitical conflicts and climate pressures. In this volatile and interconnected environment, institutional resilience, the ability to anticipate, adapt, and thrive amid disruption, is no longer optional. This article explores how governments, businesses, and organizations can strengthen their strategies, operations, finances, and governance to withstand shocks and seize opportunities in a rapidly changing world.
Kenya’s School Enrollment Soars, but Weak Skills Pipeline Threatens Quality
Kenya has made strong gains in getting children into school, but learning outcomes remain dangerously weak,African Women-Led Firms Post Growth, Lag in Private Capital
Although female-led startups in Africa are outpacing their male peers in both growth and revenue, women remain underrepresented in senior roles where investment decisions are madeSomalia-UAE Port Dispute Deepens, Carrying Implications for Kenya
Tensions between Somalia and the United Arab Emirates have resurfaced following Somaliland’s rejection of Mogadishu’s claims over the Berbera port and Jubbaland’s refusal to annul UAE-backed agreements at Kismayo. The dispute highlights unresolved constitutional and governance challenges within Somalia’s federal system and the growing role of external actors in Horn of Africa port infrastructure. For Kenya, the standoff carries implications for regional trade routes, security cooperation, and infrastructure competitiveness, highlighting the need for careful diplomatic and economic positioning amid heightened regional volatility.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.
