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.
Safaricom Defends Ethiopia Strategy as Share Sale Pricing Remains Sticky Point
Lawmakers and several stakeholders have questioned why the shares were not offered to the wider public, arguing that an open market process could have allowed Kenyans to participate
The African Impact Challenge Opens Applications for Kenyan Health Tech Startups
Kenya's Diaspora Remittances Crossed US$5 Billion in 2025
Kenya’s diaspora remittances reached a record US$ 5.04Bn in 2025, the first time annual inflows crossed the US$ 5Bn mark. The milestone followed consistently strong monthly receipts, with six of the ten highest inflows on record occurring during the year. Growth slowed from 2024 levels, but inflows remained elevated, reinforcing remittances as a core foreign-exchange support for the economy.
NSE Week 3: Indices Advance, Trading Activity Slows as Foreign Outflows Deepen
The NSE posted further gains in the week III ended Jan 16, 2026, with all major indices closing higher as the NASI rose 1.04%. Trading activity cooled, with turnover slipping to KSh 2.57Bn, while foreign investors recorded a KSh 1.1Bn net outflow. Banks and Safaricom supported index performance as the market consolidated after a strong start to the year.Kenya's Political Economy is Killing its Businesses
Kenya's business people have the unfortunate privilege of being both over regulated and under regulatedKenya Maintains Lead as Startup Funding Nears US$1 Billion
Kenyan startups raised close to US$1 billion in funding in 2025, the largest amount raised by any African market since 2022, driven overwhelmingly by debt financing into energy and asset-heavy companiesAfrica’s Upstream Momentum Building Up, but Investment Discipline Remains Elusive
As encouraging as the upstream outlook is, Africa’s geology remains complex, and that complexity can shape how and where companies invest.
Security Concerns Dominate as Government Defends Safaricom Share Sale
National security dominated deliberations in Parliament on Tuesday as the government moved to justify plans to reduce its stake in Safaricom PLCPalantir-linked VC Backs Nigerian Defense-tech Startup
Terra’s product lineup includes long- and mid-range drones, autonomous sentry towers, unmanned ground vehicles and maritime surveillance systems, all coordinated through ArtemisOSNEMA Probes Planned Large-Scale Fertilizer Project in Olkaria
Kenya’s environmental regulator has invited public comments on a proposed large-scale green fertilizer and geothermal power project planned for OlkariaSaudi Arabia Clears Barriers to Foreign Investment in its Stock Market
Saudi Arabia’s Capital Market Authority (CMA) has announced that, effective February 1, 2026, all categories of foreign investors will be permitted to invest directly in its financial markets. This regulatory shift eliminates the restrictive "Qualified Foreign Investor" (QFI) framework and phases out indirect swap agreements, allowing global participants direct ownership of listed securities. The move is a strategic component of the Vision 2030 plan to diversify the economy and enhance market liquidity.
