Why France Excluded South Africa, Invited Kenya, to G7 Summit
France has defended its decision to disinvite South Africa, a member of the G20, from the upcoming G7 Summit in Evian-les-Bains, choosing instead to invite Kenya as Nairobi prepares to host the Africa-France Summit in May.
NSE Banking Index Posts Worst Day Since Launch as Four-Day Rout Wipes KSh 215Bn
The Nairobi Securities Exchange lost KSh 64.34Bn on Thursday March 26, extending a four-day selloff that has erased KSh 215.58Bn in market value, the third worst week since 2008. The Banking Index fell 3.91%, its worst session since launching in October 2025, with six of eleven banks dropping more than 4%. KCB traded 8.95 million shares worth an estimated KSh 595M. The selloff is being driven by the Iran war and Strait of Hormuz disruption, with Brent crude above $106 and Kenya facing a fuel price shock at the April 15 EPRA review. Market cap fell to KSh 3,257Bn. YTD gains have narrowed from 12.24% to 5.27%.
Women, Older Kenyans and Low-Income Earners Most Anxious Over Debt-Old Mutual Report
Findings from the Old Mutual Financial Wellness Monitor 2025 indicate that about 40% of working Kenyans worry about their debt, a notable improvement from 53% a year earlier.
NCBA Posts Record KSh 23.4Bn profit as Nedbank Takeover Looms
NCBA Group PLC posted a record post-merger profit after tax of KSh 23.39 Bn for the full year ended 31 December 2025, up 7.0%, driven by a 27.7% surge in net interest income to KSh 44.08 Bn as funding costs collapsed. Total dividend rose 29.1% to KSh 7.10 per share, the highest since the 2019 CBA-NIC merger. Nedbank of South Africa has tabled a $855 million bid for 66% of NCBA, valued at 1.4 times book. CMA waiver secured February 2026. CBK approval expected Q3 2026, with deal closure targeted late 2026.Sidian Bank Taps KCB's John Okulo as CEO to Steer Kenya's Fastest-Growing Bank
Sidian Bank has appointed John Okulo, currently Director of Corporate Banking at KCB Bank Kenya, as its new Managing Director and CEO effective 1 May 2026, subject to CBK approval. He succeeds Chege Thumbi, who retires on 30 June 2026 after nine years. The transition completes a full governance overhaul: former Cabinet Secretary James Macharia replaced Centum's James Mworia as chairman in October 2025, three new directors joined the board, and Centum exited entirely in March 2026. Okulo brings 28 years of experience across Standard Chartered, Stanbic, NCBA, and KCB, including founding NC Bank Uganda.Toyota Land Cruiser LC300 Recall Hits COMESA Markets
The COMESA Competition and Consumer Commission has issued an urgent regional alert following a significant safety recall of Toyota Land Cruiser LC300 models.The Rapid Growth of Equity Group’s Insurance Arm
Equity Group’s expansion into insurance is accelerating just as financial pressures reshape how Kenyan households manage risk, positioning the business as a key growth engineKenya Lures Private Capital With 50 Public-Private Projects At KIICO 2026
The government urged the private sector to seize these opportunities as they were embedded in sectors where markets are expanding, competitiveness is strengthening, and scale can be achieved.Unlocking Kenya’s Economic Growth Through Competition Reform- OECD Peer Review Report
Kenya’s US$ 132 billion economy is dynamic but constrained by a restrictive regulatory environment and heavy state participation, which limit private sector growth. The 2026 OECD review finds that targeted competition reforms could unlock significant gains- boosting GDP and jobs- highlighting the need for stronger, more independent enforcement by the Competition Authority of Kenya.Missing Rent, Lost Land, Windows 2012: What the Auditor-General Found at Kenya Railways
The Auditor-General issued a qualified opinion on Kenya Railways Corporation's FY2025 accounts for the second consecutive year, citing six grounds: 119 land parcels without title deeds within a KSh 18.75 Bn land balance, KSh 16.91 Bn in completed projects misclassified as work-in-progress, a KSh 520 Mn unreconciled rental income variance, KSh 1.28 Bn in receivables dating to 2011, flawed student debtor accounts at RTI and 1,981 freight invoices with no matching ERP entries. Eight prior-year issues remain unresolvedSHA Survives Constitutional Test, but Transition Flaws Persist
Although the judgment acknowledged weaknesses and irregularities in the process, it concluded they were not strong enough to invalidate the contract itself.I&M Group's Profit Rises 28% on Income Growth
I&M Group reported a 27.6% rise in FY2025 net profit to KSh 18.8 billion, driven by strong income growth and lower funding costs.
