Kenya Faces Food Security Test as Court Weighs Rice Import Policy
With the High Court set to rule on January 29, 2026, on a challenge to the Government’s decision to allow time-bound, duty-free rice imports, the State has moved to reassure farmers
Safaricom's Looming Majority Control Shift Triggers EAC, COMESA Inquiries
Regional competition authorities have opened formal inquiries into a proposed transaction that would hand South Africa’s Vodacom Group control of Safaricom PLCHigh Court Upholds WhatsApp, SMS Agreements as Proof of Contract
The court held that the WhatsApp exchanges did not read as casual chat but as ongoing business communication about payment obligations.NSSF Assets Surge by KSh 173 Bn in FY2025, Investment Income More Than Doubles
NSSF delivered a record FY2025 as members’ funds rose 43% to 572.8 Bn, driven by a sharp rise in contributions and strong investment returns. Member contributions increased 35% to 83.97 Bn, while net investment income surged 152% to 105.3 Bn, lifting returns to 22%. Investment assets expanded to 558.0 Bn, led by higher Treasury bond, equity, and Eurobond holdings, marking the fastest balance sheet expansion in the fund’s history.
AfDB Approves US$16.5mn Loan for Menengai Geothermal Plant
AfDB approved a US$16.5 million loan to support construction of a new 35-megawatt power plant at the Menengai geothermal field near NakuruNSE Last Week: Indices Advance as Turnover Rises and Foreign Outflows Ease
The NSE closed Week IV with modest gains across major indices as turnover rose 24.65% to KSh 3.2Bn.Govt Returns to Market With KSh 50Bn February Bond Reopening
Kenya has opened a KSh 50Bn February bond reopening days after completing a switch auction that extended maturities without adding new debt, returning to the market for fresh funding as domestic bonds continue to plug the FY2025/26 budget gap. From July through January, Treasury bond reopenings raised about KSh 646Bn, delivering net borrowing of roughly KSh 526Bn, excluding Treasury bills, as IMF-linked external budget support remains unresolved.Russia Opens New Wheat Export Route to Kenya as Grain Trade Shapes Africa’s Geopolitical Balancing
Russia has opened a new wheat export route to Kenya, marked by a 44,000-tonne shipment, highlighting how grain trade is increasingly shaping Africa’s geopolitical landscape.Kenya Reviews US$ 5.96Bn World Bank Portfolio
Kenya has held high-level discussions with the World Bank to review its current development financing portfolio, valued at US$ 5.96 billion across 31 active projects. The talks focused on budget support operations, priority sectors under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, and planned projects under the IDA 21 cycle, with particular emphasis on job creation, youth empowerment, and industrialization.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 gainsCash in Circulation Rises to KSh 357Bn as Bank Withdrawals Outpace Deposits
Kenya’s currency in circulation rose 7.0 percent to KSh 357.02 billion in the year to June 2025, up KSh 23.2 billion, after net withdrawals from the Central Bank of Kenya reached KSh 23.23 billion. Banknotes grew 7.1 percent to KSh 345.64 billion, while coins rose 3.2 percent to KSh 11.38 billion. Currency inflows fell 7.8 percent to KSh 476.32 billion and outflows declined 6.6 percent to KSh 499.56 billion, indicating slower cash recycling.
