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Inside Kenya's Sh13 trillion debt bomb

Kenya's public debt crossed the Sh13 trillion mark in June, Treasury data shows

By Brian Ngugi 4 days ago

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CBK warns banks against use of AI to reject or approve loans

In recent years, a majority of Kenyan banks have quietly embedded Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the core of their operations.

By Brian Ngugi 5 days ago

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Why public anger against Ruto is boiling

Three in four Kenyans believe the country is headed in the wrong direction

By Brian Ngugi 5 days ago

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Ruto's Tata Chemicals tantrum spooks investors ahead of polls

President William Ruto's on-again, off-again order for Tata Chemicals to "pack up and leave" Kenya has left investors spooked

By Brian Ngugi 5 days ago

State okays Japanese brewer's Sh388b takeover of Diageo's EABL stake

Kenya's competition watchdog has approved Asahi Group Holdings' acquisition of Diageo's controlling stake in East African Breweries (EABL).

By Brian Ngugi 6 days ago

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Co-op Bank leads list of Kenyan lenders in Forbes World top 500

Co-operative Bank of Kenya, Equity Group Holdings, KCB Group and Stanbic Holdings were included in the ranking of 500 banks from 89 countries, published on Wednesday by Forbes

By Brian Ngugi 7 days ago

KRA now blocks payments to tax-dodging State contractors

KRA has integrated eTIMS with IFMIS to automatically verify government suppliers' tax compliance, potentially blocking payments where invoices do not match tax records.

By Brian Ngugi 16 days ago

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Inflation jumps to 6.6pc as cost-of-living crisis deepens ahead of 2027 polls

Kenya's inflation rose to 6.6 per cent in August 2026, driven by soaring transport and food prices that are deepening pressure on households ahead of the 2027 elections.

By Brian Ngugi 16 days ago

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Alarm as Kenya leads Africa in AfDB corruption cases

Kenya has emerged as one of Africa's hotspots for fraud and corruption in African Development Bank-financed projects, with disclosures showing the country ranks second only to Nigeria.

By Brian Ngugi 17 days ago

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Kenya's China debt drops 19pc as World Bank exposure surges to Sh1.7 trillion

Kenya's outstanding debt to China has fallen 19 per cent from its 2021 peak following a landmark currency conversion agreement.

By Brian Ngugi 18 days ago

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Regional units now grow into Kenyan banks' new golden goose

Kenyan banks are posting record half-year profits, but the engine of growth is increasingly located beyond the country's borders as a slowing domestic economy burden kenyans at home.

By Brian Ngugi 19 days ago

Aga Khan Fund leads Jubilee's Sh145m interim dividend as half-year profit rises 13pc

Jubilee Holdings Ltd shareholders are set to receive an interim dividend of Sh145 million for the half-year ended June 2026.

By Brian Ngugi 19 days ago

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State-backed Gulf Energy bags Sh93.68b oil storage deal

KPC has signed a 25-year crude oil storage and handling deal projected to generate Sh93.68 billion, raising concerns over the firm's growing control of Kenya's oil value chain.

By Brian Ngugi 20 days ago

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KEBS in the spot as poisonous alcohol crisis deepens

The Kenya Bureau of Standards is facing pressure to account for its role in the counterfeit alcohol crisis, as illicit drinks now account for an estimated 60 per cent of alcohol consumed in Kenya.

By Brian Ngugi 21 days ago

IM and HFCB join banking rivals in posting higher half-year earnings

I&M Group PLC and HFCB Group PLC posted higher half-year earnings, joining rivals in delivering results that have provided a rare bright spot against the backdrop of a tight domestic economy.

By Brian Ngugi 21 days ago

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Political anxiety casts shadow on Kenya's investment outlook

A Central Bank of Kenya survey indicates that there are major concerns over political instability emerging as a dark cloud over an otherwise cautiously optimistic economic outlook.

By Brian Ngugi 22 days ago

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Banks ditch hustlers for Treasury bonds amid worsening debt crisis

Commercial banks are turning their backs on small businesses and households, pouring record amounts of cash into government securities instead.

By Brian Ngugi 28 days ago

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Lamu refinery plan gets boost with Dangote's Sh130b underwriting

President William Ruto's ambitious plan for a second Dangote refinery in Lamu has received a major boost after the successful completion of a $1 billion (Sh130 billion) underwriting.

By Brian Ngugi 28 days ago

AAR Hospital banks on new steam prostate procedure to slash medical costs

The minimally invasive procedure, which uses steam to destroy excess prostate tissue without surgical cuts, was carried out on an undisclosed patient at the Nairobi-based hospital.

By Brian Ngugi 29 days ago

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Ruto's appetite for debt shows no signs of slowing

Since he took over in October 2022, President William Ruto has already surpassed the Sh13 trillion mark amid pressure to shift from deficit and borrowing-anchored budget making.

By Brian Ngugi 29 days ago

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Equity Group halfyear net profit surges to Sh43.8b as StanChart's slides by 17pc

Equity Group Holdings' first-half net profit rose by 32 per cent to a record Sh43.80 billion, while Standard Chartered Bank Kenya's profit fell by 16.8 per cent as lower lending margins hurt earnings

By Brian Ngugi 30 days ago

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Default risks resurface as public debt crosses Sh13 trillion

Kenya's public debt has surpassed Sh13 trillion, with debt servicing consuming nearly three-quarters of government revenue as the country enters an election year.

By Brian Ngugi 1 month ago

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Ruto seeks new ideas on tax economy as poll clock ticks

The embattled government of President William Ruto is asking Kenyans for ideas on tax policy as it struggles to fill a growing budget gap.

By Brian Ngugi 1 month ago

Auto dealer Caetano Kenya targets Coast with French, Chinese trucks

Caetano Kenya, which sold 32 vehicles in the first quarter of 2026 is relying on flexible credit terms and localised aftersales support to grow its share of the commercial segment.

By Brian Ngugi 1 month ago

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Ruto back to begging IMF as country struggles with debt, empty coffers

The Ruto administration has resorted to Bretton Woods amid mounting public debt and fiscal pressures.

By Brian Ngugi 1 month ago

KCB shareholders to get Sh9.64b interim dividend as net profit rises to Sh36.1b

KCB Group has declared an interim dividend payout after halfyear net profit rose to Sh36.1 billion on the back of an expanded loan book and surging contributions from regional subsidiaries.

By Brian Ngugi 1 month ago

Co-op Bank records Sh18b half-year profit on subsidiaries growth

Co-operative Bank of Kenya has posted a 28 per cent surge in half-year net profit, marking its strongest-ever first-half performance.

By Brian Ngugi 1 month ago

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CBK retains benchmark rate at 8.75pc

CBK has maintained the benchmark lending rate at 8.75 per cent for the third consecutive time since February, citing a positive outlook on the country's economic growth.

By Brian Ngugi 1 month ago

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One year to the polls: IEBC battles leadership gaps, funding crunch

IEBC has released its 2027 election roadmap, setting deadlines for public officers, parties and candidates while highlighting voter registration and leadership vacancies.

By Brian Ngugi 1 month ago

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Inside Ruto's four years of delayed, unfulfilled grand promises

Nearly four years into President Ruto's term, rising prices, taxes and unfulfilled campaign pledges have intensified pressure on Kenyan households, a review shows.

By Brian Ngugi 1 month ago

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Raila's dream lives on in Ruto's Vision 2060

Raila Odinga may never have lived to implement his lofty ideas as president, but his influence, it seems, is outlasting long after he passed on.

By Brian Ngugi 1 month ago

Historic El Nino threat raises fresh risks for Kenya's economy and food security

Kenya is staring down the barrel of its most powerful El Nino in more than four decades, with forecasters and economists warning of a potential catastrophe

By Brian Ngugi 1 month ago

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Stanbic Bank records marginal jump in half-year profit to Sh6.6b

Stanbic Holdings posted a marginal rise in half-year profit to Sh6.61 billion but cut its interim dividend by more than half despite stronger asset quality.

By Brian Ngugi 1 month ago

Kingdom Bank partners with AWEP Kenya to boost women-led businesses

Kingdom Bank, a subsidiary of Co-operative Bank of Kenya, has partnered with the African Women's Entrepreneurship Programme (AWEP) Kenya to revitalise women-led enterprises.

By Brian Ngugi 1 month ago

Agency races against time to wrap up Sh20b WB power project

The government is racing against a tightening one-month window to complete a Sh20 billion World Bank-funded project to bring solar electricity and clean water to 14 underserved counties.

By Brian Ngugi 1 month ago

NCBA to give Sh6b dividend as profit up 12pc

NCBA declared a Sh6.18 billion interim dividend after strong half-year profits, as Nedbank's planned majority acquisition awaits regulatory approval.

By Brian Ngugi 1 month ago

Kenyan creatives eye bigger payday as Ugandan film awards go continental

Kenyan filmmakers are positioning themselves for a bigger slice of Africa's $5 billion (Sh650 billion) film industry as a Ugandan awards ceremony expands across the continent.

By Brian Ngugi 1 month ago

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Uganda takes control of Kenya Pipeline as Museveni secures veto power, two board seats

Uganda has gained board seats and veto powers at KPC, raising concerns over Kenya's control of its strategic fuel transport infrastructure.

By Brian Ngugi 1 month ago

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Ruto's privatisation push boosts forex reserves to record $15.4b

Kenya's foreign exchange reserves surged to a record $15.4 billion (Sh1.99 trillion) in the week ended July 30, providing the country with 6.4 months of import cover, the apex bank said on Friday.

By Brian Ngugi 1 month ago

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Of Vision 2060: Can Ruto build Kenya's future amid a trail of failed projects?

President William Ruto stood before the nation last week and invited Kenyans to what he called "the most consequential national conversation since the adoption of our Constitution in 2010."

By Brian Ngugi 1 month ago