Author: By Esther Dianah

Tourists in a sight seeing evening at the coastal town of Lamu in November, 2012. [File, Standard] Tourist numbers to Kenya in 2024 hit 2.39 million, marking a new high in the five years since 2020. This represents a 14.7 per cent growth compared to 2.1 million visitors recorded in 2023. The growth, according to the Economic Survey 2025 by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), was attributed to the adoption of digital tools, electronic travel authorisation and aggressive marketing. The growth was also a result of enhanced tourism product diversification and targeted online promotion. Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) Chief Executive June Chepkemei said in a statement that the…

European Investment Bank Team Leader Guillermo Bosse (left) flanked by Family Bank CEO Rebecca Mbithi, during the Value Add training for SMEs for Family Bank Business in Nairobi. [David Njaaga,Standard] The European Investment Bank’s development arm (EIB Global) and Family Bank are mobilising Sh14.7 billion (Euros 100 million) to finance women-owned and led businesses, and youth entrepreneurs in the country. Each of the institutions will contribute Sh7.35 billion (Euros 50 million). “EIB Global is providing  Euros 50 million credit line to Family Bank, which will match the sum in an agreement to expand loans for Kenyan small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and Mid-Caps,” noted a statement from the bank. The financing accord, announced during the second edition of…

Kenya Revenue Authority offices in Nairobi. [File, Standard] The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has launched a crackdown on Value Added Tax (VAT) fraud, targeting the notorious “missing trader scheme” and reinforcing internal controls to curb staff collusion. The initiative is a response to staggering monthly revenue losses due to fictitious invoicing and tax evasion. The “Missing Trader Scheme” involves fraudsters registering shell companies to generate fake VAT invoices, enabling illegitimate tax deduction claims without any actual business transactions. These entities often disappear before remitting any VAT, depriving the exchequer of billions in revenue. Get Trusted News for Only Ksh99 a…

Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa during Safaricom’s financial year investor briefing in Nairobi, on May 9, 2025. [Wilberforce Okwiri, Standard]  About seven months after he took over Safaricom as chief executive, Mr Peter Ndegwa presented a new strategy to the telco’s board. He was proposing to transform the firm through a conversion – from a telecommunications company into a technology company. While Safaricom had long established itself as the biggest and most profitable company in Kenya and the region, it could do more, he argued. Get Trusted News for Only Ksh99 a Week Subscribe Today & Save! Get Started Unlimited access…

Equity Bank CEO James Mwangi during the Full Year 2024 investor briefing in Nairobi on March 27, 2025. :[Wilberforce Okwiri, Standard] Equity Group Holdings and the African Guarantee Fund (AGF) have strengthened their commitment to supporting micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with a $500 million (Sh64.5 billion) facility. The facility targets MSMEs in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, with plans to extend to future Equity Group subsidiaries over the next 10 years. It will enable Equity Group to increase its lending activities to MSMEs, with the initiative projected to sustain over 50,000 jobs, the…

Brookside Dairy Milk Procurement General Manager Emmanuel Kabaki (left) at a past event. [Courtesy] Earnings by dairy farmers in Central and South Rift from raw milk sold to processor Brookside climbed to Sh1.9 billion last year. The payout represents a 29 per cent growth over earnings in 2023, with Brookside attributing the rise to favourable weather and the adoption of better farm practices by smallholder farmers in the two regions. Narok County led the pack, with farmers in the area chalking up Sh1 billion in returns from raw milk sold to the processor, up from Sh680 million in 2023. Farmers…

COTU SG Francis Atwoli with CS Ministry of Labour and Social Protection Dr Alfred Mutua on August 20, 2024, at Upper Hill, Nairobi. [Kanyiri Wahito, Standard] Trade Unionists want labour-related issues addressed. In a meeting on Friday with Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection Alfred Mutua , they asked that labour laws be adhered to. Speaking in Nairobi, during the pre-labour day reflection conference, the Unionists asked Dr. Alfred Mutua to ensure revival of wages councils, harmonization and review of existing labour laws, to be in harmony with the Constitution of Kenya 2010. The meeting convened by the County Governance Watch delved…

Mr. Daniel Juma, Country Director of Global Peace Foundation Kenya- awarded in Nairobi. [Esther Dianah] Global Peace Foundation’s Kenya Country Director, Daniel Juma, Britam Holding CEO Tom Gitogo, KEPSA CEO Carole Karuga and Paul Russo of KCB bank are among the 50 most influential CEOs in Kenya. The 50 CEOs were unveiled in the second edition of the Gala Award and CEO’s Summit in Nairobi. The list presented a pool of outstanding CEOs from different sectors, including Banking, aviation, Tech, and media- With standard group CEO Marion Gathoga being feted as one of the most influential CEO’s in Kenya. Africapitol…

Mr. Daniel Juma, Country Director of Global Peace Foundation Kenya- awarded in Nairobi. [Esther Dianah] Global Peace Foundation’s Kenya Country Director, Daniel Juma, Britam Holding CEO Tom Gitogo, KEPSA CEO Carole Karuga and Paul Russo of KCB bank are among the 50 most influential CEOs in Kenya. The 50 CEOs were unveiled in the second edition of the Gala Award and CEO’s Summit in Nairobi. The list presented a pool of outstanding CEOs from different sectors, including Banking, aviation, Tech, and media- With standard group CEO Marion Gathoga being feted as one of the most influential CEO’s in Kenya. Africapitol…

A customer shop for mitumba cloth at Toi Market in Kibra, Nairobi on June 09, 2022. [File, Standard] Recent studies have shown that Kenya is now Africa’s largest importer of second hand clothes. This could also suggest that the government has lost significant revenues due to misinvoicing. Latest Data by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) shows that Kenya imported used clothes and textiles valued Sh38.5 billion (298 million usd in 2023) overtaking Nigeria. In the same period, Kenya had one of the largest trade deficits in second hand trade. In 2023, the leading exporters of Used Clothing were United States ($1.09B), China ($736M), and…

Joseph Kang’ethe with CEO and founder of African Originals Alexandra Chapatte on his farm at Ndenderu, Kiambu County. [Esther Dianah] For years, Joseph Kang’ethe toiled on his quarter-acre farm in Kiambu, growing vegetables with little to show for his effort. But everything changed in 2015 when he made a bold decision — to switch exclusively to mint farming. Today, his once-struggling farm thrives with fragrant rows of mint, a transformation fuelled by his willingness to embrace a more profitable, low-maintenance crop. For years, Joseph Kang’ethe toiled on his quarter-acre farm in Kiambu, growing vegetables with little to show for his…

Absa Head Quarters, Waiyaki Way. [Wilberforce Okwiri, Standard] Absa Bank Kenya has unveiled an enhanced home loan solution, offering 110 per cent financing to help Kenyans climb the property ladder. The new facility is available at competitive interest rates, with a repayment period of up to 25 years.  The financing is available for both direct purchase and remortgaging. It is open to salaried individuals, small and medium enterprises (SME) owners, and Kenyans in the diaspora. By covering not only the cost of the property but also associated fees such as stamp duty, legal fees and valuation charges, Absa says this…

Absa Head Quarters, Waiyaki Way. [Wilberforce Okwiri, Standard] Absa Bank Kenya has unveiled an enhanced home loan solution, offering 110 per cent financing to help Kenyans climb the property ladder. The new facility is available at competitive interest rates, with a repayment period of up to 25 years.  The financing is available for both direct purchase and remortgaging. It is open to salaried individuals, small and medium enterprises (SME) owners, and Kenyans in the diaspora. By covering not only the cost of the property but also associated fees such as stamp duty, legal fees and valuation charges, Absa says this…

Absa Head Quarters, Waiyaki Way. [Wilberforce Okwiri, Standard] Absa Bank Kenya has unveiled an enhanced home loan solution, offering 110 per cent financing to help Kenyans climb the property ladder. The new facility is available at competitive interest rates, with a repayment period of up to 25 years.  The financing is available for both direct purchase and remortgaging. It is open to salaried individuals, small and medium enterprises (SME) owners, and Kenyans in the diaspora. By covering not only the cost of the property but also associated fees such as stamp duty, legal fees and valuation charges, Absa says this…

Absa Head Quarters, Waiyaki Way. [Wilberforce Okwiri, Standard] Absa Bank Kenya has unveiled an enhanced home loan solution, offering 110 per cent financing to help Kenyans climb the property ladder. The new facility is available at competitive interest rates, with a repayment period of up to 25 years.  The financing is available for both direct purchase and remortgaging. It is open to salaried individuals, small and medium enterprises (SME) owners, and Kenyans in the diaspora. By covering not only the cost of the property but also associated fees such as stamp duty, legal fees and valuation charges, Absa says this…

CBK Governor Dr. Kamau Thugge before the National Assembly’s Committee on Finance and National Planning in regards to the implementation of Central Bank Rate (CBR) at Bunge Towers, Parliament, Nairobi. March 25th, 2025 [Elvis Ogina, Standard] The Central Bank of Kenya has said it will lift the moratorium on licensing of new commercial banks on July 1, 2025, which may see more lenders enter the market. The moratorium, which has been in place from November 17, 2015, was imposed against a backdrop of governance, risk management, and operational challenges in the banking sector. The lifting of the moratorium paves way…

Absa Head Quarters, Waiyaki Way. [Wilberforce Okwiri, Standard] Absa Bank Kenya has unveiled an enhanced home loan solution, offering 110 per cent financing to help Kenyans climb the property ladder. The new facility is available at competitive interest rates, with a repayment period of up to 25 years.  The financing is available for both direct purchase and remortgaging. It is open to salaried individuals, small and medium enterprises (SME) owners, and Kenyans in the diaspora. By covering not only the cost of the property but also associated fees such as stamp duty, legal fees and valuation charges, Absa says this…

From left: Prudential Kenya’s Agency Manager Emma Kaara, Agency Development Executive Jane Tutu, CEO Gwen Kinisu, and Commercial Strategy and Operations Africa Achumile Majija at the recent opening of the company’s newest branch in Nairobi. [Edward Kiplimo, Standard] In a bid to address youth unemployment in the country, Prudential Assurance has announced plans to recruit and train more than 5,000 sales agents across Kenya over the next five years. Besides boosting its agent network from the current 1,000 to 5,000, the firm said, this will create more jobs for Kenyan youths. While launching its newest branch in Nairobi, following the…

Ministry of investment, Trade and Industry Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui with Principal Secretary in the State Department for Industry Juma Mukhwana during the Development of National Cotton,Textile and Apparel ,Policy Media Breakfast meeting on April 15,2025. [Benard Orwongo,Standard] Kenya cannot have a thriving textile Industry and at the same time remain a favourite export destination for second hand clothes, Trade Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui. According to the CS, there is need for political good will to revive Kenya’s textile industry. He said the global trade realignment caused by Trump’s new tariffs on countries around the world is an opportunity for Kenya to look inwards to promote local manufacturing and enhance value…

A section of the Nairobi Expressway. [File, Standard] A nonprofit dedicated to empowering new cities with better governance to lift tens of millions of people out of poverty, The Charter Cities Institute (CCI) will host a summit featuring a pitch competition. Dubbed Cities Catapult for urban development, the forum is aimed at accelerating the development of new cities.  The New Cities Summit 2025 to be held in June will showcase pioneering urban development projects and connect developers with top financiers, policymakers, and experts for strategic guidance and potential investment avenues. Hosted in partnership with the Africa Infrastructure Development Association (AfIDA), the…

A section of the Nairobi Expressway. [File, Standard] A nonprofit dedicated to empowering new cities with better governance to lift tens of millions of people out of poverty, The Charter Cities Institute (CCI) will host a summit featuring a pitch competition. Dubbed Cities Catapult for urban development, the forum is aimed at accelerating the development of new cities.  The New Cities Summit 2025 to be held in June will showcase pioneering urban development projects and connect developers with top financiers, policymakers, and experts for strategic guidance and potential investment avenues. Hosted in partnership with the Africa Infrastructure Development Association (AfIDA), the…

A section of the Nairobi Expressway. [File, Standard] A nonprofit dedicated to empowering new cities with better governance to lift tens of millions of people out of poverty, The Charter Cities Institute (CCI) will host a summit featuring a pitch competition. Dubbed Cities Catapult for urban development, the forum is aimed at accelerating the development of new cities.  The New Cities Summit 2025 to be held in June will showcase pioneering urban development projects and connect developers with top financiers, policymakers, and experts for strategic guidance and potential investment avenues. Hosted in partnership with the Africa Infrastructure Development Association (AfIDA), the…

Lufthansa Group station Manager,NBO and SEZ secretary General ,AOC Kenya IFQP Certified Inspector Adwale Sanni overall winner of the Aviation Business Excellence awards. [David Gichuru/Standard] The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) last Friday hosted the fourth edition of the Aviation Business Excellence Awards (ABEA) Gala, bringing together over 350 industry stakeholders to celebrate excellence in aviation and related sectors. The programme evaluates airport stakeholders using a rigorous business assessment tool, focusing on key themes such as customer focus, leadership, marketing, sustainability, and people focus. Speaking at the gala event, KAA Chairman Caleb Kositany noted that the authority has undertaken initiatives such…

National Treasury CS John Mbadi (centre), Principal Secretary Chris Kiptoo (left) and Institute Of Public Finance CEO James Muraguri during the 2025 medium-term debt management strategy in Nairobi, on March 26, 2025. [Wilberforce Okwiri, Standard] Kenyan businesses face significant challenges in accessing credit due to high lending rates, a situation that could further be exacerbated by the government’s growing appetite for borrowing locally. This is as the National Treasury plans to crank up borrowing from local banks in the coming years, crowding out the private sector.  Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi said the government has planned to increase credit supply…