The minutes of the 43rd Annual Delegates Meeting held last year have offered a glimpse of the financial woes bedeviling Afya Co-operative Savings and Credit Society (Afya Sacco) that resulted to a chaotic gathering in May. Get Trusted News for Only Ksh99 a Week Subscribe Today & Save! Get Started Unlimited access to all premium content Uninterrupted ad-free browsing experience Mobile-optimized reading experience Weekly Newsletters Already a subscriber? Log in Published Date: 2025-06-11 00:00:00 Author: By Graham Kajilwa Source: The Standard
Author: By Graham Kajilwa
Alpesh Vadher (CEO – PKF), James Mulili (Director – Tax PKF), Michael Mburugu (Regional Tax Partner PKF) during pre-budget media briefing 2025/2026.[Wilberforce Okwiri,Standard] The introduction of new clauses in tax laws without specifics on how much they will raise has been singled out by audit and tax consultancy firm PKF as an oversight in the budget-making process. The firm, while calling for more visibility, also took issue with provisions in the Finance Bill, 2025, that seek to wipe out incentives enjoyed by investors through tax expenditures. These measures include scrapping the indefinite rollover of tax losses, limiting this period to…
Public participation on tobacco graphic warning exercise held at NITA college in Athi River. [PETERSON GITHAIGA, STANDARD] British American Tobacco (BAT) Kenya has raised concerns over illicit cigarettes in the market, terming it an economic setback that now threatens jobs. BAT Kenya Managing Director Crispin Achola, while referencing a new study that shows one in three cigarettes sold in the market are illicit, said the alarming rise of this illegal trade puts the government at a disadvantage by denying them revenue. The study has been conducted by Kantar, a global data and analytics firm. “This alarming rise in illegal cigarette trade…
Commissioner of Insurance and CEO of Insurance Regulatory Authority Geofrey Kiptum at a recent event on May 5, 2025. [Jenipher Wachie, Standard] Regulatory bodies of insurance services in the region have revived talks on mutual recognition of polices across the East African Community (EAC) markets, a move that is expected to improve penetration. These talks, according to Kenya’s Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA), had stalled as an agreement could not be reached on mutual recognition of policies, a factor that could aid businesses operating across the region. Commissioner of Insurance and IRA Chief Executive Godfrey Kiptum said previous discussions that date…
Hon. Lee Kinyanjui Cabinet Secretary Ministry Of Investments Trade And Industry speaking during dinner with leading Kenyan business persons. [Wilberforce Okwiri,Standard] Business leaders want the government to impose higher taxes on imports while supporting local manufacturing by removing levies on raw materials. Additionally, the business community seeks a share of the incentives extended to foreign investors, even as the government encourages more international enterprises to establish operations in the country. To ensure Kenyan products secure a larger share of global markets, the government has announced plans to set up an export-import bank aimed at improving the visibility of Kenyan products…
Women labor at brick making site in Sironga village, Nyamira county loaded with bricks transport them to display area by the main Nyamira-Kisii road on November 24,2020. Women have embraced hard work in the area to bring food on the table and to sustain family needs as most men have lost their jobs during Covid-19 and unable to provide for their families. [FILE/Standard] Experts are advising against using burnt bricks for construction and instead pushing for using more environmentally friendly alternatives, such as cement blocks and stabilised soil blocks. Get Trusted News for Only Ksh99 a Week Subscribe Today &…
Customers purchase mitumba items from traders at Toi Market in Kibra, Nairobi on June 09, 2022. [File, Standard] Establishing standards for imported second-hand clothes and those manufactured locally is one of the ways players in the Mitumba sector believe will allow these two industries to co-exist. Amidst claims that the growth of imported second-hand clothes known as ‘mitumba’ is choking out the domestic textile industry, a latest report on the sector details how these two sectors can operate simultaneously. The study, sanctioned by the Mitumba Consortium Association of Kenya and authored by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), prefers incentives for…
Kenya Development Corporation Director General Norah Ratemo during the drive mission breakfast meeting aimed at bringing development partners and private sector actors together to showcase the progress of the DRIVE program on May 13, 2025. [David Gichuru, Standard] The Kenya Development Corporation (KDC) has called for alignment of development financing with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). KDC board Chairman Dr Sakwa Bunyasi, speaking during a recent benchmarking session with a delegation from Zambia, noted the importance of economic integration not only for AfCFTA but also for Agenda 2063 – Africa‘s strategic framework for achieving inclusive and sustainable development by…
KENHA workers elect bumps at Rironi area along Nakuru Nairobi highway following a string of accident that have claimed numerous lives. June 1, 2023. [File, Standard] For an economy whose indicators point to a dwindling consumer purchasing power, the government’s insistence on capital build-up as an enabler of economic growth seems to be moving away from the once-acclaimed Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (Beta). Get Trusted News for Only Ksh99 a Week Subscribe Today & Save! Get Started Unlimited access to all premium content Uninterrupted ad-free browsing experience Mobile-optimized reading experience Weekly Newsletters Already a subscriber? Log in KENHA workers elect…
The government is banking on public institutions to increase the amount of cooking gas consumed in the country to 10kg per capita in line with the National Liquified Petroleum Gas Enhancement Project. The current consumption of cooking gas, or LPG, is 6.59kg per capita annually as detailed in the recently launched Ministry of Energy and Petroleum 2023-2027 strategic plan. In the plan, the ministry seeks to move this figure to 10kg with a key factor being having 50 per cent of public learning institutions use LPG by 2027, from a baseline of eight per cent in 2023. For households, the…
People protest against the administration of US President Donald Trump’s decision to virtually shut down the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on February 5, 2025. (Photo by Drew ANGERER / AFP) One of the advantages of being an investor in high-end property in some of Nairobi’s suburbs is the ever-ready clientele from the non-governmental organisation (NGO) space. But after President Donald Trump announced budget cuts to USAID, the American government’s agency for aid-related activities, this market not only witnessed a drop in clients but also in asking prices for units on…
Workers sort avocados for export at Naivasha-based Vertical Agro Ltd [Kelvin Karani, Standard] Kenya Trade Network Agency (KenTrade), the state agency mandated to spearhead cross-border trade, has proposed to slash the $10 (Sh1,300) Unique Consignment Reference (UCR) fee by half to increase cross-border trade. The reduction of the fee, which is charged per Import Declaration Form (IDF), is expected to lower export costs, particularly for businesses dealing with fresh produce. The announcement to slash the fee was made during a consultative forum in Nairobi last week hosted by the Kenya International Freight and Forwarding Association (Kifwa). KenTrade Chief Executive David…
Bureaucracy has been cited among the challenges that hinder MSMEs from accessing loans. [iStockphoto] Establishing a single-window portal for approvals, licences, and registration is one of the initiatives the government seeks to undertake in a Sh3.7 billion plan to revamp the micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) sector. The government also wants to harmonise government fees, taxes, and levies affecting these businesses with the aim of promoting targeted fiscal and business incentives for them. Get Trusted News for Only Ksh99 a Week Subscribe Today & Save! Get Started Unlimited access to all premium content Uninterrupted ad-free browsing experience Mobile-optimized reading experience Weekly Newsletters Already a…
From left: HF Group CEO Robert Kibaara, HF Bancassurance Intermediary Principal Officer Maureen Stephyne and HFC Managing Director Peter Mugeni during the investors briefing in Nairobi, on March 27, 2025. [David Gichuru, Standard] Local lender HF Group more than doubled its first quarter 2025 profit before tax to reach Sh327 million, up from Sh150 million last year. The group’s total income rose by 33 per cent to Sh1.41 billion in the three months to March 31, up from Sh1.06 billion in the same period last year. The growth was driven by a 46 per cent increase in net interest income…
National Treasury Cabinet SecretaryJohn Mbadi during the launch of 2025 Economic Survey at the KICC, Nairobi, on May 6, 2025.[Kanyiri Wahito, Standard] When former Kenya Association of Manufacturers chairman Rajan Shah posed a question on the numerous levies and fees imposed by State agencies, the underwhelming response from National Treasury Principal Secretary Chris Kiptoo was a proposal to have a meeting that could iron out the issues. Shah also sought to understand why there are countless State agencies yet the government has always advocated for a leaner administration. He noted that these agencies impose levies that choke businesses, some cases…
Investment Promotion Principal Secretary Abubakar Hassan Abubakar at the East Africa Trade and Investment Forum in London, on May 22, 2025. [Courtesy] Kenya is set to benefit from a Sh13.7 billion investment from the United Kingdom courtesy of British International Investment (BII) and Standard Chartered Bank. Some Sh650 million of this investment will go towards improving electric motorbike infrastructure in the country. The investment announced at the East Africa Trade and Investment Forum (EATIF), will also trickle to Tanzania through trade financing. BII and Standard Chartered Bank will support trade finance in Kenya and Tanzania through a Sh13 billion facility…
Like bodybuilders flexing their muscles on stage, exaggerating their looks by smearing themselves with oil, the biggest flex in real estate has always been about who builds the tallest skyscraper. Get Trusted News for Only Ksh99 a Week Subscribe Today & Save! Get Started Unlimited access to all premium content Uninterrupted ad-free browsing experience Mobile-optimized reading experience Weekly Newsletters Already a subscriber? Log in Published Date: 2025-05-22 08:30:00 Author: By Graham Kajilwa Source: The Standard
Superior Homes CEO Shiv Arora and KCB Bank Senior Manager, Green Financing & Sustainability Alois Ngure, after signing an MOU that seeks to bridge the gap between property development and financing by enabling homeowners to access the KMRC mortgage facility at 105 per cent. Looking on are Superior Homes Head of Sales Clive Ndege (R) and KCB Group Head of Projects and Investments Kenneth Luusa (L). [FILE/Standard] Property developer Superior Homes Kenya has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with KCB Bank Kenya to provide customised mortgage products to prospective home owners. The partnership will enable Superior Homes Kenya investors to access tailor-made mortgage products…
Left to right: Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya, KUSCCO Chairman David Matekwa and CEO Arnold Munene during inauguration of the new KUSCCO board in Nairobi, on May 21, 2025. [Wilberforce Okwiri, Standard] The government has suspended registration of new Saccos pending recommendations from a five-member expert committee tasked with reviewing the sector. Cooperatives and MSMEs Development Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya announced the moratorium on Wednesday during the inauguration of the committee, as well as the new board of the troubled Kenya Union of Savings and Credit Cooperatives (Kuscco). The review team, chaired by Marlene Shiels, CEO of Capital Credit…
President William Ruto, Mzee Simion Nyango, Mama Salina Nyango Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi In Kesses, Uasin Gishu County launch the Cheboror Village Electrification Project, which aims to connect 316 households to electricity. [PCS] The government has unveiled an ambitious plan to connect 2.3 million more households to electricity by 2027 as it seeks to increase electrification to 95 per cent. The elaborate plan will involve both off-grid and national grid solutions, with the Energy Ministry expected to spend Sh64.0 billion to facilitate the new connections. Get Trusted News for Only Ksh99 a Week Subscribe Today & Save! Get Started Unlimited…
Kenya Orient Insurance Limited Director Julius Muya & Family Bank CEO Nancy Njau (R) present a gift to the Bank’s customer Zebedee Barongo during a customer appreciation dinner hosted by Family Bank in Kisii. [Courtesy] Family Bank has unveiled a plan to list on the Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE) next year as it eyes to be a tier one financial institution by 2029. Board Chairman Lazarus Muema also hinted on growing the institution’s tentacles beyond the Kenyan market, saying a holding company has already been formed that will drive the expansion. He said there is a big advantage in forming a holding company particularly when it comes to…
Published Date: 2025-05-21 15:32:31 Author: By Graham Kajilwa Source: The Standard
Griffin Kosgei milking his Dairy cow at his farm in Ngata , Nakuru county on January 22,2024. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard] For dairy, cottonseed, and wheat farmers, 2024 was a great year. Get Trusted News for Only Ksh99 a Week Subscribe Today & Save! Get Started Unlimited access to all premium content Uninterrupted ad-free browsing experience Mobile-optimized reading experience Weekly Newsletters Already a subscriber? Log in Griffin Kosgei milking his Dairy cow at his farm in Ngata , Nakuru county on January 22,2024. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard] Published Date: 2025-05-21 04:00:00 Author: By Graham Kajilwa Source: The Standard
Principal Secretary State department for petroleum Mohamed Laban and his Energy counterpart Alex Wachira welcome Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Energy and Petroleum Opiyo Wandayi to the launch of Strategic plan 2023-2027 at KICC on May 19, 2025. [Benard Orwongo,Standard] The government is targeting Sh145.3 billion worth of investments in the petroleum blocks by the year 2027 in the latest strategic plan by the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum. The Sh2.5 trillion strategy covering 2023-2027 places emphasis on petroleum and natural gas exploration. The document notes the availability of vast sedimentary basin covering 83 per cent of the country’s surface area…
Fertiplant East Africa ltd (FEA) manufactures fertilizers in Nakuru town on June 4, 2021. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard] The Principal Secretary in the State Department for Industry Dr Juma Mukhwana has a common joke he never fails to share when discussing the country’s manufacturing status. That the lack of and underutilisation of trade agreements by Kenyan manufacturers is akin to a factory that has closed shop, but its marketing department is still operational. Get Trusted News for Only Ksh99 a Week Subscribe Today & Save! Get Started Unlimited access to all premium content Uninterrupted ad-free browsing experience Mobile-optimized reading experience Weekly…
A farmer sorts out her fresh beans destined for the market after boom harvest in Nanyuki, Laikipia County in February 2020. [Kibata Kihu/Standard] The European Union’s (EU) stricter regulations on pesticide use halved the value of Kenya’s fresh vegetable exports in 2024, even as the country also sold less than Sh100 billion worth of cut flowers overseas in the year. The Economic Survey 2025 report shows the volume of fresh vegetables exported in 2024 dropped by 54.7 per cent from 164,100 tonnes in 2023 to 74,300 tonnes in 2024. The value of the fresh vegetables dropped from Sh50.9 billion to…
Kenya Sugar Board Chairman, Nicolas Gumbo. [Courtesy] Private companies that won bids to take over public sugar factories will need to inject Sh12.3 billion to resuscitate the mills. Details on the government’s plan also say the investors will pay Sh522 million goodwill. Of the four sugar factories, Nzoia Sugar Company leased to West Kenya Sugar Company will need the most capital injection at Sh5.8 billion. Kibos Sugar and Allied Industries, now in charge of Chemilil Sugar, will put in Sh4.5 billion, while West Valley Sugar Company will be expected to spend Sh1.02 billion to revive the Muhoroni Sugar mill. At…
Kakuzi Plc Packhouse Manager Ms Monica Nyambura (left) explains the quality features of an export-grade avocado fruit to Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) Joint Command and Staff College (JCSC) Commandant Major General Eric Kinuthia (right) at the Kakuzi Packhouse. (Boniface Gikandi, Standard) Listed agribusiness firm Kakuzi has announced its intention to introduce a fourth commercially produced crop, use agricultural technology (AgTech) solutions, and diversify its domestic and export markets in the next 10 years to enhance shareholder returns. Speaking at the company’s 97th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Wednesday, Managing Director Chris Flowers said the firm is exploring a fourth commercial…
Investment, Trade and Industry Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui and Professor Ratemo Michieka, the current chair of Africa Union’s African Scientific, Research and Innovation Council (ASRIC) during two day Community Workshop on Sustainability with a theme,’ Sustainable Business practices for inclusive and Resilient Socio-Economic Growth.’ at the University of Nairobi on 14, May,2025. [ Jenipher Wachie, Standard] The textile industry has been singled out as one of the sectors that have stagnated due to knowledge gaps between the sector and academia. Investment, Trade and Industry Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui, while addressing participants at the inaugural Community Workshop on Sustainability in Nairobi…
Boniface Abudho (left) research analyst for Africa and Mark Dunford CEO of Knight Frank, Kenya, officially release a Kenya Wealth report, a perspective on Kenya wealth investment trends 2024 at Capital club, Nairobi. [Jonah Onyango, Standard] Kenya’s super-rich are cutting back on the billions of shillings spent on commercial property. This is as the latest report by global real estate consultant Knight Frank shows a preference for smaller versions of commercial properties to mitigate risks associated with larger investments. Get Trusted News for Only Ksh99 a Week Subscribe Today & Save! Get Started Unlimited access to all premium content Uninterrupted…
State ropes in medium-sized firms in new policy changes Published Date: 2025-05-14 08:50:00 Author: By Graham Kajilwa Source: The Standard
Traders at Soko Mjinga Market in Nyeri. [Kibata Kihu, Standard] The government has included medium-sized enterprises in the new policy in works for small businesses, whose development is meant to seal data gaps that have impeded application of some of the incentives offered by the State. In the current policy that came into effect in 2020, medium enterprises were excluded. It covered micro and small enterprises (MSEs), which the ministry in charge noted as the missing link in the growth of small businesses. The draft document, currently undergoing public participation also seeks to seal the data gaps that exist in…
Boniface Abudho (left) research analyst for Africa and Mark Dunford CEO of Knight Frank, Kenya, officially release a Kenya Wealth report, a perspective on Kenya wealth investment trends 2024 at Capital club, Nairobi. [Jonah Onyango, Standard] The rise of self-made billionaires is becoming evident among high-net-worth individuals (HNWI), with the latest Wealth Report by property consultant Knight Frank showing none of the super-rich attributed more than 70 per cent of their wealth to inheritance. The report released on Tuesday showed that a majority of the super-rich attributed inheritance to 30 to 40 per cent of their wealth. Get Trusted News…
Traders at Soko Mjinga Market in Nyeri. [File, Standard] Shaka Kariuki, the chief executive of Kuramo Capital, is quick to dispel the claim that small businesses are high-risk to trade with. He says there is money in the small and medium enterprise sector (SMEs) if only an investor knows how to go around the said risks. It is what his investment firm is doing. “It is a perception we have out there,” he says. “It is the same perception we have for Africa, and that is why we borrow at high rates.” He insists the cloud of uncertainties of profitability…
Trucks ferrying goods to Uganda await clearance at the Malaba border. [File, Standard] Stronger economic growth in other East African Community (EAC) countries is slowly edging out Kenya as the gateway of goods to the rest of the region, the latest report by the government statistician shows. An analysis of the 2025 Economic Survey Report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) shows that Kenya exported almost Sh7 billion fewer goods to the rest of the EAC countries in 2024 when compared to 2023. Get Trusted News for Only Ksh99 a Week Subscribe Today & Save! Get Started Unlimited…
Livestock traders at an animal market in Mandera town. [File, Standard] Kenyans’ palates are becoming more diverse as latest data from the 2025 Economic Survey Report shows camel meat is becoming a favourite dish. The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) report shows an increase of 29.9 per cent in the number of camels slaughtered in 2024. This figure is twice the increase when compared to cattle and calves. The number of slaughtered cattle and calves increased by 17.9 per cent during the period. Sheep and goats increased by 8.01 per cent, pigs by 7.9 per cent, chicken by 3.5…
Kenya Power CEO Joseph Siror (right) and Transport manager David Mugambi demonstrate how to charge an electric vehicle at Stima Plaza, Nairobi on April 22, 2024. [Robert Tomno, Standard] During his speech at the just-concluded Third Annual E-Mobility Stakeholders Forum and Expo held in Nairobi, Kenya Power Chief Executive Joseph Siror pointed out how the company’s charging stations at Stima Plaza have been busy since their launch in 2024. “I don’t know if it is a reflection of adoption or it could be the fact that we do not charge any fee,” he said. While figures presented by the E-Mobility…
Malaysia to move palm oil business head office to Nairobi Published Date: 2025-05-12 10:00:00 Author: By Graham Kajilwa Source: The Standard
Malaysia’s move has been influenced by the European Union Deforestation Regulations that restrict exports of products to the EU market that are linked to cutting down of trees. [File, Standard] Malaysia will be moving its palm oil business headquarters from South Africa to Kenya as the country looks to position Nairobi as its base for re-exports to the rest of the Sub-Saharan region. The move is also in line with Malaysia’s grand plan to shift part of its processing to Nairobi as well as expanding its plantation. Get Trusted News for Only Ksh99 a Week Subscribe Today & Save! Get…
Imported clinker is loaded onto a Standard Gauge Railway train in Mombasa. [File, Standard] Kenya’s cement clinker imports dropped 93.1 per cent last year amid contraction in the construction sector over the period, new data shows. According to the 2025 Economic Survey, the amount of clinker imported stood at 10.3 million tonnes compared to 148 million tonnes in 2023. Imports of the critical component in the manufacturing of cement have been on a downward trend, having fallen by 77.4 per cent in 2023. A year earlier, in 2022, the amount of clinker imported into the country stood at 656.5 million tonnes.…
(L-R) James Mbithi CEO of Principal officer Britam general insurance, Melvin Marsh International Founder and CEO Flora Mutahi, Ayusa Ondieki Vice-Chair of the Kenya Association of Manufacturers SME Hub and Patrick Njunge director retail and business banking at HFC, during the launch of Britam Biashara a combined business protection solution on April 15, 2025 at Sarova Stanley Hotel in Nairobi. [Edward Kiplimo, Standard] When it comes to access to finance, the default argument for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) has always been a lack of collateral. But according to the founder and chief executive of Melvin Marsh International Flora Mutahi, the 30-year-old firm behind…
The green arrow is going up the Stacks of coins arranged in a bar graph, Finance and business concept. 3D illustration. [File] According to the Standard Chartered Kenya 2025 Bonus Sentiment Report, most wealthy Kenyans plan to spend their bonus earnings on replenishing their investments. The report shows that over 70 per cent of upper-class individuals expect to receive at least two bonuses this year, with the majority planning to spend their earnings on wealth-building investments. For the second consecutive year, investment remains the top priority for bonus use (30 per cent), surpassing spending, saving, and debt repayment. One in…
State Department for Energy Principal Secretary Alex Wachira, Kenya Power Managing Director Joseph Siror and Transport Manager David Mugambi during the 3rd Annual E-Mobility Conference in Nairobi, on May 5, 2025. [Bernard Orwongo, Standard] Kenya Power is working with the Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute (Kirdi) on the possibility of coming up with a battery manufacturing plant, as the electricity distributor seeks to position itself as a major player in adoption of electric vehicles. While Kenya Power chief executive Joseph Siror says they do not seek to crowd out the private sector in this space, he noted that the…
Published Date: 2025-05-06 09:26:37 Author: By Graham Kajilwa Source: The Standard
In the last two years, Kenya’s economy was beset by myriad misfortunes – high inflation that hit 9.6 per cent in October 2022, a devalued shilling that averaged Sh160 to the US dollar and increased taxes due to the Finance Act 2023. The default reaction for businesses became layoffs and slowing down production to sail through this period. Then came 2024, and the economy came to a standstill as Gen Z-led protests dominated the end of the 2023-2024 financial year. Published Date: 2025-05-05 12:30:13 Author: By Graham Kajilwa Source: The Standard
A protester carries a bread and a teargas canister along Kenyatta Avenue, Nairobi, when demonstrators mainly youths staged a protest against the passage of Finance Bill 202, on June 20,2024. [Collins Kweyu, Standard] The cost of bread, alcohol, diapers and cosmetics is set to go up with the implementation of the Sustainable Waste Management (Extended Producer Responsibility or EPR) Regulations, 2024. The regulations, which are anchored under the Sustainable Waste Management Act, were gazetted on November 4, 2024. Producers and brand owners were given six months before implementation. They were gazetted by the Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale.…
President William Ruto (2nd left) interacts with COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli during the 60th Labour Day Celebrations at Uhuru Gardens, Nairobi on May 1, 2025. [Boniface Okendo, Standard] No pay increase was offered in this year’s Labour Day celebrations as President William Ruto directed the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection to ensure the six per cent salary increment pronounced last year is implemented. The President also directed Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua to facilitate employees on contract to join unions, citing it as a constitutional right as the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) claimed workers are being…
Nairobi Expressway captured from Westlands on April 23, 2025. [Benard Orwongo,Standard] Property prices in Westlands have dropped the most in the last year in the latest index by real estate firm HassConsult, as the effects of the radical trade policies by US President Donald Trump start showing in the sector. This is as satellite towns, such as Juja, gained at the expense of leafy suburbs associated with diplomatic tenants, United Nations Staff and workers in high-end non-governmental organisations like Gigiri, which recorded a drop in property asking prices. Property prices in Juja saw the highest increase in the last year…
Title Deeds show the ownership in addition to rights, obligations or mortgages on the property at the time of sale, purchase or transfer. [Courtesy, iStock] You are more likely to lose ownership of your land to family members than to fraudsters, a report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) shows. This is considering the major method of land acquisition in the country is through inheritance, according to the Kenya Housing Basic Survey Report 2023-2024. The report shows that the possibility of losing ownership of your land due to family misunderstandings is higher compared to if you did not…
Mini-grid operators step in to bridge power needs for businesses Published Date: 2025-04-30 00:00:00 Author: By Graham Kajilwa Source: The Standard
Brenda Okumu who runs a posho mill in Mudoriko, Busia County, that was converted from being diesel powered to electricity. [Courtesy] Brenda Okumu emerges from the mud-walled structure housing her posho mill, momentarily buried in a cloud of white as she dusts off flour from her clothes. Her business lies deep inside Mudoriko village, Busia County, where ugali made from dried cassava and loose maize is the main staple food, and electricity connection from the national grid is still a challenge. However, her business, a key cog in delivering this staple, now has a lifeline from a mini-grid set up by Kudura Power…
From left: ICEA Lion Asset Management, CEO Einstein Kihanda, Portfolio Manager Rachel Gumbi, and Head of Research Judd Muregi, during the company’s Quarterly Investor Pulse presentation and the release of the Q1 Consumer Spending Index, in Nairobi, on April 28, 2025. [Wilberforce Okwiri, Standard] Higher spending among consumers has been sustained across the first quarter of the year, with the latest ILAM Consumer Spending Index showing increased volumes in purchases made. Compared to the previous index that covered the last quarter of 2024, the latest trend is motivated more by reduced prices rather than costly commodities. The downward trend of…
Trucks on a queue at Malaba border on January 20, 2024. Truck drivers have blamed the Uganda and Kenya authorities for laxity in border clearance. [File, Standard] While fielding questions during his four-day visit to China, President William Ruto sought to explain why Kenyan traders consider local goods expensive compared to neighbouring markets. “The difference between us and our neighbours is that Kenya is in the middle-income category. Our neighbours, Tanzania, Uganda and the rest, are the least developed countries,” he explained in a video that was seen online. In the session, Kenyans raised concerns about how the business environment…
Amsons Group Cement Cluster CEO Mokate Ramafoko (left) and Bamburi Cement Plc Commercial Director Martin Kariuki flag off a Ready-mix concrete delivery truck during the launch of Bamburi Cement’s new Ready-mix Concrete Plant in Mombasa, on April 27, 2025. [Jenipher Wachie, Standard] Bamburi Cement Plc, a subsidiary of Amsons Group, has launched a Sh100 million ready-mix concrete plant in Mombasa County aimed at meeting the growing demand for quality concrete solutions in the island and its environs. The new facility by Bamburi Special Products, located in the Bamburi area, boasts a production capacity of 120 cubic metres per hour with…
NSSF Board of Trustees Chairman David Kariuki Njeru, CEO/Managing Trustee David Koross and other Trustees, commemorate 60 years of innovation, inclusion, and sustainable growth during the 7th Annual General Meeting at the Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi, on April 25, 2025. [Courtesy] The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) has revealed its plan to pay claims within 24 hours, placing its bet on technology, an agile workforce and cleaning up its records. NSSF chief executive and Managing Trustee David Koros said this has already been done, citing a point in time in March when the fund paid seven claims at its Hill…
Principal Secretary for the State Department of Industry in the Ministry of Investments, Trade, and Industry (MITI) Juma Mukhwana (2nd right), Kenya Association of Manufacturers CEO Tobias Alando and Danish Industries East Africa Regional manager Klaus Christensen (2ndleft) with guests at the official launch of the route to market strategy 2025-2027 by Kenya Association of Manufacturers at Hyatt Place, Nairobi. [David Gichuru, Standard] Halal processed foods, specialised tea and minerals are among the key items prioritised by manufacturers for exports in the Route to Market Strategy 2025-2027 that seeks to cement Kenya’s footprint in global trade. The strategy, drafted by…
A delegation from the United States is expected in Nairobi next week as the country seeks a deal to scrap the 10 per cent tariff imposed on Kenyan exports by President Donald Trump. Principal Secretary State Department for Industry Juma Mukhwana said on Wednesday, Kenya’s position is to have the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) extended beyond the September deadline and the Kenya-US Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership (STIP) finalised. “On the US situation, the Kenyan government has been very clear. We have the requests that we have put on the table. The 10 per cent tariff should be…
The proximity of Kajiado County to the country’s capital is one of the reasons tenants are spending more than half of their incomes on rent as demand for housing in the area continues to skyrocket. Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) data shows that Kajiado County has the highest rent-to-household expenditure at 64.7 per cent, even as the rural part of Wajir posts the highest across the country at a record 73.9 per cent. Published Date: 2025-04-24 08:00:00 Author: By Graham Kajilwa Source: The Standard
Trade Principal Secretary Juma Mukhwana during the official launch of the route to market strategy 2025-2027 by Kenya Association of Manufacturers at Hyatt Place, Nairobi, on April 23, 2025. [David Gichuru, Standard] A delegation from the United States is expected in Nairobi next week as the country seeks a deal to scrap the 10 per cent tariff imposed on Kenyan exports by President Donald Trump. Principal Secretary State Department for Industry Juma Mukhwana said on Wednesday, Kenya’s position is to have the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) extended beyond the September deadline and the Kenya-US Strategic Trade and Investment…
L-R: Datuk Robert GSI Malaysia,Bidco Chairman Vimal Shah,Dr. Dorcas Mbithe senior lecturer Kenyatta University & Neev Shah KAPA Oil during Malaysia Palm Oil technical seminar 2025 on 2nd April 2025. [Wilberforce Okwiri,Standard] The taxman has strongly defended the government’s position on taxes, saying the levies imposed on businesses are not to blame for the high cost of production. While manufacturers have blamed the Kenya Kwanza administration, even voicing their preference for Uganda and Tanzania as more favourable investment destinations, the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) insists that the industry already has the necessary incentives to spur production. Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA)…
Delegates during the KUSSCO Limited’s 8th Annual Sacco Leaders Convention at Sarova Whitesands in Mombasa, on February 21, 2023. [File, Standard] The role of the Commissioner for Cooperative Development in the Kenya Union of Savings and Credit Cooperatives (Kuscco) scandal has been questioned as affiliated societies’ officials fight a directive to dismiss them from office. A directive from the Commissioner for Cooperative Development that roped in the courts in December 2024 sought to have former Kuscco board officials be barred from holding any position in the Sacco societies due to their dismissal from the union. This followed the disbandment of…
President William Ruto and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping during the high-level meeting on the Belt and Road Initiative that he co-chaired at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Summit in Beijing President Ruto commended China for its determination to strengthen cooperation with Africa. [PHOTO EDWARD ALUSA/PCS. 5/9/2024] The United States (US) administration is unfazed by African countries looking East following the announcement of tariffs on imports, even as President William Ruto embarks on a four-day State visit to China at the invitation of President Xi Jinping. The two leaders also had a meeting in September 2024 during the Beijing Summit…
National Treasury PS Dr Chris Kiptoo addressing the media outside Treasury Building in Nairobi on February 13, 2025. [Boniface Okendo, Standard] The National Treasury has linked the country’s ballooning debt over the years to the pricey cost of upholding the 2010 constitution, even as Kenyans await the submission of budget estimates and the Finance Bill 2025, this month. National Treasury Principal Secretary Dr Chris Kiptoo said the country’s budget deficits have been widening since the adoption of the new constitution, which necessitated more borrowing. While responding to requests from players in the pension sector on possible exemptions to enable growth,…
Cooperatives and MSME Development CS Wycliffe Oparanya during a meeting with the National Assembly’s Committee on Trade, Cooperatives and Industry over the 2025 Budget Policy Statement at Bunge Towers, Parliament. February 24th, 2025. (Elvis Ogina, Standard) The government has enlisted the expertise of foreign SACCO executives to sanitise the local sector, following financial improprieties that have plagued the Kenya Union of Savings and Credit Co-operatives Ltd (KUSCCO). Cabinet Secretary for Co-operatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (MSMEs), Wycliffe Oparanya, announced in a statement that he has appointed a committee of experts tasked with reviewing the laws governing the…
Nelson Havi(Left)chairman board of directors Retirement Benefits Authority(RBA) and Dr.Chris Kiptoo principal secretary national treasury,during retirement benefits Authority(RBA)consultative forum,on 16th April 2025 at Sarova Panafric hotel in Nairobi county. [Edward Kiplimo,Standard] The push to consolidate small pension schemes is gaining momentum as industry players seek regulations specifying the least amount a retirement plan can hold. Stakeholders said yesterday the sector is currently too fragmented for the pension assets under management to make meaningful contributions to the needy segments of the economy. This is despite the industry recording growth, with pension assets under management surpassing Sh2.3 trillion as of the end…
Rental houses in Pipeline Estate in Nairobi’s Embakasi area. A majority of tenants do not have tenancy agreements with their landlords. [File, Standard] It is still unclear how the government plans to collect Sh86 billion more from landlords, even as it unveiled a new digital tax system targeting the segment. The lack of data on the number of landlords and rental properties in the country has been cited as a major hindrance to bringing them into the tax net. The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) collected Sh14.4 billion from rental income tax in the financial year 2023-2024. This is a year-on-year growth…
Manufacturers want the State-funded credit guarantee scheme (CGS) for small businesses to be increased by Sh15 million and the repayment period extended to eight years. This proposition aims to improve capital access among micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which are the beneficiaries of this scheme. Apart from providing a five-year tax moratorium for MSMEs to enhance their cash flow, the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) also wants 20 per cent of the allocations under the scheme to be ring-fenced for businesses in manufacturing. These proposals are contained in the newly launched Manufacturing Priority Agenda 2025 by KAM, which details…
Rental houses in Pipeline Estate in Nairobi’s Embakasi area. A majority of tenants do not have tenancy agreements with their landlords. [File, Standard] It is still unclear how the government plans to collect Sh86 billion more from landlords, even as it unveiled a new digital tax system targeting the segment. The lack of data on the number of landlords and rental properties in the country has been cited as a major hindrance to bringing them into the tax net. The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) collected Sh14.4 billion from rental income tax in the financial year 2023-2024. This is a year-on-year growth…
Pension regulator, the Retirement Benefits Authority (RBA) has set its eyes on the informal sector as it seeks policy reforms to increase contributions, amid an improved pension assets to gross domestic product (GDP) ratio. Latest numbers show the pension assets to GDP ratio slightly went up to 14.6 per cent in the year ended December 2024, from 12.2 per cent for the year ended December 2023. Amid the increase, which can largely be attributed to enhanced National Social Security Fund (NSSF) contributions that came into force in 2023, RBA notes this ratio is still low. “Kenya’s ratio is still lower…
The recovery of the stock market last year was a shot in the arm for the pension sector. [Courtesy] The recovery of the stock market last year was a shot in the arm for the pension sector. The season saw fund managers find confidence to invest in quoted equities, causing assets under management to surpass the Sh2 trillion mark. As the shilling strengthened, the Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE) witnessed more investors, including foreign ones. They flocked back to the bourse, seizing the opportunity as the window for high returns from government paper was closing. “Investments in government securities saw a…
Only one in five tenants is willing to purchase the units they are currently living in, pointing to a possible mismatch between housing supply and what prospective home owners would want. Analysis of data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) Housing Survey Basic Report 2023/2024 details these complexities around meeting the demands of prospective home owners. The report notes that a majority of tenants would rather build their units – a bungalow or maisonnette – rather than purchase the unit they are renting at the moment. However, a majority of them also have no plan in place towards…
Only one in five tenants is willing to purchase the units they are currently living in, pointing to a possible mismatch between housing supply and what prospective home owners would want. Analysis of data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) Housing Survey Basic Report 2023/2024 details these complexities around meeting the demands of prospective home owners. The report notes that a majority of tenants would rather build their units – a bungalow or maisonnette – rather than purchase the unit they are renting at the moment. However, a majority of them also have no plan in place towards…
Only one in five tenants is willing to purchase the units they are currently living in, pointing to a possible mismatch between housing supply and what prospective home owners would want. Analysis of data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) Housing Survey Basic Report 2023/2024 details these complexities around meeting the demands of prospective home owners. The report notes that a majority of tenants would rather build their units – a bungalow or maisonnette – rather than purchase the unit they are renting at the moment. However, a majority of them also have no plan in place towards…
Only one in five tenants is willing to purchase the units they are currently living in, pointing to a possible mismatch between housing supply and what prospective home owners would want. Analysis of data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) Housing Survey Basic Report 2023/2024 details these complexities around meeting the demands of prospective home owners. The report notes that a majority of tenants would rather build their units – a bungalow or maisonnette – rather than purchase the unit they are renting at the moment. However, a majority of them also have no plan in place towards…
Only one in five tenants is willing to purchase the units they are currently living in, pointing to a possible mismatch between housing supply and what prospective home owners would want. Analysis of data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) Housing Survey Basic Report 2023/2024 details these complexities around meeting the demands of prospective home owners. The report notes that a majority of tenants would rather build their units – a bungalow or maisonnette – rather than purchase the unit they are renting at the moment. However, a majority of them also have no plan in place towards…
President William Ruto (second right), World Chambers Federation Chairman Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu (second left), Cooperatives CS Wycliffe Oparanya (right) and KNCCI President Erick Ruto arrive for the official opening of the World Chambers Federation Africa Summit 2025 in Nairobi, on April 9, 2025. [PCS] President William Ruto has broken his silence on the 10 per cent tariff imposed on Kenyan exports to the US, asserting that Kenya will safeguard its interests amid the global trade war, which has prompted retaliatory import tariffs from other nations. In what appears to be a pushback following US President Donald Trump’s blitz of protectionist tariffs,…
Only one in five tenants is willing to purchase the units they are currently living in, pointing to a possible mismatch between housing supply and what prospective home owners would want. Analysis of data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) Housing Survey Basic Report 2023/2024 details these complexities around meeting the demands of prospective home owners. The report notes that a majority of tenants would rather build their units – a bungalow or maisonnette – rather than purchase the unit they are renting at the moment. However, a majority of them also have no plan in place towards…
Members of parliamentary energy committee during a tour of a mini hydroelectricity plant at Mathioya River. [Photo/Boniface Gikandi] KTDA Power Company Ltd, a subsidiary of Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA), has reported a 32 per cent surge in electricity production from its operational hydropower projects. Currently, Imenti, Lower Nyamindi, Gura, North Mathioya, Chania, and Nyambunde hydro-projects are fully operational. A statement from KTDA said these six operational power plants generated 3.28 MKWhrs in February 2025, and 4.33 MKWhrs in March 2025. “The increase is attributed to the ongoing heavy rains, which have significantly boosted river flow and output. These hydro-power…
Co-operatives PS Patrick Kilemi before the National Assembly’s Trade Committee at Bunge Towers,Nairobi.August 22nd,2024. [Elvis Ogina,Standard The government is facing a challenge in dealing with non-remittances of Sacco contributions, even as the law allows the Commissioner of Co-operative Development to reprimand culpable employers. Principal Secretary in the State Department for Co-operatives Patrick Kilemi says while the law has bestowed powers to the Commissioner of Co-operative Development, the recent business environment and symbiotic relationship between the National Treasury and public institutions make applying this law a challenge. He says in cases where the business environment has been understandably a challenge, such cases can…
A livestock officer shows butchers how to remove skin from an animal while at the slaughter house.Skins and hides bring about Sh 128 million revenue. [FILE] Poorly equipped tanneries in countries like Kenya are among the reasons behind the slow growth of the leather and leather products sector, which has led to an influx of imports from China, a regional trading bloc says. The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) has listed the challenges affecting the leather sector, citing the lack of chemical industries in the region, finances, qualified personnel, and flaying techniques that result in poor quality…
Kakuzi Plc Managing Director Chris Flowers at the Kakuzi PLC in Avocado farming in Thika 19th May 2022. [David Gichuru,Standard] The Kakuzi board of directors has recommended a Sh8 dividend per share after the agricultural firm reported a loss of Sh130.4 million for the year ended December 2024. The firm attributed the performance to challenges in shipping routes, strengthening of the shilling against the US dollar, drop in avocado exports, and adverse weather conditions. In the year ended December 2023, the firm reported a profit of Sh455.6 million. In the released financial statements, Kakuzi, however, notes improvements in its macadamia,…
Retirements Benefits Authority wants pension funds for public entities not to be categorised as public funds. [Courtesy] An ageing workforce in the public sector has been cited as one of the key reasons why investment firms concentrate their assets under management in government paper, even as the regulator is pushing for diversification. According to the Retirements Benefits Authority (RBA), Treasury bills or T-bills and bonds are among the top five preferred asset classes for investment firms, yet the regulator has a broad list of 15. An industry report from RBA shows that as of June 2023, 47.79 per cent of pension…
Delegates during the 9th Sacco Leaders’ Convention hosted by Kuscco Ltd at Sarova Whitesands in Mombasa County, on February 21, 2024. [File, Standard] The financial troubles bedevilling the Kenya Union of Savings and Credit Co-operatives (Kuscco) have sent Saccos back to the drawing board as they seek to regain the trust of the industry responsible for close to Sh1 trillion of Kenyans’ savings. Players in the sector maintain that Saccos are still the best bet for those keen on growing their wealth and safeguarding their future, despite the panic elicited by the corruption scandal at the umbrella organisation for cooperatives,…