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The facility, approved by the Bank’s Board of Directors, will allow Equity Bank (Kenya) Limited to issue guarantees of up to 100 percent to confirming banks, covering non-payment risks linked to Letters of Credit and similar trade finance instruments.
In agriculture, Mwaura highlighted that more than 7.1 million farmers have been digitally registered, improving access to inputs and cutting out middlemen. Over 21 million bags of subsidised fertiliser have been delivered, reducing the cost from Sh7,500 to about Sh2,500 per bag, saving farmers roughly Sh105 billion.
The National Treasury has released the draft 2026 Budget Policy Statement and invited public and stakeholder comments by January 9, 2026, in a key step shaping Kenya’s medium-term fiscal priorities.
According to KRA, the jurisdictions on the list will apply to CRS information returns for reporting periods starting January 1, 2025. Financial institutions covered under the reporting requirements are expected to ensure full compliance when preparing and submitting their returns.
Under the suggested structure, earnings below Sh30,000 would not attract PAYE. Income between Sh30,001 and Sh50,000 would be taxed at 15 per cent, while those earning between Sh50,001 and Sh100,000 would pay 20 per cent. A rate of 25 per cent would apply to income from Sh100,001 to Sh400,000, with any amount above Sh400,000 taxed at 30 per cent.
Details shared through WhatsApp’s Help Center show that the question sticker is part of the Status feature found in the Updates section. Users can type a question, attach the sticker to a photo or video, and publish it as a status for their contacts to see. Anyone viewing the status can submit an answer by tapping the sticker and typing a response
Recent reporting also indicates that Apple plans on bringing ads to the Maps app. This is reportedly scheduled for next year, though the company has yet to comment.
Last month, the World Bank outlined seven laws and four policy reforms Kenya must implement before releasing the funds. Key requirements include amending the Competition Act to regulate firms with dominant market positions, allowing refugees to register for mobile telephony and M-Pesa, and introducing policies to reduce urban traffic congestion, including promoting rail transport.
Kenya borrowed Sh655 billion ($5.08 billion) from the China Export-Import Bank in the year ending June 2015 for the SGR project, covering the Mombasa-Nairobi section and the subsequent line to Naivasha. Since then, the country has been servicing the loans by paying interest twice annually, in January and July, with the initial maturity ranging between January 2029 and July 2035.
The agreement mirrors a plan first announced in September, when former President Donald Trump delayed a law that threatened to ban TikTok unless it was sold. Oracle, co-founded by Trump supporter Larry Ellison, is expected to license TikTok’s recommendation algorithm under the terms of the deal.
The report shows that several counties continue to operate funds beyond their legal life, exposing them to audits and potential legal action. Section 116 of the Public Finance Management (PFM) Act, 2012, allows counties to set up public funds with approval from the county executive committee and county assembly. According to Regulation 197(1)(i) of the PFM (County Governments) Regulations, 2015, a fund can only last ten years unless formally extended by the county assembly. If not renewed, the funds automatically expire.
Beginning in 2026, the service will allow millions of Airtel subscribers to send texts and access data in regions without conventional mobile network coverage, with new satellites promising speeds up to 20 times faster than current satellite solutions.
The County Governments Budget Implementation Review Report for the first quarter of the financial year ending June 30, 2026, released on Monday by Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o, lists Kericho, Tana River, Turkana, Bomet, Siaya, Trans Nzoia, Baringo, Kilifi, Kwale, Kajiado, Kisumu, Mombasa, Vihiga, Busia, West Pokot, Bungoma, Uasin Gishu, Wajir, Laikipia and Kisii as counties that did not spend any money on development.
The planned services come after Arusha Airport underwent an extensive upgrade that was completed in June, with Tanzanian authorities now taking steps to designate it as an international entry and exit point. Customs and immigration facilities are being installed, which will allow direct international flights and reduce reliance on alternative airports.
Fuel prices play a central role in the cost of goods and services across the economy, meaning any increase at the pump would have pushed up transport, production, and household expenses. With shipment costs for diesel and kerosene rising by up to five percent last month, the government increased subsidies to shield consumers and prevent further strain on the cost of living.
TikTok, which had held the top position in 2024, dropped in the rankings, while Google remained Kenya’s most visited internet platform. The data also shows a reshuffle among other major services, with Instagram and WhatsApp replacing Microsoft and YouTube, which ranked fourth and fifth last year. X has continued to lose ground in Kenya, falling from sixth place in 2024 to missing from the top 10 entirely.
The first tranche of the issuance totals up to Sh15 billion, with an additional Sh5 billion available under a greenshoe option, following approval from the Capital Markets Authority on November 7, 2025.
During last year’s national wage bill conference, officials had warned of mass layoffs targeting support staff, casual workers, and employees with fake academic certificates. At the time, it was noted that support staff made up about two-thirds of public service employees, despite a recommended ratio of 70 percent technical staff and 30 percent support staff. This meant that roughly 702,950 of the 1.05 million public servants were support staff, more than double the ideal number.
The Association of Kenya Insurers (AKI) says the standard requires insurers to provide highly detailed reporting, which many companies are ill-equipped to handle. According to the latest AKI report, historical records were inconsistent, missing, or dispersed across legacy IT systems incapable of supporting the new accounting requirements.
Kenya has experienced frequent power disruptions, particularly in the western counties, due to an ageing and overloaded transmission system. Voltage fluctuations and network congestion have been a recurring problem, often leaving residents and businesses without electricity during peak demand.
Africa Logistics Properties has launched a Sh3.9 billion restricted I-REIT offer in Kenya to fund Grade A logistics assets, ahead of a planned NSE Restricted Board listing in March 2026.
Kenya’s EPRA has left petrol, diesel and kerosene prices unchanged from December 15, 2025 to January 14, 2026, citing mixed global oil trends and a stable shilling.
Agriculture remains central to Ruto’s economic strategy, with plans for modern irrigation systems to make arid and semi-arid areas productive.
KCB has been growing its pool of funds for loans targeting environmental sustainability and high social impact sectors, including energy, infrastructure, agriculture, health, and education.
Safaricom first entered Ethiopia in 2022, with Standard Bank acting as both advisor and financier. Since then, the telecom firm has invested $2.27 billion (Sh292.77 billion) in telecom and digital financial infrastructure across the country.
The ban, which is being watched closely around the world, was justified by campaigners and the government as necessary to protect children from harmful content and algorithms.
Kenya will keep manufacturers with annual turnover below Sh5 million exempt from the 2025 Standards Levy, protecting over 10,000 MSMEs as the levy ceiling rises and classifications are reviewed.
Kenya’s Investment CS Lee Kinyanjui led the launch of Korean firm K-Elec Kenya at Sarin Industrial Park, Nairobi, positioning the plant to boost local electronics production, jobs and regional exports.
Alongside Nyakeri’s appointment, the KRA Board has cleared Alex Kimani Mwangi to lead the newly formed Tax Research and Analysis Unit as Commissioner, beginning January 12, 2026. The unit is expected to serve as a centre for research, modelling, forecasting, and analysis of tax policy using evidence and data.
The change, which took effect on December 1, 2025, marks a major shift in how loans will now be priced under the bank’s updated credit framework.