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To cushion consumers, Mbadi said the government has continued to intervene through subsidies and tax adjustments despite rising fiscal pressure.
ICT expert Mohamed Omar said Kenya has five submarine cable landing stations in Mombasa and needs faster fibre expansion under the Digital Super Highway. He warned AI could reshape jobs while noting growth and access opportunities.
The bank posted a net profit of Sh68.4 billion, an 11 percent increase compared to the previous year. Total assets rose by 9 percent to Sh2.1 trillion, reflecting steady growth in the balance sheet during the period under review.
Google said the latest developments are part of its long-term strategy to become an AI-first company, adding that the journey began more than a decade ago.
The Kenya Bankers Association says real incomes have fallen 10.7%–12% over five years and proposes a uniform 5% PAYE reduction across all income bands to boost purchasing power, GDP, jobs and MSME lending.
Isuzu East Africa led the sector once again, selling 2,521 units, up from 2,0 units in the previous year. The company controlled more than half of the market at 53 per cent, strengthening its lead over competitors.
Speaking through Principal Administrative Secretary Arthur Osiya, from the Executive Office of the President, during the Public Service Superannuation Fund (PSSF) Employers’ Conference on Wednesday, Wagunda emphasized that pension deductions are “earnings belonging to employees which must be treated with the highest level of accountability and integrity.”
In its submissions to the Senate, KNCCI said that while it supports efforts aimed at protecting minors from tobacco and nicotine products, some of the proposed measures risk being too strict and could negatively affect businesses, especially micro, small and medium enterprises.
The proposed Finance Bill,2026 is set to introduce several tax adjustments aimed at widening revenue collection without introducing major new taxes.
The review is taking place against a backdrop of growing concern among salaried workers who are already dealing with multiple statutory deductions, including housing levy payments and contributions to the Social Health Authority, which have reduced monthly earnings for many households.
Equity Group reported a 24% year-on-year rise in Q1 2026 Profit After Tax to Sh19.1 billion, supported by higher deposits, income and MSME lending. Equity Bank’s Profit After Tax reached Sh10.3 billion.
The FXD3/2019/015 bond is a 15-year paper with 8.3 years remaining to maturity. It carries a coupon rate of 12.3400% and will mature on July 10, 2034.
Once completed, the exercise will reduce the number of post offices to about 500, representing a drop of nearly 20 per cent. The corporation says the move is part of a wider effort to deal with branches that are no longer financially sustainable.
In Mombasa, Super Petrol will cost Sh211.09, diesel Sh239.64 and kerosene Sh149.49 per litre.
The new prices mean motorists in Nairobi will now pay Sh214.25 for a litre of Super Petrol, Sh242.92 for Diesel and Sh152.78 for Kerosene effective midnight for the next 30 days.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced “Incognito Chat” for Meta AI on WhatsApp and the Meta AI app. He says it uses a Trusted Execution Environment so conversations are inaccessible to Meta and disappear after sessions end.
The Nairobi–Dubai route is widely regarded as a strategic hub connection, enabling onward travel to Asia, Europe, and the Americas via Dubai’s international network.
The CS explained that the Kenya Union of Savings and Credit Cooperatives (KUSCCO), which serves more than 3,000 SACCOs across the country, manages an estimated share capital of Sh3 billion and holds deposits and savings amounting to about Sh15.6 billion. Despite this strong base, he said the institution had suffered long-standing governance and financial control weaknesses.
Speaking during a press briefing in Nairobi on Monday, the CS said reforms such as a simplified “mitumba” tax regime, reduced phone import taxes, and a shift in filing timelines are aimed at easing business costs, improving efficiency, and boosting revenue collection rather than raising prices, stressing that “there is miscommunication around this.”
Alliance Française Nairobi Pedagogy Head Obilo Ng’ong’o says French firms are increasing investments in Kenya’s retail, infrastructure, education and training. He links the shift from aid to partnerships to upcoming Africa Forward Summit 2026 plans and long-term economic cooperation.
Within the housing programme, affordable housing is expected to register the fastest growth. Allocations are projected to rise to Sh201.1 billion after the elections from Sh50.7 billion in FY2026/27. However, during the election cycle, funding is expected to decline, with a 30.9 per cent reduction from the approved Sh73.3 billion.
Among those set to benefit are kidney patients after Treasury proposed VAT exemptions on dialysers and related medical supplies used in dialysis treatment. The move is expected to lower the cost of treatment for patients battling chronic kidney disease.
The levy, which took effect on May 1, 2026, imposes a charge of 0.8 percent of auction value or custom value for direct sales at the point of export.
The arrangement removes customs duties on a wide range of Kenyan agricultural products entering China, creating new opportunities for exporters to compete in a market of more than 1.4 billion people.
The latest data released by Safaricom shows the amount borrowed through the facility grew by 49.3 per cent from Sh981.6 billion recorded the previous year, underlining the growing dependence on short-term credit by households and businesses facing financial pressure.
New figures contained in the 2026 Economic Survey show maize imports increased by 51.4 percent to 468,109 metric tonnes in 2025, reversing two consecutive years of decline.
Trade Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui said the company’s expansion reflects the strength of Kenya’s digital economy and its growing role in global technology-driven trade.
Safaricom says M-PESA transaction value rose to Sh41.7 trillion and total transactions hit 46.4 billion. Payments revenue increased, while credit, wealth and insurance expanded and a record FY26 dividend was proposed.
The latest data shows an increase from 42.8 million cases reported in the previous quarter, marking an 8.4 percent rise. The attacks involve criminals trying different combinations of usernames, passwords, or encryption keys until they succeed, a method commonly referred to as brute-force attacks.
Kenya Development Corporation has opened fully online applications for the SAFER Fund, a World Bank-backed programme to expand affordable credit for MSMEs. SACCOs, microfinance banks and Tier III lenders can apply between May 5 and June 2, 2026.