Author: Lorine Otamo

Spotify has named DEELA its EQUAL Africa Artist of the Month, recognising the Nigerian-British rapper’s growing force across both African and global music. Born in Lagos and raised between the city’s musical heritage and the UK’s underground scene, DEELA draws on that dual world to build a sound she describes simply as “exciting, cheeky, and lively.” The roots of that sound stretch back to a childhood shaped by artists she still credits today. “Wande Coal, Lagbaja, 9ice, Asa, Wizkid, P-Square — just to name a few,” she says, listing the names with the ease of someone who knows exactly where…

Sasini Avocado EPZ Limited, a subsidiary of Sasini PLC, has put its avocado processing and packaging plant up for sale, offering buyers a ready-to-operate facility at the heart of Kenya’s export corridor. The plant sits at Sameer Industrial Park on Road C in Nairobi’s Industrial Area, with direct access to Mombasa Road and established export handling and distribution infrastructure. Installed and commissioned in 2021, it remains in commercial condition and available for immediate use. What the Plant Offers The facility centres on a four-lane Eshet Eilon avocado packing line capable of processing up to eight tonnes per hour, built for…

The Kenya Revenue Authority board has declined to renew the contract of Commissioner General Humphrey Wattanga, placing him on terminal leave and opening a leadership transition at a critical point in the financial year. In a statement dated April 8, 2026, the board confirmed that Lilian Nyawanda, currently Commissioner for Customs and Border Control, will serve as acting Commissioner General while the authority runs a competitive recruitment process for a substantive replacement. The board credited Wattanga with advancing the authority’s mandate and driving organisational restructuring reforms during his tenure. Leadership change arrives mid-revenue push The exit lands as KRA races…

Kenyan families can now secure a funeral cover for as little as KSh 1,000 a year, as Britam Connect and Montezuma Funeral Home launch the Heshima Farewell Plan, a last-expense policy designed to spare grieving families the burden of scrambling for funds at the worst possible moment. The launch arrives at a time when funerals in Kenya have become a serious financial event. In Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu, a funeral now regularly costs upwards of KSh 300,000. Even in rural areas, families face mounting bills for transport, mortuary fees, coffins, ceremonies and catering. Research commissioned by the Association of Kenya…

Zenith Bank Plc has completed its acquisition of Paramount Bank Kenya Limited, securing regulatory clearance from authorities in both Kenya and Nigeria. The Central Bank of Kenya confirmed the transaction on April 8, formalising what it described as a deal that would “ensure continued stability, enhance the resilience of the Kenyan banking sector and promote competition.” CBK approved the acquisition on March 9, 2026, under Section 13(4) of the Banking Act, followed by Cabinet Secretary approval from the National Treasury and Economic Planning on March 16, 2026, under Section 9 of the Banking Act. The deal gives Zenith Bank 100…

UNFPA and Britam Foundation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to reduce preventable maternal and newborn deaths in vulnerable communities across Kwale and Nairobi counties. The partnership will scale the Lea Salama Programme, an initiative to expand access to care for pregnant women and newborns in underserved rural areas and urban informal settlements where health inequities are most pronounced. The Scale of the Problem Kenya confronts a stark reality: an estimated 15 mothers and 92 newborns die every day from preventable causes. The national maternal mortality ratio stands at 355 deaths per 100,000 live births. In Kwale County, the figure…