Author: Lorine Otamo

SBM Bank Kenya has launched a KES 1 billion Green Finance Facility, giving consumers and businesses a direct credit line to transition into electric and hybrid vehicles. The fund runs for 12 months. It targets the single biggest obstacle to EV adoption in Kenya: the upfront cost. By making financing accessible, the bank positions itself as an active participant in the country’s push to cut carbon emissions by 32% by 2030, rather than a passive observer of it. SBM Bank invested KES 45 million to replace part of its own vehicle fleet, taking delivery of five BYD plug-in hybrid electric…

Five Kenyan manufacturers are seeking a combined Sh5.6 billion ($43 million) to accelerate the shift away from firewood and charcoal in institutional and household kitchens across East Africa. The fundraising targets break down as follows: BURN Manufacturing is pursuing Sh1.3 billion ($10 million), Ignis Innovations and Faith Engineering are each targeting Sh1.95 billion ($15 million), Feion is seeking Sh260 million ($2 million), and Eco Bora is aiming for Sh130 million ($1 million). Each company is at a different stage, from seed capital to late-stage growth financing — and is engaging international backers to fund production capacity and product expansion. Company…

Kenya’s appetite for upscale, low-density housing just found a concrete answer. Mi Vida Homes has unveiled 156 Elara, a KES 5.6 billion (USD 42 million) development of 156 luxury townhouses inside Tatu City, signalling that premium real estate demand has moved well beyond Nairobi’s high-rise corridors. The project marks a deliberate shift for Mi Vida, a developer previously known for affordable and mid-tier apartments. With 156 Elara, the company steps into Kenya’s premium segment at a moment when the market rewards exactly that kind of confidence. Why Now and Why Tatu City Sales of high-end properties across Kenya climbed 28%…

Apple has built a $4 trillion company while its biggest rivals poured hundreds of billions of dollars into artificial intelligence. That calculation is about to face its sharpest test yet. On 1 September, Tim Cook hands the CEO role to John Ternus, Apple’s head of hardware engineering, closing a 15-year chapter and opening one that will demand a far clearer answer on AI than Apple has offered so far. The End of the Cook Era Cook took over from Steve Jobs in 2011, weeks before Jobs died from pancreatic cancer. What followed was one of the most successful runs in…

Safaricom Business gathered medium-sized enterprises from education, healthcare, and insurance to explore tools that keep operations running and growing. The telco hosted a Grow with Safaricom Business Solutions showcase, where companies moved beyond theory and tested practical applications firsthand. Demonstrations covered everything from payment infrastructure to enterprise connectivity, giving attendees a ground-level look at what modern business technology can deliver. “The most effective way to prove value to businesses is through practical demonstrations,” said Fawzia Ali, Chief Consumer Business Officer at Safaricom. “When businesses see solutions in action, they understand their impact. And it all begins with connectivity. When that…

Sameer Africa PLC has appointed Sylvia Mwikali as Company Secretary with effect from 14 April 2026, following the resignation of Millicent Ng’etich. Mwikali brings a grounding in corporate governance, regulatory compliance, and board advisory services. She holds certification as a Secretary and qualifies as an Accredited Governance Auditor and Certified Public Accountant. She also serves as a member of ICPAK. A Seasoned Governance Expert Her expertise spans the end-to-end Company Secretarial function, with a particular focus on: Board Governance Advisory: Strengthening frameworks to ensure high-quality decision-making. Regulatory Compliance: Navigating evolving statutory requirements for both listed and private entities. Stakeholder Engagement:…