Author: David Indeje

Kenya’s annual inflation eased to 5.7 per cent in December from the previous month’s 5.8 per cent, helped by lower fuel costs attributed to the ongoing government subsidy, as per data released on Friday. Fuel prices for the period 15th December 2021 to 14th January 2022 remained unchanged at Ksh 129.7 per litre for Super Petrol, Ksh 110.6 per litre for Diesel, and Ksh 103.5 per litre for Kerosene which has had an impact on the inflation basket. “This was mainly due to an increase in prices of commodities under; food and non-alcoholic beverages (9.09%); transport (8.10%); and housing, water,…

The Kenyan economy picked up in the third quarter of the year following the easing of pandemic restrictions, the statistics body said Friday. The country’s gross domestic product in the quarter grew 9.9 per cent on-year, data released by the Kenya National Bureau of  Statistical Office on Friday showed, compared to compared with a contraction of 2.1 per cent the same period in 2020. “Economic recovery from the effects of COVID-19 pandemic continued in the 3rd quarter of 2021 as a result of easing of containment measures. Real GDP grew by 9.9 per cent in the 3rd quarter. This follows…

Kenya’s National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) on Wednesday said it will be buying maize from farmers at the price of Ksh 3,000 per 90kg bag. This is a KSh 650 increase from the previous purchasing price of KSh2,350 per bag of maize as of Dec 7, 2021  which comes as a ‘relief’ for farmers despite the high cost of inputs. “The price we are offering will enable farmers to get value for the maize they deliver due to the accuracy of our weighing services,” Joseph Kimote, NCPB managing director said adding that payment for maize will be effected within…

Safaricom, Kenya’s biggest telecoms operator, has opposed the market regulator’s review of mobile termination rates and fixed termination rates that would lead to affordability in internetwork calls. The Communications Authority (CA) capped Mobile Termination Rates (MTRs) that local mobile phone operators charge each other for interconnecting customers by KSh0.87 from KSh0.99 to KSh0.12. “The review was founded on the recognition that higher MTRs mean higher calling rates for consumers,” CA director-general Ezra Chiloba said through a press statement. “At the retail level, consumers will now enjoy access to a variety of affordable services across networks and at the wholesale level,…

ICT regulator Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK) has invited public views on the proposed guidelines for addressing counterfeit, stolen and illegal ICT devices in the country. The regulator says the public, stakeholders and other interested parties have up to January 27 to provide any suggestions, justifications, views and inputs in enhancing the implementation of the guidelines. CAK is also responsible for managing the country’s numbering and frequency spectrum resources, administering the Universal Service Fund (USF) as well as protecting the interests of users of ICT services. “In this regard, the Authority has developed guidelines for addressing counterfeit, stolen and illegal…

Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) Group, a Swiss-Italian international shipping line operating both passenger and cargo services plans to acquire Bolloré Africa Logistics for $6.4 billion. “Bolloré Group has granted the MSC Group exclusivity until March 31, 2022, to enable MSC, further to an additional due diligence phase and contractual negotiations, to submit a put option,” MSC Group said December in an announcement. Put options give the purchaser the right (but not the obligation) to sell stock to the creator of the options contract at a set price in the future. “The Bolloré Group’s decision to exercise this put option and…