Author: Korir Issa

Kenyan coffee chain Java House is set to change hands for the fourth time in 12 years. London-based private equity firm Actis has agreed to sell Java House to Alterra Capital and Phatisa Group, both Africa-focused private equity firms. While the transaction value remains undisclosed, Mauritius-based Alterra will hold a majority stake. Founded in 1999, Java House has grown to operate 73 outlets across Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda. The chain is part of the Java House Group, which also encompasses food manufacturer Foodscape and other F&B brands like Kukito, Planet Yogurt, and 360 Degrees Artisan Pizza. This acquisition marks a…

Kenya’s overall inflation rate edged upwards to 3.3% in January 2025, from 3.0% in December 2024, according to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS). This uptick was primarily driven by rising food prices. Food inflation accelerated to 6.1% in January, compared to 4.8% in December, primarily due to significant price increases in vegetables such as tomatoes (up 17.9%) and onions (up 6.8%). Transportation costs also contributed to the inflationary pressure, increasing by 0.7%. While the housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuel categories saw a slight decline in prices due to lower electricity and gas costs, kerosene prices rose…

East African Breweries Plc (EABL) says it posted robust half-year financial results, rewarding shareholders with an interim dividend of Kshs 2.50 per share. Despite a challenging macroeconomic environment, EABL achieved a 20% increase in Profit After Tax, reaching Kshs 8.1 billion, driven by reduced interest costs and favourable foreign exchange gains. Net revenue for the six months ending December 31, 2024, reached Kshs 67.9 billion, reflecting a 2% increase compared to the same period last year. This growth was supported by a 1% volume increase, underpinned by continuous investments in innovative product offerings, impactful marketing campaigns, and enhanced route-to-market efficiencies.…

TikTok has announced strategic partnerships with Aleph Holdings and Wowzi to enhance its operations and support the growth of the Kenyan creator economy. Aleph Holdings will now manage TikTok’s sales and support operations in Kenya, streamlining advertising for businesses. This partnership will provide Kenyan businesses with direct access to TikTok’s expertise, simplifying the advertising process and enabling them to leverage local insights. Wowzi, a leading technology marketplace, will serve as TikTok’s official creator management partner. This collaboration will connect Kenyan creators with brands and agencies, providing valuable opportunities to expand their reach and build successful careers on the platform. “These partnerships…

Kenya has operationalized seven new border posts to enhance international trade and security, Commissioner for Customs and Border Control at the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), Lilian Nyawanda, announced during International Customs Day (ICD) 2025 celebrations in Nairobi. Located along the borders with Uganda, Tanzania, and Ethiopia, these new points of entry and exit are equipped with advanced technology designed to significantly reduce cargo clearance times and increase trade volumes. The specific locations are: Kenya-Uganda Border: Konyao and Lomokori/Lokiriama Kenya-Tanzania Border: Olposimoru Kenya-Ethiopia Border: Illeret/Banya Fort, Todonyang, Suftu, and Rhamu Nyawanda emphasized that the new posts will streamline the movement of…

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced on Friday that the company plans to invest between $60 billion and $65 billion in capital expenditures in 2025 to expand its artificial intelligence infrastructure. Zuckerberg described 2025 as “a defining year for AI” and revealed that Meta is constructing a massive data centre, comparable in size to a significant portion of Manhattan, to support its AI initiatives. This investment will include approximately 1 gigawatt of computing capacity and will bring Meta’s total number of graphics processing units (GPUs) to over 1.3 million by the end of 2025. “This is a massive effort, and over…