Author: Muindi

Hounen, the multinational real estate developer and solar energy manufacturer, has unveiled plans for over 63,000 square meters of new developments at Tatu City Special Economic Zone (SEZ), marking its official entry into Sub-Saharan Africa. The company, whose portfolio spans China, Indonesia, Cambodia, and the United States, has selected Tatu City as the strategic hub for its African operations, citing Kenya’s investment-friendly climate and the SEZ framework. “Over the last two decades, Hounen has charted an ambitious path of growth in Asia and the United States,” said Jufang Lyu, Founder and Chairwoman of Hounen, during the signing ceremony. “Our entry…

RUBiS Energy Kenya has deepened its national presence with the launch of two new service stations in Eldoret: RUBiS Iten Road and RUBiS Champions Mall. The expansion is a strategic investment in the North Rift region, reinforcing the company’s commitment to delivering world-class energy solutions to Kenya’s key economic corridors. Presiding over the launch event, Olivier Sabrié, CEO of RUBiS Energie East Africa and Group Managing Director of RUBiS Energy Kenya, emphasised the company’s long-term vision: “Our continued investment in Kenya is driven by a deep confidence in the nation’s economic trajectory. Eldoret, as the dynamic heart of the North…

Kenya’s headline inflation rose to 4.5% year-on-year in August 2025, up from 4.1% in July, marking the highest level since June 2024. The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) attributed the increase to surging prices in the food and transport sectors. “The annual consumer price inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) was 4.5% in August 2025. This implies that the general price level was 4.5% higher than in August 2024,” KNBS stated. Monthly Inflation and Central Bank Outlook Month-on-month inflation stood at 0.3% in August, compared to 0.1% in July. Despite the uptick, inflation remains within the…

NCBA Group reported a 12.6% year-on-year rise in net profit to Ksh11.1 billion ($85.8 million) for the first half of 2025, up from Ksh9.8 billion ($75.7 million) in H1 2024. The growth was driven by a 26.7% increase in net interest income, which rose to Ksh20.9 billion ($161.6 million), supported by higher lending and investments in government securities. However, non-interest income dipped 2.9% to Ksh14.5 billion ($112.1 million), weighed down by a 34% drop in foreign exchange trading income. Operating expenses rose 13.5% to Ksh21.8 billion ($168.6 million), while provisions for credit losses increased 19.1% to Ksh3.2 billion ($24.8 million),…

Safaricom hosted its flagship Innovation Day on Wednesday under the theme “Powering What’s Next: AI, Resilience & Sustainable Innovation.” The high-level forum brought together over 100 decision-makers, technology partners, and enterprise customers, reinforcing Safaricom’s ambition to become Africa’s leading purpose-led technology company within five years. The event spotlighted transformative solutions in cloud computing, cybersecurity, IoT, and artificial intelligence, underscoring Safaricom’s readiness to deliver secure, scalable, and future-proof digital infrastructure for businesses across Kenya. “As digitisation accelerates across all sectors, businesses are seeking trusted partners who offer secure, AI-powered and scalable solutions. We aim to be a trusted partner for businesses in…

The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has announced a sweeping reform to how commercial banks price loans, unveiling a revised Risk-Based Credit Pricing Model (RBCPM) that ties lending rates to a new interbank benchmark known as the Kenya Shilling Overnight Interbank Average (KESONIA). Starting September 1, 2025, all new variable-rate loans in Kenyan shillings will be priced as KESONIA + “K”, where “K” represents a bank-specific premium based on cost of funds, shareholder returns, and borrower risk. Existing loans will transition to the new model by February 28, 2026, following a six-month adjustment period. “KESONIA will be applicable to all…