Kenyan legislators adopted the Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill 2026 on Thursday, slashing the tax on petroleum products from 16% to 8%. This decisive move targets motor spirit, illuminating kerosene, and gas oil to shield citizens from a punishing cost of living. By fast-tracking the legislation, the National Assembly ensured immediate relief for a public grappling with volatile energy markets. Immediate Impact at the Pump The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) revised retail prices downward for the April-May cycle. Under the new 8% tax regime, Nairobi motorists now pay Sh197.60 for super petrol and Sh196.63 for diesel. These figures…
Author: Muindi
Muindi
Experience working on communication and marketing departments and in the broadcast industry. Interested in sustainable development and international relations issues.
Kenya’s real estate investment trusts grew combined net operating income by 28.4% to Kshs 2.48 billion in FY2025, up from Kshs 1.93 billion the previous year, according to data from Cytonn Research. Acorn D-REIT drove the majority of that growth, recording a 49.1% rise in net operating income to Kshs 1.72 billion. ILAM Fahari I-REIT grew net operating income 28.3% to Kshs 145.8 million. Acorn I-REIT moved in the opposite direction, falling 7.7% to Kshs 611.8 million, as a 4.6% drop in operating income outpaced a marginal reduction in costs. Combined net asset value across all three REITs rose 12.6%…
Applications are open for the 2026 Standard Chartered Foundation Women in Tech Accelerator, and the window for women-led tech startups across Africa, the Middle East, and Pakistan to apply is closing fast. The Standard Chartered Foundation, in partnership with Village Capital and local implementing partners across twelve markets, will distribute more than USD 600,000 in grant funding in 2026 to founders building technology-driven businesses with measurable impact. If you lead a startup that solves real problems and you operate in Bahrain, Botswana, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, UAE, Uganda, or Zambia, this programme was built for…
Jambojet intends to launch flights to Entebbe and Dar es Salaam in 2027, marking the low-cost carrier’s most ambitious regional push since the Covid-19 pandemic grounded much of its network. The airline, which currently operates routes within Kenya and a single international service from Mombasa to Zanzibar, frames the expansion as the first step in a broader strategy to rebuild and extend the regional footprint it lost during the pandemic. Leadership has signalled that more destinations will follow. Fleet grows as the airline prepares for regional competition Jambojet recently added a Bombardier DHC-8-400 to its fleet, bringing total aircraft to…
Heineken has closed the door on nearly four decades in the Democratic Republic of Congo, selling its brewing subsidiary Bralima to Mauritius-based ELNA Holdings after armed conflict stripped it of control over its eastern operations. The Dutch brewer announced the sale on Friday without disclosing financial terms. ELNA Holdings takes over production, distribution, and all staff. Bralima traces its origins to 1923, when Belgian investors founded it, and Heineken has held a majority stake since 1986, making this one of the most significant exits from its African portfolio. Heineken Keeps the Brands, Loses the Breweries Despite leaving direct ownership, Heineken…
Kenya’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) kept the Central Bank Rate (CBR) unchanged at 8.75% on April 8, 2026, pausing the longest easing cycle in the Central Bank of Kenya’s history. CBK Governor Dr. Kamau Thugge announced the decision after ten consecutive rate cuts dating back to June 2024, a cumulative reduction of 425 basis points from a cycle high of 13.0%. The committee said it wants to monitor potential second-round inflation effects from rising energy prices before easing further. Banks Called It Before the Meeting The hold was widely expected. Both the Kenya Bankers Association (KBA) and NCBA’s research desk…