Author: Khusoko

Octagon Africa, a leading regional provider of pension administration, insurance brokerage, actuarial consulting, and trust services, has appointed Davis Ongiro as the new Chief Executive Officer for its Kenyan operations. At just 30 years old, Ongiro’s rise from salesman to CEO reflects Octagon’s commitment to meritocracy, innovation, and developing young African leaders. Leading with Vision and Purpose Ongiro steps into the role with a clear mandate: to drive strategic growth, deepen client relationships, and expand access to affordable retirement solutions for millions of Kenyans. His leadership will focus on transforming how individuals and businesses prepare for retirement, ensuring that every…

A look at oral health reports from Kenya reveals the need for collective action by a wide range of stakeholders. These include the government, private sector, professional associations and communities. If we are to address oral health issues sustainably, these stakeholders need to work together. Mars Wrigley and Kenya’s First Oral Health Survey In 2015, Mars Wrigley Kenya sponsored the country’s first National Oral Health Survey. The Ministry of Health, in partnership with the University of Nairobi, led the study. There was also support from other institutions such as KEMRI and WHO. The survey provided the most comprehensive baseline data…

For decades, unemployment has remained the most persistent challenge in Kenya and across much of the developing world. The policy prescriptions have been familiar with governments being tasked to build industries, expand markets and ease the cost of doing business, all whilst employers are placed under immense pressure to absorb young people into productive opportunities. These strategies have resulted in progress, but the structural crisis of unemployment has not been resolved. Traditional Work Models Can’t Keep Pace with Change The reason is clear. Traditional models of work, designed for an industrial age, can no longer absorb the millions of young…

Agriculture remains the backbone of Kenya’s economy, contributing 25% of GDP directly and nearly 27% through its broader value chain. Yet for farmers to scale, mechanise, and stay resilient, access to tailored financing is critical. For years, Stanbic Bank has helped and equipped the sector by offering a robust Vehicle and Asset Finance (VAF) and Solar PV Financing solutions designed explicitly for agribusiness. Let us unpack some of them: Mechanisation Made Possible: Tractors, Harvesters, Irrigation & Solar Did you know that SBK’s agribusiness arm delivers comprehensive asset financing? The lender finances tractors, harvesters, centre pivots, and solar panels, addressing mechanisation…

In conversations about climate change and the urgent need to build climate-resilient economies, banks, investors, and governments often take centre stage. Yet there is one sector, which is just as critical to enabling this transition: insurance.  Green investments cannot scale without insurance. Every wind farm, geothermal plant, solar park, or electric vehicle depends on the assurance that risk can be managed. Insurance forms the invisible backbone of the green economy and is one of the most powerful enablers of green growth. By taking on risks that would otherwise deter financiers, insurers help de-risk green investments, giving banks and investors the…

When many people think of breast cancer, they imagine it as a disease that mostly affects older women. Yet doctors in sub-Saharan Africa are raising a red flag: more and more younger women are being diagnosed, often much earlier than their counterparts in Western countries. This troubling trend is not limited to breast cancer alone; other cancers are also appearing more frequently in younger people. While genetics may play a role, further research is needed to fully understand whether environmental factors, lifestyle, or yet-unidentified risks also contribute to this pattern. Know Your Breasts: Early Awareness Saves Lives This shift carries…