Companies, markets, trade, jobs.
Standard Chartered has launched a new investment platform in Kenya, the Signature Select Variable Capital Company (VCC), which gives eligible investors access to professionally managed global investment strategies and addresses wealth-transfer planning challenges.
8 hours ago · Citizen Digital →
Standard Chartered has launched a new investment platform in Kenya, the Signature Select Variable Capital Company (VCC), which gives eligible investors access to professionally managed global investment strategies and addresses wealth-transfer planning challenges.
8 hours ago · Citizen Digital →
Businesses in Nairobi are calling for reduced costs of doing business and changes to licensing and regulatory processes to create a more efficient and predictable operating environment. The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Nairobi Chapter plans to raise these issues at the Governors' Roundtable, citing concerns about county licence costs, delays, and bureaucratic hurdles in accessing county services.
9 hours ago · Citizen Digital →
Kenya's High Court ordered Bank of Baroda (Kenya) Limited to pay Infinity Industrial Park Limited Ksh.2.996 billion in special damages in a commercial dispute over an industrial park development in Nairobi's Njiru area. The ruling, issued on September 1, 2026, came after Infinity Industrial Park sought various orders including an injunction against the bank's sale of the land and approval of a development loan.
10 hours ago · Citizen Digital →
A three-judge High Court bench declared null and void the government's partial divestiture of its 15 per cent stake in Safaricom, ruling that the process violated the Constitution by failing to undertake meaningful public participation and that the government concealed material information including the identity of the intended buyer.
15 hours ago · Citizen Digital →
A three-judge bench faulted the government's partial divestiture of Safaricom shares, ruling that the process lacked adequate public participation and involved concealment of key documents and the identity of the proposed buyer, making it difficult for the Cabinet to objectively evaluate the divestiture in accordance with the Constitution.
16 hours ago · Citizen Digital →
Internet Service Provider Jamii Telecommunications Kenya Ltd's flagship brand Faiba Mobile has hit one million subscribers, with the milestone subscriber receiving a reward. According to the company's Chief Commercial Officer, the milestone reflects customer trust in the brand since its launch.
16 hours ago · Citizen Digital →
Stanbic Bank Kenya has appointed Michael Mutiga as its new Chief Executive Officer, following Central Bank approval. Mutiga, a lawyer and banker with previous roles at Safaricom, Citibank, and Absa, takes over from Abraham Ongenge and will lead the bank's next growth phase.
18 hours ago · Citizen Digital →
More than 300 policymakers, regulators and investors from across Africa are meeting in Nairobi at the Sustainable Capital Markets Conference to discuss unlocking domestic capital for infrastructure, energy and business financing, as governments face mounting fiscal pressures and weaker external funding.
15 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →
A Nairobi High Court has struck down NTSA regulations that imposed an 18 per cent commission cap on ride-hailing companies, ruling the rules procedurally defective and unconstitutional because they were changed without public participation. The court ruled that commission rates should instead be determined through negotiations between contracting parties, and faulted the government for imposing regulations on digital platforms while exempting traditional taxi operators.
15 September 2026 · The Standard →
Amsons Group has begun construction of a Sh4.5 billion Level Four mother-and-child hospital in Bomet County, the first of ten healthcare facilities the group plans to build across Kenya within two years.
15 September 2026 · The Standard →
Battery and scrap material manufacturers are pressuring Kenya Revenue Authority to stop dealers smuggling tonnes of scrap metal to Tanzania and Uganda through border points like Holili and Busia, alleging that KRA officials stationed at borders allow the contraband through. The industry warns that unchecked smuggling threatens legitimate recycling businesses and government revenue.
15 September 2026 · The Standard →
Kenya's Special Economic Zones Authority is advancing the Kericho Special Economic Zone at Chelimo as a major industrial project intended to create jobs and shift the region from exporting raw materials to producing finished goods. The master plan identifies seven key industrial clusters including agro-industry, business process outsourcing, veterinary medicine, and biotechnology.
15 September 2026 · The Standard →
Amaco Energy Group has partnered with US firm GE Vernova to support construction of a $1.5 billion smart power system to energise an artificial intelligence data centre in Mombasa. GE Vernova will supply gas turbines to Amaco's Hercules project, which aims to develop integrated energy infrastructure supporting industrial growth and digital transformation across Kenya and East Africa.
15 September 2026 · The Standard →
The Milimani High Court has ordered the attachment and sale of Bank of Baroda's movable assets to recover a Sh2.996 billion judgment awarded to Infinity Industrial Park after the bank failed to honour an earlier court order. Moran Auctioneers has been directed to seize the bank's property and conduct a public auction following 15 days' notice.
15 September 2026 · The Standard →
The Kenya Revenue Authority has contracted fifteen companies to provide electronic monitoring, tracking services, and seals for transit goods moving through Mombasa port. The move aims to combat cargo diversion and theft as KRA transitions to a multi-vendor model for electronic seals, phasing out government-provided seals by October 26.
15 September 2026 · The Standard →
The Kenya Revenue Authority has launched a multi-vendor, user-owned electronic seal framework effective October 26, 2026, replacing its previous government-owned system to enhance cargo security, reduce theft and smuggling, and support port decongestion. The new model enlists 15 approved private vendors to provide advanced tracking and tamper-alert technologies for both dry and wet cargo.
15 September 2026 · The Standard →
Ghanaian entrepreneur Basil David Anthony is expanding Modern Floors and Walls, a flooring and interior-finishing company founded in Ghana in 2018, into the East African market starting with Kenya. The company has already established operations in the United Arab Emirates and uses Dubai as a regional sourcing and supply hub.
15 September 2026 · The Standard →
Sidian Bank and Kenya Industrial Estates have signed a memorandum of understanding to expand access to credit and financial support for MSMEs in manufacturing, addressing barriers including affordable finance, business skills, and market opportunities through capacity building, training, and graduated financing.
15 September 2026 · The Standard →
Montran, a global payment and capital market infrastructure provider, has appointed Josephat Iseme as regional technical sales lead and Nicolas Muchiri as senior software engineer at its Nairobi-based African regional hub, which launched in December 2025.
15 September 2026 · The Standard →
Stanbic Bank Kenya has appointed Michael Mutiga as chief executive following regulatory approval from the Central Bank of Kenya. Mutiga brings investment banking expertise and telecommunications sector leadership experience to the role as the bank reports a Sh6.6 billion profit after tax for the first half of 2026.
15 September 2026 · The Standard →
The Technopolis Development Authority has completed its board appointments with three new members—James Musee Nduna, Yvonne Teresia Ogwang, and Yunis Omar—enabling the Authority to implement its expanded national mandate under the Technopolis Act, 2026.
15 September 2026 · The Standard →
The State Department for MSMEs Principal Secretary Susan Mang'eni has urged partnerships to help businesses access affordable, personalised financing. Speaking at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Sidian Bank and Kenya Industrial Estates, Mang'eni noted that Kenya's MSMEs have a financing demand of 4 trillion shillings.
15 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Binance says African businesses are positioned to lead on agentic AI rather than catch up, citing the continent's history of leapfrogging technologies like mobile money. Industry research projects over 40% of enterprise applications will include task-specific AI agents by end of 2026, up from under 5% in 2025, with 72% of enterprise leaders already using or testing agents.
14 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote has launched Africa's largest initial public offering, offering roughly 3% of his oil refinery to the public in a deal that could raise up to $2.1bn. The refinery, which started production in 2024, supplies more than 70% of Nigeria's energy consumption.
14 September 2026 · Capital News →
Equity Group is hosting the 2026 Uganda & Rwanda Trade and Investment Roadshow, bringing together more than 150 participants from 10 nationalities including business leaders, investors, and policymakers to explore business opportunities, strengthen economic ties, and identify cross-border trade and investment partnerships in the region.
14 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Kenya's Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority has retained fuel prices unchanged for the next 30 days, with Super Petrol at Sh214.03 per litre, Diesel at Sh217.86, and Kerosene at Sh191.38, despite mixed movements in imported fuel costs in August.
14 September 2026 · Capital News →
Kenya's Equity Group Holdings has been recognized among the world's top-performing banks in Forbes rankings developed with Statista, placing 71st globally among lower mid-size banks based on criteria including profitability, growth, capital resilience, and asset quality.
14 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →
The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority has announced no changes to petrol, diesel and kerosene prices for the next month between September 15 and October 14, 2026. In Nairobi, super petrol will sell at Sh214.03 per litre, diesel at Sh217.86, and kerosene at Sh191.38, with varying prices in other cities including Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret and Kakamega.
14 September 2026 · The Standard →
Kenya's public debt crossed Sh13 trillion in June, reaching 68.5 per cent of GDP, well above the 55 per cent legal ceiling, according to Treasury data. The country's fiscal watchdog and the International Monetary Fund warn that rising refinancing needs are squeezing public finances, despite President Ruto's assertions that his administration has slowed borrowing and stabilised the economy.
14 September 2026 · The Standard →
CapitalPay International, led by Garang Malek, is positioning itself around payment systems linked to trade, logistics, customs, agriculture, and institutional transactions across East Africa and South Sudan. The company focuses on reconciliation and settlement systems for organizations handling high-volume or regulated transactions, with Kenya emerging as a prominent market through its partnership with the Kenya International Freight and Warehousing Association.
14 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Sam Altman told Fortune that OpenAI will not go public this year, citing safety concerns over artificial intelligence as the reason for the delay. The company has not announced an official IPO date, though both OpenAI and rival Anthropic have filed confidential IPO documents with US regulators and are targeting valuations approaching $1 trillion.
13 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Kenya's Central Bank has warned that banks must obtain regulatory approval before using artificial intelligence to reject or approve loans, after many lenders quietly embedded AI into their operations—including one tier-one bank using machine learning to score borrowers and approve mobile loans at a rate of Sh1.5 billion daily.
13 September 2026 · The Standard →
The Central Bank of Kenya has cautioned commercial banks against using artificial intelligence to reject or approve loans. Kenyan banks have increasingly embedded AI into operations, with one tier-one lender using machine learning models to approve mobile loans at a rate of Sh1.5 billion a day.
13 September 2026 · The Standard →
President William Ruto's repeated orders for Tata Chemicals to leave Kenya have rattled investor confidence, with analysts describing the episode as a case study in how political interference and election-year uncertainty can damage confidence in Kenya's emerging market economy.
13 September 2026 · The Standard →
The Mombasa tea auction traded 6.5 million kgs of made tea from four East African countries, with Kenya's KTDA factories and independent producers contributing 5.2 million kgs. KTDA-managed factories netted Sh1.015 billion from the auction, with 26 smallholder factories achieving premium prices above Sh388.29 per kg.
13 September 2026 · The Standard →
Novo Nordisk has introduced Ozempic for type 2 diabetes and Wegovy for obesity to the Kenyan market, both containing semaglutide but prescribed for different purposes and doses. The pharmaceutical company unveiled the medications at a scientific launch event in Nairobi, expanding treatment options available to eligible patients.
13 September 2026 · The Standard →
The Capital Markets Authority has warned the public against 15 entities allegedly offering investment services and soliciting funds without requisite licences or approvals, disguising fraudulent activities as legitimate investment opportunities. The entities are under active investigation by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations in collaboration with the CMA and other law enforcement agencies.
12 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →
President Ruto said Kenya remains open to foreign investors and workers who comply with Kenyan laws and regulations, stating that the government has removed barriers to investment. He noted foreign direct investment had grown from $1.6 billion to $3.2 billion.
12 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Cybercriminals are increasingly using artificial intelligence to automate and scale attacks, operating faster and with less human oversight, according to Fortinet's EMEA South VP. The risk extends to energy, telecommunications, finance and other critical infrastructure, where attacks could disrupt physical operations; organisations must strengthen defences and use AI to detect and respond to threats in real time.
12 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Meta's Oversight Board has urged the company not to treat Community Notes as a replacement for fact-checking, calling instead for Meta to use "all the tools that best address the challenge of misinformation on its platforms." The statement followed Meta's announcement that it was testing the crowdsourcing system in Latin America.
12 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Danish pharmaceutical Novo Nordisk has introduced Ozempic for type 2 diabetes management and Wegovy for weight management in Kenya, supported by healthcare provider training and patient support programs. A consultant physician noted that Africa has seen a 142 per cent rise in diabetes prevalence over the last ten years.
12 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Modern Floors & Walls, a Ghanaian flooring and interior-finishing company founded in 2018, has entered the Kenyan market as part of a phased expansion strategy across East Africa. The company will offer SPC flooring, wall panels, carpet tiles, and installation services, using Kenya as its entry point before expanding to other regional markets.
12 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Uganda's National Social Security Fund is seeking to deepen financial links with Kenya by tapping into the savings and investment potential of Ugandans living and working in the country. The initiative, undertaken with the Uganda High Commission in Nairobi, aims to enable Ugandans in Kenya to save and build financial assets to support their eventual return and investment.
12 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Global Tilapia has become the first fish processing company in Kenya to secure FSSC 22000 Food Safety Certification, an internationally recognised standard that sets requirements for managing food safety risks across the food supply chain. The certification is intended to strengthen the company's operations, meet international requirements, and expand into new markets.
12 September 2026 · The Standard →
According to a Federation of Kenya Employers survey, companies that invest in developing women leaders build a stronger pipeline of executives and board directors, while women in such environments experience higher job retention and promotions for high-performing talent.
12 September 2026 · The Standard →
Kenya's Competition Authority has approved Japanese brewer Asahi Group Holdings' acquisition of Diageo's controlling stake in East African Breweries, subject to conditions including that the merged entity reserve sufficient funds for liabilities and that at least 20 per cent of retail refrigeration space be reserved for non-EABL or non-Asahi branded products.
12 September 2026 · The Standard →
Global wellness company QNET has appointed a Regional General Manager for East and Southern Africa with Kenya among the markets under focus, citing the country's large informal sector and digital marketplace as drivers of growth opportunity.
12 September 2026 · The Standard →
As artificial intelligence takes over workplace tasks, project managers are being pushed to prove they can make decisions, lead people, and turn business plans into results. Employers are placing greater weight on leadership, judgement, and business understanding, with technical skills becoming outdated faster.
12 September 2026 · The Standard →
The Capital Markets Authority named 15 entities collecting money from Kenyans through fake investment schemes without regulatory approval, saying they lack the required license to offer investment services. The Directorate of Criminal Investigation is probing the firms alongside the CMA and other law enforcement agencies.
12 September 2026 · The Standard →
Co-operative Bank of Kenya, Equity Group Holdings, KCB Group and Stanbic Holdings were named among the world's top-performing banks in Forbes' latest ranking, assessed on financial performance, growth, resilience and risk management. Co-op Bank ranked 120th globally in Tier Six, Equity Group 71st in Tier Five, KCB Group 79th in Tier Five, and Stanbic Holdings 138th in Tier Six.
11 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Kisumu County has banned street hawking under a 2026 Trade Policy, requiring small-scale traders to relocate to designated spaces in modern markets. Governor Anyang' Nyong'o says the move aims to give hawkers safer, more organized operating environments and better access to customers.
11 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →
At least 500 boda boda riders in Kitengela underwent financial literacy training organised by Mogo Kenya and the Boda Boda Association of Kenya to promote responsible borrowing and reduce loan defaults. The training covered budgeting, cash-flow management, loan agreement comprehension, and engagement with financiers to address payment difficulties.
11 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Kenya's Competition Authority has approved Diageo's sale of its 65% stake in East African Breweries to Japan's Asahi Holdings for $2.3 billion (approximately Ksh.297.9 billion). The regulator imposed conditions including requirements that EABL reserve funds for outstanding liabilities and allocate 20% of cooler space in retail outlets to competitors' drinks.
11 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →
The Marketing Society of Kenya has urged marketing professionals to shift toward data-driven strategies, customer trust, and measurable business outcomes rather than simple promotional campaigns to drive the nation's economic expansion. Industry leaders emphasized at the MSK Annual Conference in Mombasa that growth must be deliberately designed around customer understanding and technological integration.
11 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Co-op Bank leads four Kenyan banks named among the world's top 500 performing lenders in Forbes' inaugural 2026 list, signaling sector resilience amid Kenya's economic headwinds of slowing growth and elevated inflation.
11 September 2026 · The Standard →
Financial sector leaders at Kenya's National Credit Market Convention have called for stronger data infrastructure, responsible data-sharing frameworks, and greater interoperability to address information gaps and expand credit access. The convention highlighted the need to balance innovation with consumer protection and responsible lending.
11 September 2026 · The Standard →
Rukuriri Tea Factory in Embu has introduced value-added flavoured teas in tea bags—Premium Kenyan Black CTC Tea, Premium Kenya Ginger Tea, and Premium Kenya Lemon Tea—to increase consumption and improve payments to its 10,000 growers. KTDA National Chairman Enos Njeru called on government and supermarkets to support local tea consumption as an economic growth strategy.
11 September 2026 · The Standard →
About 2,000 affordable housing units under Kenya's Affordable Housing Programme remain unoccupied, although the government has completed approximately 10,000 units with about 8,000 already occupied. The government is considering sustainable financing mechanisms, including a revolving system where revenues from completed units would fund subsequent construction phases, and a structured financing model for security officers to access homes with progressive repayment.
11 September 2026 · The Standard →
At the Marketing Society of Kenya's annual conference in Mombasa, marketing professionals were challenged to move beyond campaigns and use data, technology and customer insight to drive measurable business results and Kenya's economic growth. Senior leaders emphasized that growth must be deliberately designed around customer understanding, clear value propositions, and the connection of creativity, technology and commercial outcomes.
11 September 2026 · The Standard →
Kenyan aquaculture and fish processing company Global Tilapia has secured the internationally recognised FSSC 22000 Food Safety Certification, becoming the first fish processing company in the country to attain the standard. The certification will help the company strengthen processing operations, meet international food safety requirements, and expand into new local and international markets.
10 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Kenya's State Department for Investment Promotion developed a County Competitiveness Index measuring investment readiness across all 47 counties. Nairobi scores 77 per cent as the country's most competitive county, combining economic activity, infrastructure and institutions, though data reveal it performs poorly on business efficiency.
10 September 2026 · Capital News →
Kenya grows tea, coffee, and other commodities sought globally, but processing, branding, and packaging often happen abroad, leaving more lucrative stages to other countries. The country's exports rose to Sh967.9 billion in 2025, but imports reached Sh2.77 trillion, creating a merchandise trade deficit of about Sh1.65 trillion.
10 September 2026 · Capital News →
Three major Nairobi market projects—South B, Gikomba Quarry Road, and Maji Mazuri—are 90 per cent or more complete as part of the county's market modernisation programme. Once operational, the facilities will provide improved trading spaces and amenities for small-scale traders; South B Market alone will accommodate about 1,050 permanent traders and nearly 1,500 on peak days.
10 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir announced that the dualling of the Rironi-Naivasha road will be completed by October 30, with construction to proceed to the Naivasha–Nakuru section and escarpment section from Kamandura. The Ksh.184 billion two-phase project was launched by President William Ruto in November 2025 to ease congestion and improve safety on the busy transport route.
10 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Apple unveiled its first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, at an event in Cupertino on Wednesday. The device combines smartphone portability with a larger tablet-like display, positioning itself seven years after Samsung pioneered the foldable category.
10 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir says the Rironi-Naivasha section of the Nairobi-Nakuru-Mau Summit highway will be completed and opened to traffic by October 30. The dual carriageway project, being implemented under a Public-Private Partnership involving China Road and Bridge Corporation and the National Social Security Fund, is expected to ease congestion on the busy Northern Corridor.
10 September 2026 · Capital News →
Kenya's Foreign Affairs PS hosted a U.S. Chamber of Commerce and U.S.-Africa Business Center delegation in Nairobi, positioning the country as a market and strategic hub for value addition and technology transfer while encouraging American businesses to use Kenya as a base for accessing East African markets.
10 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Co-operative Bank of Kenya has been named among the world's top-performing banks in Forbes' 2026 ranking of 500 banks across 89 countries. The assessment evaluated banks on profitability, growth and earnings quality, capital and funding resilience, and asset quality and efficiency.
10 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Somali carrier Starsky Aviation, after 13 years of domestic operations, is seeking international expansion with Kenya emerging as a potential destination. The airline is showcasing its expansion plans at Aviation Africa 2026 in Nairobi, citing strong commercial and transport links between Somalia and Kenya as rationale for the new routes.
10 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Co-op Bank ranked 120th globally in Forbes' small banks category, alongside Equity Group Holdings (71st in lower mid-sized), KCB Group (79th in mid-sized), and Stanbic Holdings (138th in small banks). Rankings were based on profitability, growth and earnings quality, capital and funding resilience, and asset quality and efficiency.
10 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →
QNET has appointed Jared Thwaits as Regional General Manager for East and Southern Africa, overseeing compliance, consumer protection, distributor training, and digital transformation as the direct-selling company targets Kenya and the region. Thwaits said QNET would focus on educating customers and Independent Distributors on legitimate direct selling and strengthening compliance in the Kenyan market.
10 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Developers are increasingly turning to master-planned communities as more buyers show renewed preference for them. A recent report shows a slowdown in new housing units as investors seek to avoid oversupply in the market.
10 September 2026 · The Standard →
Chaka, a trading centre in Nyeri County, is experiencing property boom driven by its position along the Great North Corridor, affordable land, and growing housing demand. Planned infrastructure improvements including roads, drainage, and street lighting are expected to support its transition into a structured urban centre.
10 September 2026 · The Standard →
Kenya's housing challenge stems primarily from affordability constraints rather than lack of supply, with high interest rates (14.9% average), short repayment tenors (about 11 years), and limited long-term funding excluding most Kenyans from formal home ownership. With only 30,000 active mortgages and a loan book of Sh279.3 billion, systemic issues including high land costs, costly titling processes, and regulatory frictions compound the problem.
10 September 2026 · The Standard →
Brand AI, a Nairobi-based artificial intelligence platform founded by Santos Okottah, serves more than 38,000 businesses in over 100 countries and has launched a major update to expand beyond design into broader brand management. The company was founded after Okottah witnessed a newsroom branding error at Nation Media Group and now operates as a seven-member team from Nairobi, with the United States as its largest market.
10 September 2026 · The Standard →
Kenya's Coast is set to benefit from the planned LuLu Coastal Cable System linking Mombasa to Lamu, which will connect five landing points along the Indian Ocean coastline and could attract data centres, cloud services and technology businesses to the region.
10 September 2026 · The Standard →