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Wednesday, 1 July 2026
Kenya’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Wednesday, 1 July 2026
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Kenyan press · Organization

Central Bank of Kenya

Also known as: CBK

Kenya's monetary authority that oversees banking sector regulation and economic forecasting, recently criticized by the IMF over inflation forecasting models.

2026-04-292026-07-01
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In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

  1. April 2026

  2. The Standard

    … Financial and insurance services recorded the fastest growth at 6.5 per cent, followed by real estate at 3.9 per cent.The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) cut its benchmark rate to 9 per cent in December 2025 from 11.25 per cent a year earlier, with commercial bank lending rates falli …

    KNBS: Fish, vegetable prices jump by double digits despite easing inflation
Business

Hustler Fund has improved credit standing for millions

The News

President William Ruto stated that the Financial Inclusion Fund (Hustler Fund) has provided cheap credit to borrowers blacklisted by Credit Reference Bureaus, with 2 million people's credit ratings significantly improved and 960,000 having graduated to borrowing up to Ksh.150,000.

Why it matters

Hustler Fund's improvement of credit standing for 2 million previously blacklisted Kenyans demonstrates measurable financial inclusion progress.

30 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Yesterday

  1. Hustler Fund has improved credit standing for millions

    President William Ruto stated that the Financial Inclusion Fund (Hustler Fund) has provided cheap credit to borrowers blacklisted by Credit Reference Bureaus, with 2 million people's credit ratings significantly improved and 960,000 having graduated to borrowing up to Ksh.150,000.

    30 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Monday 29 June

  1. Abdi Mohamed appointed I&M Bank CEO after Absa exit

    Abdi Mohamed has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of I&M Bank Kenya days after his resignation from Absa Bank Kenya, where he served as Managing Director and CEO for three years. The appointment is subject to approval by the Central Bank of Kenya.

    29 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →

  2. Banking sector must help bridge MSME funding gap

    Kenya's MSMEs require Ksh.4 trillion in market loans to sustain and expand operations, but commercial banks currently supply only Ksh.700 billion, leaving a Ksh.3.3 trillion financing shortfall. The article argues that bridging this gap requires mutual adjustment between lenders and small businesses to balance cash flow needs with banks' risk management requirements.

    29 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Sunday 28 June

  1. Banking sector must bridge Sh3.3 trillion MSME financing gap

    Kenya's MSMEs require Sh4 trillion in market loans to sustain and expand operations, but commercial banks currently supply only Sh700 billion, leaving a Sh3.3 trillion shortfall. The article argues that bridging this funding gap requires mutual adjustment between lenders and small business owners, balancing cash flow needs with banks' regulatory risk management requirements.

    28 June 2026 · The Standard →

Saturday 27 June

  1. Sidian Bank wins three bancassurance awards in Kenya

    Sidian Bank's insurance intermediary won three accolades at the 16th Think Business Insurance Awards, including first runner-up in the Overall Best Bancassurance Intermediary category and second runner-up positions in Technology Application and Non-Life and Non-Embedded Products categories. The recognition underscores the growing importance of bancassurance as Kenyan banks expand insurance uptake through branch networks and digital platforms to address the country's low insurance penetration.

    27 June 2026 · Capital News →

Friday 26 June

  1. High Court allows odious debt case against government to proceed

    A three-judge High Court bench rejected Attorney General Dorcas Oduor's bid to dismiss Senator Okiya Omtatah's petition challenging the legality of Kenya's Sh7 trillion public debts. The court ruled the petition, which alleges odious debts of Sh6.95 trillion accumulated between 2014/2015 and 2023/2024, shall proceed to hearing on its merits.

    26 June 2026 · The Standard →

Thursday 25 June

  1. IMF criticises CBK's flawed inflation forecasting model

    The International Monetary Fund has accused the Central Bank of Kenya of relying on a "flawed" economic forecasting model that has systematically misdiagnosed the drivers of inflation, undermining efforts to curb rising living costs.

    25 June 2026 · The Standard →

Wednesday 24 June

  1. Numida launches MSME lending operations in Kenya

    Digital credit provider Numida has launched operations in Kenya, offering performance-based financing to micro, small, and medium enterprises that struggle to access traditional bank loans. The company has already disbursed more than Sh22 billion to over 115,000 businesses across the region.

    24 June 2026 · Capital News →

  2. Family Bank debuts on NSE, hits Sh50 high in early trading

    Family Bank made its debut on the Nairobi Securities Exchange on Tuesday, reaching a high of Sh50 in early trading.

    24 June 2026 · The Standard →

  3. Credit risks in small business restocking strategies

    An opinion piece examines how entrepreneurs like a Nakuru dairy and pastry business owner use micro-credit to manage demand surges and working capital gaps, but warns of potential downsides to relying on digital credit for restocking.

    24 June 2026 · The Standard →

  4. Finance Bill debate revealed confusion and populism over analysis

    An opinion piece argues that Parliament's deliberations on the Finance Bill 2026—designed to raise Sh120 billion toward a Sh4.82 trillion budget—displayed "post-truth populism" rather than coherent reasoning, with legislators making factually incorrect claims about the Bill's content and tax implications while avoiding substantive budget discussions.

    24 June 2026 · The Standard →

Friday 19 June

  1. Caritas Microfinance targets Ksh.22.1B asset base by 2030

    Caritas Microfinance Bank has unveiled a strategic plan to more than triple its asset base to Ksh.22.1 billion by 2030, targeting over 300,000 customer accounts and 98 per cent digital adoption while expanding lending to micro, small and medium enterprises.

    19 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →

  2. Caritas Microfinance targets Ksh.21.4 billion asset base by 2030

    Caritas Microfinance Bank unveiled a five-year strategic plan aiming to grow its asset base from Ksh.6.42 billion to Ksh.21.4 billion by 2030, targeting over 300,000 customer accounts and 98 per cent digital adoption through expanded lending and deeper MSME market penetration.

    19 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Wednesday 17 June

  1. Central Bank survey shows diaspora remittance patterns to Kenya

    The 2025 Remittances Household Survey estimates inflows from abroad at Sh931.8 billion, with first generation individuals in the diaspora identified as the highest contributors of remittance.

    17 June 2026 · The Standard →

  2. CBK survey explores why diaspora remittances to Kenya lag

    The 2025 Remittances Household Survey estimates inflows from abroad at Sh931.8 billion, with first generation individuals in the diaspora as the highest contributors. The Central Bank of Kenya has investigated reasons why some diaspora relatives are not sending money or gifts home.

    17 June 2026 · The Standard →

  3. Acorn launches graduate programme with start-up loans

    Acorn Holdings, in partnership with ABSA Bank Kenya and Co-operative Bank Group, has introduced the Zinduka Graduate Enterprise Programme to provide university graduates with entrepreneurship training, affordable housing loans, and start-up capital ranging from Sh200,000 to Sh500,000, targeting between 5,000 and 10,000 new enterprises annually.

    17 June 2026 · The Standard →

Saturday 13 June

  1. Former politician and businessman H.M. ole Lempaka dies

    Veteran politician, businessman and former public administrator H.M. ole Lempaka has died. Leaders and community members have paid tribute to him as a courageous leader who shaped Kenya's politics, business and governance, including serving as District Commissioner, Managing Director of the National Irrigation Board, a commercial bank owner, and National Treasurer of FORD-Asili during the push for multiparty democracy.

    13 June 2026 · Capital News →

  2. Ruto's 2022 debt promise contradicted by record local borrowing plan

    President William Ruto, who promised in 2022 that the government should not borrow to finance recurrent expenditure and pledged a 10 per cent borrowing limit, now faces a 2026-27 budget with a record Sh1.03 trillion in planned local borrowing from commercial banks, pension funds, and insurance companies to cover a Sh1.146 trillion deficit.

    13 June 2026 · The Standard →

Thursday 11 June

  1. Treasury presents budget with Sh1.1 trillion deficit amid frozen loans

    The National Treasury Cabinet Secretary will present a pre-election budget with a Sh1.1 trillion deficit as both the IMF and World Bank have held back funding, forcing the government to rely on domestic borrowing or new taxes. The World Bank has yet to disburse a Sh96.9 billion loan under its Development Policy Operation, with negotiations still ongoing.

    11 June 2026 · The Standard →

  2. Treasury presents 2026-27 budget with social and tax reforms

    Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi unveiled the 2026-27 budget on June 11, proposing Sh41.8 billion to cushion vulnerable Kenyans (including Sh24.6 billion for the elderly, Sh8.9 billion for orphans, and Sh1.5 billion for PWDs), alongside tax reforms including VAT exemptions on kidney dialyzers and bottled water, a 25 per cent excise duty on mobile phones, and allocations for universities, health, and infrastructure.

    11 June 2026 · The Standard →

  3. Treasury CS Mbadi arrives at Parliament for 2026/27 budget reading

    Treasury CS John Mbadi has arrived at Parliament to present the 2026/27 budget, valued at Sh4.84 trillion. The budget expects to raise Sh3.67 trillion while facing a deficit of Sh1.17 trillion to be financed through borrowing, with debt repayment consuming the largest share of expenditure at Sh1.3 trillion.

    11 June 2026 · The Standard →

Wednesday 10 June

  1. Kenyan CFOs balance regulatory requirements with ESG considerations

    The role of Kenya's Chief Financial Officers is shifting beyond traditional budgeting and reporting to include environmental, social, and governance (ESG) concerns alongside regulatory compliance, as investors and multinational partners increasingly demand accountability on carbon emissions, social impact, diversity, and governance practices.

    10 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →

  2. Digital lending platforms enable predatory loan practices

    The Standard's opinion piece argues that fintech lending—from high-interest instant-cash apps to asset-finance schemes for motorcycles and cars—employs predatory practices including hidden charges, public shaming via phonebook contact sharing, and unreasonable repayment terms, and warns that these "loans from hell" prey on vulnerable borrowers.

    10 June 2026 · The Standard →

Tuesday 2 June

  1. Banks intensify loan recovery as NPL ratio rises in Q1

    Commercial banks are stepping up debt recovery efforts as non-performing loans climbed to 15.6 per cent of gross loans in the first quarter, up from 15.4 per cent previously, with 78 per cent of banks planning intensified collection in the trade sector and 75 per cent targeting personal and household loans, according to a Central Bank of Kenya survey.

    2 June 2026 · The Standard →

Sunday 31 May

  1. Low insurance uptake leaves Kenyans exposed to flood damage

    Kenya's insurance penetration at 2.2 per cent of GDP in the first half of 2025 leaves households vulnerable to financial shocks. March 2026 flooding killed at least 112 people across 30 counties, damaged nearly 7,000 households, and stranded at least 71 vehicles in Nairobi, with most victims lacking insurance cover to recover losses.

    31 May 2026 · The Standard →

Saturday 30 May

  1. CBK banking rules structurally exclude smallholder farmers from credit

    Banking regulations assign a 100 per cent risk weight to smallholder and small agribusiness loans, the same as large corporate loans, despite evidence that farmers have lower default rates than other borrowers. This penalizes banks for lending to agriculture, leaving formal credit inaccessible to millions of farmers even though they are classified as lower-risk borrowers.

    30 May 2026 · The Standard →

Friday 29 May

  1. Credit Bank narrows first-quarter loss as liquidity improves

    Credit Bank reported a pre-tax loss of Ksh.26.6 million in the first quarter of 2026, down from Ksh.68 million in the same period last year, as the bank strengthens liquidity buffers and capital position ahead of tougher banking sector requirements. The lender's liquidity ratio rose to 22.74 per cent from 15.5 per cent year-on-year.

    29 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Thursday 28 May

  1. Kenya's electronic medical records system spans 2,300 health facilities

    Kenya's electronic medical records system (KenyaEMR) now operates in more than 2,300 health facilities across the country and covers all chronic disease management, allowing clinicians to access complete patient histories across different facilities and years.

    28 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Monday 25 May

  1. Petitioner sues to block banks' unilateral loan rate increases

    A petition has been filed at the High Court in Nairobi seeking to stop commercial banks from unilaterally increasing interest rates, default charges, and other loan-related fees. The petitioner argues that banks have been relying on contractual clauses to impose upward variations without demonstrating compliance with the Banking Act and constitutional requirements.

    25 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Wednesday 20 May

  1. Kenya's pension assets reach Ksh.2.81 trillion, growth opportunity identified

    Kenya's pension industry has grown to Ksh.2.81 trillion (16.05% of GDP), with Ksh.554 billion added in 2025 alone at 25% annual growth, but more than half of assets remain invested in government securities rather than productive business investment.

    20 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Central Bank of Kenya — Kenyan press coverage · Kenya Minute