Kenya’s Parliament has intensified scrutiny of the government’s plan to sell a 15 percent stake in Safaricom Plc to Vodacom Group, raising questions about transparency, valuation, and public participation. Lawmakers, banks, and lawyers have called for broader involvement, while dealers warn the sale could disrupt Safaricom’s grassroots distribution model. NSE Position The Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) has backed the sale but insists the transaction must go through the Block Trading Board. In a memorandum to Parliament, the bourse warned that bypassing the exchange for an off‑market deal would undermine price transparency and investor confidence. The NSE argued that the Block…
Author: Lorine Otamo
Lorine Otamo
Lorine Otamo is a science journalist who covers health, technology, agriculture, and climate change. She has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication and a knack for simplifying complex scientific topics.
Kenya’s digital content industry has grown to an estimated Sh1.27 trillion, positioning creators as major contributors to the economy alongside traditional sectors. This milestone was highlighted at the launch of the Bloggers Association of Kenya (BAKE) Awards 2026 in Nairobi, underscoring the sector’s role in shaping culture, business, and innovation. BAKE Awards: From 2025 Success to 2026 Vision The 2025 BAKE Awards gala celebrated the best of Kenyan digital creativity, honouring winners across more than twenty categories. For the first time, the Creator of the Year title was shared, with agricultural YouTube star Sarah Njoroge and the popular JoyRide Podcast…
Airtel Africa plc has reached a new milestone in its capital allocation strategy, announcing the purchase and subsequent cancellation of 40,000 ordinary shares on January 2, 2026. This move is part of the company’s ongoing $100 million share buy-back programme designed to enhance long-term shareholder value. Transaction Breakdown The shares, each valued at $0.50, were acquired through Barclays Capital Securities Limited across several major trading venues, including the London Stock Exchange (LSE), BATS, and Chi-X Europe. Price Range: 356.40p – 363.80p Volume-Weighted Average Price (VWAP): 361.09p Total Shares Repurchased (to date): 40,965,209 Cumulative VWAP: 152.4457p Updated Share Capital & Voting…
Standard Chartered Bank Kenya has announced new individual account tariffs, detailing charges across everyday banking services. The revised schedule, effective December 2025, covers mobile money transfers, credit cards, bundled accounts, cheque services, debit card use, and salary processing. Mobile Money Transfers Customers transferring funds from Standard Chartered accounts to mobile wallets (M-PESA, Airtel Money, T-Kash) will pay fees based on transaction amounts. Transaction Amount (Ksh) Fee (Ksh) 0 – 100 Free 101 – 500 11 501 – 1,000 15 1,001 – 1,500 18 1,501 – 2,500 25 2,501 – 3,500 35 3,501 – 5,000 47 5,001 – 7,500 57 7,501…
Safarilink Airline, Kenya’s premier safari airline, launched a direct Christmas-season flight connecting Kisumu, Kenya, to Entebbe, Uganda, a milestone that underscores Kisumu’s growing role as a regional economic and transport hub. Local officials hailed the new service as a strategic step toward positioning the lakeside city as a gateway for East and Central Africa. Kisumu–Entebbe Flight Strengthens Regional Integration Speaking on behalf of Governor Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o, Deputy Governor Dr. Mathew Owili described the new route as more than a travel convenience. “It represents a strategic initiative to foster deeper regional integration and bolster economic growth,” he said. The Kisumu–Entebbe…
Crown Healthcare, a leading Kenyan medical products distributor, has secured a US$10 million (Sh1.31 billion) investment from Impact Fund Denmark to accelerate construction of a large-scale pharmaceutical manufacturing plant. The facility is designed to reduce Kenya’s heavy reliance on imported medicines, strengthen domestic value chains, and improve access to quality drugs across East Africa. Strengthening Supply Chains and Creating Jobs The deal marks Impact Fund Denmark’s latest push into African healthcare manufacturing, part of its broader strategy to build resilient local supply chains and reduce systemic import dependence. Noblestride Capital advised on the transaction, structuring and executing the deal. “With…