Author: Lynet Awino

Kenya’s biggest night in film and television belonged to three titles. At the 14th Kalasha International Film and TV Awards, held on Saturday 2 May at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi, the Oscar-submitted feature Nawi and the short film Sukari each claimed five awards, while television drama Kash Money swept its category to round off a night that announced a new generation of Kenyan storytelling to the world. The ceremony, hosted by Amina Abdi Rabar and Lotan Salaipei, drew industry players and key stakeholders from across East and Central Africa. Nawi crowns Kenya’s awards season Nawi arrived at…

COMESA and the World Bank have launched a USD 5 billion programme to expand access to clean and sustainable energy across Eastern and Southern Africa, with provisions to scale the initiative to USD 15 billion should demand and project pipelines support it. The programme — the Access to Sustainable and Clean Energy Transformation, known as ASCENT — targets up to 100 million new energy connections over five years to 2031. It focuses on off-grid and small-scale renewable solutions alongside clean cooking technologies, directing resources toward communities and businesses that formal energy infrastructure has consistently bypassed. A Facility Built to Turn…

Cross Switch has appointed Gillian Koinange as Head of Business Development for East Africa, bringing two decades of commercial experience across the continent to a company deepening its presence in the region. Gillian joins from PayU in Nairobi, where she led new sales across Africa and managed strategic global client relationships. Before that, she built a track record across IT, telecommunications, fintech, and SaaS — scaling pan-African portfolios, negotiating high-value contracts, and growing teams that consistently delivered results in competitive markets. At Cross Switch, she takes responsibility for expanding the company’s footprint in East Africa, strengthening partner relationships, and driving…

Kenya’s annual consumer price inflation rose to 5.6 percent in April 2026, up from 4.4 percent in March — the first time the rate has crossed the Central Bank of Kenya’s 5 percent midpoint target since June 2024. The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics confirmed the figure on 29 April, citing food, transport, and fuel as the primary drivers of an acceleration that caught most forecasters off guard. The monthly picture was sharper still. The Consumer Price Index climbed 1.4 percent in April alone, against 0.5 percent in March — nearly three times the pace of the previous month. The…

Small and medium enterprises across Kenya can now transfer funds directly from Airtel Money wallets into Absa Bank Kenya accounts and pay to Absa merchant paybill numbers, following a partnership the two companies signed this week. The integration targets a gap that has long slowed down everyday business transactions, the friction between mobile money and formal banking. The service covers business payments, bill settlements, and fund transfers, all accessible from a mobile phone. Airtel Money customers also receive up to 100 percent cashback as airtime on all paybill payments made through the service. Why This Partnership Addresses a Real Problem…

Gulf African Bank has confirmed the completion of two separate shareholding transactions, each bringing a new strategic investor into its ownership structure. Soren Investment Company acquired a 42.78% stake from Al Salam Bank and Istithmar World Limited. Auron Holdings, in a distinct transaction, acquired 14.94% from the International Finance Corporation. Both deals cleared all required regulatory approvals. “The acquisitions reflect confidence in both Gulf African Bank and the banking industry in Kenya.” Together, the transactions transfer a combined majority interest to two investors with very different profiles but a shared commitment to the bank’s growth. For Gulf African Bank, the…