Kenya

Rising interest rates prompt East African Breweries to make early loan repayments

The Kenyan brewery is keen to maintain financial headroom amid challenging financial times. The second half of 2023 saw the firm's profits fall by more than 20%.

Nairobi seeks advice from foreign partners to amend 'visa-free' system

The introduction of Kenya's new electronic travel authorisation system has not gone smoothly. After applying some initial tweaks, Kenyan diplomats are discussing the issue with their international counterparts.

Kenyan fund Heri Holdings breaks the bank to buy Nova Academies

Approved by the Competition Authority of Kenya in January, the purchase of the Nova Academies Tatu City education group has cost the investment fund Heri Holdings around 1.6bn shillings ($10.3m).

Ruto struggles to find new jobs for his allies

Dozens of the president's supporters reckon they merit government posts, far more than the number available. Only the most powerful are likely to prevail.

Treasury under IMF pressure to settle outstanding contractor bills

The government has for the past two decades been racking up debts to its contractors. The situation has now become untenable and must be addressed if Kenya is to benefit from the next tranche of IMF aid.

The New Guard
Morocco, Kenya, Ethiopia

Every Wednesday, Africa Intelligence spotlights a new generation of movers and shakers in business and politics.

Morocco Brahim Yacoubi Soussane, at helm of naval industry

Kenya Dorcas Owinoh, hard-wired into tech ecosystem

Ethiopia Berhan Taye, from Mozilla to Algorithmic Justice League

Tarus affair adds to tensions between Kenya and Uganda

The incident that has blown up around former Kenyan diplomat and minister Stephen Tarus, who has been accused of gold trafficking in Uganda, has crystallised tensions between the two countries.

State agencies race for foreign currency as Kenyan shilling plummets

Invitations to tender in Kenya are increasingly issued in dollars or euros, prompting state-owned firms to invoice for their services in foreign currency. The trend towards dollarisation of the economy risks further draining the country's foreign exchange reserves, which are already at an all-time low.

In Tokyo, Ruto hopes to reassure his Western partners

The Kenyan president's three-day visit to the Japanese capital comes as Nairobi is trying to deepen ties with neighbouring China.

Big tobacco steers Nairobi's cigarette tax revamp

After months of tobacco industry lobbying, the Kenyan government is working on a new formula for taxing cigarettes, which could benefit certain manufacturers. Health campaigners are worried.