Veteran banker James Macharia takes over as Chairman of Sidian Bank
James Macharia, a veteran banker and former cabinet secretary, has taken over as Chairman of Sidian Bank in a revamp that has seen three new members join the lender’s board of directors. Mr. Macharia, who has had a distinguished career of over 42 years both in the private and public sectors, takes over from outgoing […]
What You May Have Missed in Equity Bank New SDID Report with J.P. Morgan
Equity Bank Kenya has released its first Sustainable Development Impact Disclosure (SDID) Report in partnership with J.P. Morgan, alongside the Equity Group sustainability report for the year 2024, themed “A Sustainable World is a Transformed Africa.” The reports provide a detailed look at how the bank is embedding sustainability in its operations and investments, linking […]
The Next Phase of Banking Through Integration with Fintech and Insurance
Kenya’s banking sector is undergoing a major transformation as it enters the next phase of digital evolution, one defined by the integration of fintech and insurance. Having pioneered mobile money through M-Pesa, Kenya is now expanding its financial ecosystem into a more connected, data-driven, and inclusive landscape. The National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS) 2025–2028, developed […]
How Credit Bureaus Collect and Use Borrower Data in Kenya
Credit Reference Bureaus in Kenya are central to how lenders assess and manage risk. Regulated by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) under the Banking (Credit Reference Bureau) Regulations, 2020, there are three licensed CRBs in Kenya: TransUnion Africa (formerly CRB Africa), Metropol CRB, and Creditinfo CRB. These agencies collect borrower data, process it, and […]
5 Game-Changing Impacts of the Stanbic–NCBA Merger You Need to Know
The proposed merger between Stanbic Holdings Plc and NCBA Group Plc, if completed, would create a financial institution with approximately KSh 1.1 trillion in assets, making it the third-largest bank in Kenya after Equity Group Holdings and KCB Group. The discussions are being led by Standard Bank Group, which is Africa’s largest lender and majority […]
How to Open a Digital Bank Account in Kenya
Kenya’s digital banking landscape has grown steadily over the past decade, fueled by regulatory backing from the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) and the country’s high mobile penetration. With more than 80% of adults now financially included, banking is no longer tied to physical branches. Platforms like M-Pesa have laid the groundwork for fully digital […]
Can Buy Now Pay Later Work in a Literate Economy?
By Thuita Gatero, Managing Editor, Africa Digest News. He specializes in conversations around data centers, AI, cloud infrastructure, and energy. Walk through any street in Nairobi today and you will see a quiet revolution in motion. From hawkers livestreaming on TikTok to boda boda riders managing orders on WhatsApp, everyone is online or at least trying to […]
Are We Being Protected From Becoming Rich?
By Thuita Gatero, Managing Editor, Africa Digest News. He specializes in conversations around data centers, AI, cloud infrastructure, and energy. The irony of modern capitalism is this: the very rules that were meant to protect us may now be the ones keeping us poor. Every few months, a shiny new company in Silicon Valley or […]
Top Neobanks in Kenya
Kenya’s fintech ecosystem has become one of the most dynamic in Africa, with neobanks emerging as key drivers of digital financial inclusion. As of October 2025, the market features several fully licensed mobile banks and a fast-growing pool of digital-only players. These platforms are reshaping how millions of Kenyans access credit, payments, savings, and investment […]
Bitcoin’s $19 Billion Bloodbath: Is This How the Bull Market Ends?
By Thuita Gatero, Managing Editor, Africa Digest News. He specializes in conversations around data centers, AI, cloud infrastructure, and energy. On Saturday, October 11th, the crypto world witnessed what can only be described as a financial earthquake. In a single day, more than $19.16 billion in leveraged positions was wiped out, the largest liquidation event […]