Most Valuable Companies in Kenya by Market Cap
1. Safaricom: Sh819 billion As the largest telecommunications provider in Kenya, Safaricom commands a dominant position in both mobile network services and digital financial solutions. Since its inception in 1997, the company has amassed a subscriber base exceeding 47 million. Safaricom’s mobile money service, M-Pesa, is widely regarded as a global pioneer, processing billions of […]
Is the CBK Quietly Admitting the Country’s Debt Is Illegal?
The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has formally supported a constitutional petition filed by Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah and other petitioners seeking to declare a significant portion of Kenya’s public debt as unconstitutional under the doctrine of odious debt. The case, filed as Petition E216 of 2025, was submitted to the High Court in Nairobi […]
Why Fuel Prices Could Rise Under New World Bank Proposal
Fuel prices in Kenya could soon rise if the government adopts a new carbon tax proposal backed by the World Bank. The international lender is recommending that Kenya introduce a tax on imported fuels at the point of entry, targeting carbon dioxide emissions as part of efforts to strengthen public finances and meet climate change […]
Africa’s Construction Sector Confronts Legal Gridlocks as Feasibility Failures, Late Payments, Stall Growth
The 5th Africa Construction Law Conference at the Emara Ole Sereni Hotel kicked off as Hundreds of delegates convened to confront and discuss the emerging legal challenges facing the construction industry across the continent. The two-day event will feature informative panels with experts drawn from different skill sets in the construction industry on various topics […]
Why Africa Should Care About What Japan Is Up To
By Thuita Gatero, Managing Editor, Africa Digest News What if I told you that a country with just 2% of the world’s population could disrupt your local economy in Kenya, Nigeria, or South Africa? This is not a thriller. It’s not a conspiracy theory. It’s economics. And it’s happening right now. Japan, long seen as […]
Why the World Bank Wants Kenya to Squeeze Drinkers and Smokers
The World Bank is urging Kenya to raise excise duties on alcohol and cigarettes, calling for annual increases to match inflation and support both fiscal and public health goals. In its latest advisory, the lender notes that the share of these so-called “sin taxes” has declined as a percentage of Kenya’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), […]
Can SHA Actually Survive? Here’s What the World Bank Thinks
The World Bank has raised critical concerns about the financial and operational viability of Kenya’s Social Health Authority (SHA), which administers the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF). In its latest Public Finance Review report, released on May 27, 2025, the World Bank warns that the SHA’s funding model is not sustainable under current conditions, citing […]
Will the World Bank Make Kenya’s Rich Pay Their Fair Share?
The World Bank has recommended an overhaul of Kenya’s Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) tax brackets, proposing the introduction of a sixth tax band that would raise the marginal rate for monthly incomes above KSh 800,000 from 35% to 38%. The new framework is intended to be revenue-neutral, shifting more of the tax burden to top earners while […]
How Kenyans Are Having Their IDs Used in Tax Scams
A growing tax fraud scheme in Kenya has exposed hundreds of citizens to identity theft, with fraudsters using stolen personal details to register shell companies that engage in tax evasion and money laundering. Investigations by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) have linked the scam to billions of shillings in lost tax revenue, as unsuspecting individuals, […]
Is Africa Chasing a Digital Payment Dream That Isn’t Its Own?
By Thuita Gatero | Managing Editor, Africa Digest News Charles Kiarie, Director of Visa Direct Business Development for Sub-Saharan Africa, recently made remarks that should have sent ripples through Africa’s fintech and banking corridors. Kiarie spoke at a fintech forum about digital payments, highlighting that intra-African trade stands at a meager 20% and subtly pointing […]