How to Pick Stocks in the NSE by Ndindi Nyoro
By Thuita Gatero, Managing Editor, Africa Digest News. He specializes in conversations around data centers, AI, cloud infrastructure, and energy. When Ndindi Nyoro talks about money, people listen. Maybe it’s because he is one of the few politicians in Kenya who actually understands the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) from the inside. Or maybe it’s because […]
Kenya’s Budget Smartphone Market: The New Value-for-Money Test
Kenya’s budget smartphone market is moving fast, with brands like, Samsung, TECNO and Infinix raising expectations on performance, design, and features. The Redmi 15C offers a big battery and a trusted brand name, but it shows how value for money is becoming the ultimate benchmark for consumers making buying decisions. Today’s entry-level smartphones in Kenya […]
What It Means to Be a Licensed Digital Credit Provider (DCP) in Kenya
Digital credit has transformed financial inclusion in Kenya, giving millions of people quick access to loans through mobile apps and online platforms. The movement began with innovations like M-Shwari in 2012, which demonstrated how mobile technology could extend credit to those outside traditional banking. Yet, the industry’s rapid expansion also introduced challenges: predatory lending, harassment […]
Corporate Defaults: The Hidden Weak Spot in Kenya’s Banking System
Kenya’s banking sector, widely regarded as one of East Africa’s strongest financial systems, is facing mounting risks from corporate defaults. A May 2025 stress test by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) revealed the extent of this vulnerability, showing how concentration in large borrowers could destabilize the industry if defaults escalate. Stress Test Findings and […]
After a Profit Warning, What’s Usually Next for Shareholders?
When a listed company in Kenya issues a profit warning, it often rattles both retail and institutional investors. The announcement, a regulatory requirement under the Capital Markets Authority (CMA), signals that the firm expects its earnings for the current financial year to fall by at least 25% compared to the previous year. For shareholders, the […]
How Salary Advance Loan Limits Are Calculated
Salary advance loans, often referred to as payday or cash advance loans, have become a common short-term financial solution for salaried employees in Kenya. These loans provide quick access to funds based on anticipated earnings and are usually repayable within one to six months through direct deductions from the borrower’s next paycheck. Unlike traditional loans […]
Kenya’s Sh1.6 Billion Fraud Losses Expose Rising Mobile Banking Risks
Kenya’s mobile money boom has reshaped the financial system, but rising cybercrime now poses a growing threat. The Central Bank of Kenya’s (CBK) Financial Sector Stability Report 2024 shows that Kenyan banks suffered Sh1.6 billion in direct losses to hackers in 2024, up from Sh412 million in 2023. The total amount exposed to fraud, funds […]
Will Reclaiming Idle Government Cash Squeeze Bank Liquidity?
The Kenyan government’s decision to reclaim idle cash held by public entities in commercial banks under the new Treasury Single Account (TSA) system is reshaping the country’s public finance management framework. While the reform is aimed at consolidating government resources, enhancing transparency, and reducing borrowing costs, it raises pressing concerns for banks that have long […]
How Does Nigeria’s Payment Overhaul Compare With Global ISO 20022 Adoption?
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has embarked on a comprehensive modernization of the country’s payment infrastructure, mandating full migration to the ISO 20022 messaging standard and introducing stringent geo-location requirements for all payment terminals. The directive, issued through a circular dated August 25, 2025, and signed by Dr. Rakiya O. Yusuf, Director of the […]
Mamo Mihretu: How Ethiopia’s Reform-Driven Central Bank Governor Shaped the Economy (2023–2025)
Mamo Mihretu’s tenure as the 10th Governor of the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE), from January 2023 to his resignation on August 28, 2025, marked one of the most reform-driven periods in the country’s recent economic history. Appointed by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, he assumed office during a period of high inflation, depleted reserves, and […]