Author: Lorine Otamo

KCB Bank Kenya has signed a US$100 million financing facility, roughly KES 12.9 billion, with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to expand credit access for micro, small and medium enterprises. The bank announced the deal this week, marking EBRD’s first investment in Kenya’s financial sector since the multilateral lender began operating in the country last year, according to reporting by The Standard. Under the agreement, 35% of the facility will go to women and youth led enterprises, while 30% is reserved for eligible green investments that help businesses adopt climate smart technology and sustainable practices. EBRD will also…

Jean Ojiro traded her graduation party for a crown. The 27 year old model and content creator was named Miss Universe Kenya 2026 on Saturday, July 25, beating out a field of more than 500 contestants at the glamorous national finale held at the Emara Ole-Sereni Hotel in Nairobi. The win didn’t come easy. Ojiro told her followers she postponed her own graduation celebration so she could pour everything into training for the competition, a decision she says paid off the moment she heard her name called. From 500 Hopefuls to One Crown The road to the title ran through…

Airtel Kenya has named Bonke Michael Acting Managing Director of Airtel Money Kenya, placing him at the helm of one of the country’s largest mobile money platforms. He takes over from Anne Kinuthia, who has stepped down from the position. A Homegrown Leader Steps Up Michael’s appointment caps more than a decade at Airtel, where he rose through sales, business development and marketing roles before reaching the top of the Money business. That trajectory gives him a rare, ground level view of how Airtel Money actually works, from agent networks in rural towns to boardroom partnerships with banks and fintechs.…

Anne Kinuthia-Otieno is leaving her role as Director of Airtel Money Kenya, closing out a tenure that reshaped the company’s mobile money business from the ground up. Her departure marks the end of a chapter that began in 2022, when she moved from Absa Bank Kenya to lead a business built on a single, ambitious goal: expanding financial inclusion for millions of Kenyans. Kinuthia-Otieno joined Airtel Money as its chief executive after serving as head of products at Absa Bank Kenya, an appointment Airtel made to draw on her decade of banking experience. She stepped into the role just as…

Safaricom Plc will lose one of its most influential executives at the end of this month. Chief Financial Services Officer Esther Masese Waititu has resigned, with her exit taking effect on August 1, 2026, closing a tenure of just under three and a half years at the helm of M-Pesa’s financial services arm. Why Waititu Is Leaving Safaricom Chief Executive Peter Ndegwa confirmed the news to staff in an internal email, saying Waititu is leaving to pursue other opportunities. At her request, the company agreed that her last working day would fall on July 31, 2026. Waititu joined Safaricom in…

Guaranty Trust Bank Kenya is preparing for a change at the top. The Board of Directors has confirmed that Managing Director Jubril Adeniji will step down once his tenure expires, following his recall to Guaranty Trust Bank Limited in Nigeria, the parent company. The announcement, made in an official statement, marks the end of a term that saw the bank sharpen its balance sheet and expand its footprint in a competitive market. What The Board Said About Adeniji’s Tenure The Board credited Adeniji with strengthening GTBank Kenya’s shareholding and governance structure during his time in charge. Under his leadership, the…