Author: David Indeje

Kenya’s media sector draws young women in and pushes them out before they reach their prime. That is the central finding of the State of Women in Media in Kenya 2026 report, published by the Association of Media Women in Kenya (AMWIK) and launched at the 2026 Women in Media Conference under the theme Resilient Professionals and Sustainable Futures. The report, which draws on responses from 108 women journalists, four key informant interviews, a focus group discussion, and a review of existing industry data, offers the most detailed look yet at what women in Kenyan journalism actually experience on the…

Kenya will solidify its leadership in digital policy by hosting the 21st Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Nairobi from 14–18 December 2026. This milestone marks a return to the city that hosted the global event in 2011, establishing Kenya as the first African nation to host the forum twice. The 2026 forum follows a transformative period for international cooperation. In December 2025, the United Nations General Assembly confirmed the IGF as a permanent UN forum via Resolution 80/173. This historic decision recognizes the IGF as the primary multistakeholder platform for navigating the future of digital governance. 📢 IGF 2026 announced!…

Women now head 19% of the world’s major financial institutions, a record high. Yet the same report that celebrates this milestone warns, bluntly, that without decisive policy action, true gender balance in global finance remains at least 22 years away. That gap between progress and promise defines the OMFIF Gender Balance Index 2026, and nowhere does it cut deeper than across Africa. The annual index, produced by the Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum, tracks female representation across 335 central banks, commercial banks, pension funds and sovereign funds, covering 6,820 individuals. The 2026 edition records an average score of 44,…

Choosing a bank account should not feel like reading a legal document. Sidian Bank structures its personal banking offering around distinct stages of financial life; whether you earn a salary, run a small business, save for a child’s future, or simply want the freedom to transact without watching a clock. Here is what each account offers and who it suits best. Nawiri Account: Banking Without the Barriers The Nawiri Account removes the entry conditions that keep many people out of formal banking. It requires no opening balance, no minimum balance and charges no ledger fees. Deposits come free of charge,…

Seven in ten married women of reproductive age in Kenya want to control when, or whether, they have children.  The National Update on Family Planning shows that 76% of married women under 49 need contraception, either to space their pregnancies or stop having children altogether. Specifically, 46% say they do not want more children, and 30% want to delay their next pregnancy. Compiled by the Division of Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH), the report maps both the progress Kenya has made and the distance it still needs to travel. The Urban-Rural Divide Still Shapes Who Gets Help…

Uganda has named Citibank as lead arranger for the syndicated debt financing of its €2.7 billion Standard Gauge Railway, bringing the long-stalled Malaba–Kampala line within reach of construction. A Limited Notice to Proceed has been issued, and an initial US$83 million tranche released. Full financial close remains pending, but momentum is building. Lead contractor Yapı Merkezi targets a construction start on the 272-kilometre Eastern Line before the end of May. Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Transport, Bageya Waiswa, acknowledged that lenders are proceeding cautiously. “The lenders are taking their time, but we have a Plan B,” he said, pointing…