Author: Korir Issa

The Co-operative Bank Group has reported an 8.4% rise in after-tax profit for the first half of 2025, reaching KSh 14.08 billion, up from KSh 13 billion in the same period last year. Profit before tax rose 8.3% to KSh 19.66 billion, supported by robust growth in net interest income, digital adoption, and expanded customer outreach. “These results reflect the strength of our universal banking model, robust digital presence, extensive physical network, and deep roots in Africa’s largest co-operative movement with 15 million members,” said Group Managing Director and CEO Dr. Gideon Muriuki. Key Financial Highlights (January–June 2025) Metric H1…

Absa Bank Kenya PLC has announced a 9% year-on-year growth in profit after tax to KShs 11.7 billion for the half-year ended June 30, 2025.  This performance supports a robust return on equity of 26.5%, reflecting disciplined execution, prudent risk management, and strategic agility in a complex economic environment. “Our results highlight the resilience of our operations and the relevance of our growth strategy, centred on being the primary partner for our customers,” said Abdi Mohamed, Managing Director and CEO. Financial Highlights Metric H1 2024 H1 2025 YoY Change Profit After Tax KShs 10.7B KShs 11.7B +9% Revenue KShs 31.8B…

Kenya has eliminated sleeping sickness as a public health problem, the World Health Organisation announced on Friday. It becomes the tenth country to reach this milestone, joining Benin, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Rwanda, Togo, and Uganda. Disease Overview Human African trypanosomiasis, or sleeping sickness, is a vector-borne disease endemic to sub-Saharan Africa. Without treatment, it is generally fatal, as the parasite invades multiple organs, including the brain. The disease is transmitted through the bites of tsetse flies carrying the blood parasite Trypanosoma brucei. Rural communities reliant on agriculture, fishing, animal husbandry, or hunting face the highest exposure…

The East African Community (EAC) on Monday, August 4, officially launched the EACBond, a transformative customs guarantee mechanism designed to simplify the movement of goods across Partner States. Under this new system, importers will only need to secure one regional customs bond, replacing the costly and complex requirement of separate national bonds for each country. “The EAC is today launching the EACBond, a regional customs guarantee instrument that replaces the need for multiple national bonds when transporting goods across Partner States,” the EAC Secretariat announced. A customs bond acts as a financial guarantee that ensures goods in transit comply with…

Sanlam General Insurance Limited and Jubilee Allianz General Insurance (K) Limited have formally applied for regulatory approval to merge their general insurance businesses. The planned amalgamation, announced through a public notice dated August 1, 2025, is subject to clearance from the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) under Sections 114 and 118 of the Insurance Act (Cap 487). According to the notice, Sanlam is designated as the vendor, while Jubilee Allianz assumes the role of purchaser.  The proposed transaction, scheduled to take effect on December 31, 2025, entails the transfer of all general insurance assets, liabilities, and obligations from Sanlam to Jubilee Allianz.…

The Cabinet has formally approved the partial privatisation of Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC), setting the stage for its Initial Public Offering (IPO) on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) by September 2025. The decision, reached during a Cabinet meeting on July 29, reinstates KPC into the government’s privatisation programme and marks a shift in Kenya’s economic governance. “The KPC listing will democratize ownership, unlock commercial potential, and set a new benchmark for state enterprise reforms,” said President William Ruto, speaking earlier at the NSE. Strategic Shift Toward Private Sector-Led Growth KPC, a cornerstone of Kenya’s fuel and energy logistics, has long…