The Kenyan government has announced plans to expand its tourism levy to cover short-term rental accommodations, bringing platforms such as Airbnb, Booking.com, Jumia Travel, and other digital booking services into the country’s formal tourism tax framework. Under the proposed changes, short-term rental operators will be required to pay a 2% tourism levy on bookings, aligning them with hotels, lodges, and serviced apartments that already contribute to the levy. Officials say the initiative is part of broader efforts to modernize revenue collection, strengthen oversight of the fast-growing short-term rental market, and promote fair competition across the tourism sector. Formalising the Short-Stay…
Author: Muindi
Muindi
Experience working on communication and marketing departments and in the broadcast industry. Interested in sustainable development and international relations issues.
Airtel Africa has posted another strong set of results, underscoring its role as one of Africa’s most influential players in digital infrastructure and financial inclusion. For the nine months ended 31 December 2025, the pan-African telecoms group reported revenues of $4.67 billion, representing 24.6% growth in constant currency. The performance was driven by surging data usage, expanding smartphone adoption, and the rapid scaling of Airtel Money across its footprint. The company’s total customer base rose 10% to 179.4 million, with data customers up 14.6% to 81.8 million. Smartphone penetration reached 48.1%, reflecting Africa’s accelerating shift toward mobile-first digital services. Data…
Co-operative Bank has broken ranks with Kenya’s top lenders by anchoring both new and existing variable-rate Kenya Shilling loans to the KESONIA benchmark, offering rare clarity amid industry hesitation over the Central Bank’s new pricing model. Co-op Bank Leads with KESONIA Adoption for Existing Loans In a public notice issued this week, Co-operative Bank confirmed it will transition all existing variable-rate Kenya Shilling-denominated credit facilities to the Kenya Shilling Overnight Interbank Average (KESONIA) from 28th February 2026, aligning fully with the Central Bank of Kenya’s (CBK) revised risk-based credit pricing framework. This move sets Co-op Bank apart from its peers,…
Cold Solutions Kiambu (SEZ) Limited has secured Sh2.47 billion (USD19 million) in funding from Mirova, an affiliate of Natixis Investment Managers focused on sustainable investing. The investment will accelerate the company’s development of energy-efficient, temperature-controlled warehousing and logistics infrastructure in Kenya, with a strong emphasis on agri-solar innovation. Located in Tatu City, Cold Solutions Kiambu operates a flagship facility with approximately 15,000 pallet positions, integrating rooftop solar systems and ammonia-based refrigeration to reduce post-harvest losses and support pharmaceutical integrity. The funding, channeled through the Mirova Gigaton Fund, reinforces the company’s commitment to climate-smart logistics and positions it as a key…
Award‑winning filmmaker Daudi Anguka is set to make his Showmax debut with the drama‑thriller series Mizani, premiering on 5 February 2026. Set in Mombasa’s criminal underbelly, the series follows a journalist whose daughter is kidnapped by a powerful, politically backed organ trafficking ring. Desperate to save her, he must confront the syndicate, uncovering a tangled web of corruption, power plays, and shocking family secrets. Star-Studded Ensemble Cast Mizani features a diverse cast led by Michael Saruni (The Chocolate Empire). Joining him are: Stephanie Maseki (Mkasi) Kieth Chuaga (Jiji) Bhavnesh Chudasama (Subterranea) Jack Mutinda (It’s A Free Country) Denis Humphrey (Sultana)…
The Court of Appeal at Nairobi has delivered judgment in Civil Appeal No. E378 of 2020, partially overturning the High Court’s 2020 decision that upheld the controversial ban of Wanuri Kahiu’s film Rafiki. Justices W. Karanja, Tuiyott, and Achode navigated the delicate balance between freedom of artistic expression and the state’s power to regulate public morality, reshaping the conversation around censorship in Kenya’s creative industry. Rafiki: From Cannes Glory to Local Controversy In April 2018, Rafiki made history as the first Kenyan feature film to screen at the Cannes Film Festival, inspired by the Caine Prize-winning short story Jambula Tree.…