The United States House of Representatives has passed a bill extending the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) for three more years, a move hailed as a critical milestone in U.S.–Africa trade relations. The decision provides renewed certainty for exporters and signals Washington’s continued commitment to strengthening economic ties with sub‑Saharan Africa. Renewed Confidence for Kenya’s Textile Sector Kenya’s textile and apparel industries, anchored in Export Processing Zones (EPZs), employ more than 80,000 workers directly and support an additional 250,000 indirectly. The extension of AGOA is expected to ease uncertainty that had clouded the sector, paving the way for expanded…
Author: Muindi
Muindi
Experience working on communication and marketing departments and in the broadcast industry. Interested in sustainable development and international relations issues.
Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has defended the government’s plan to divest a 15 per cent stake in Safaricom PLC to Vodacom Group, saying the move will unlock billions for infrastructure projects while safeguarding Kenya’s long‑term interests in the telecom giant. Why the Government is Selling Mbadi told MPs that the partial divestiture is designed to shield the state’s remaining shares from dilution as Safaricom raises capital for expansion. “Unlike taxation, privatization never reduces private sector wealth. In most cases it encourages the propensity to invest, and enhance aggregate demand which in the long run would widen the revenue base,”…
The ADI Foundation has partnered with M-PESA Africa, aiming to extend blockchain infrastructure to more than 66.2 million monthly users across eight African countries. The collaboration will deploy ADI Chain in Kenya, DR Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Lesotho, Mozambique, and Tanzania, creating institutional‑grade digital rails for individuals and small businesses. Expanding Financial Access Through Blockchain Since its 2007 launch in Kenya, M-PESA has transformed financial inclusion by enabling millions to access services via mobile devices, bypassing traditional banking barriers. The new partnership builds on this foundation by integrating blockchain capabilities into M-PESA’s infrastructure, which already processes $309 billion annually. “M-PESA…
Uchumi House, a five‑storey commercial property located at the junction of Aga Khan Walk and Nkrumah Lane in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD), is on sale for Sh562.5 million. The building, which includes a basement and mezzanine floor, sits on a 0.28‑acre parcel and offers a total floor area of 4,491 square metres. Current tenants include Naivas Supermarket and Pronto Restaurant, providing immediate rental income to a prospective buyer. Prime Location with Strong Investment Appeal Uchumi House is surrounded by Sunken Parking, Electricity House, Nairobi Cinema, and the Kenya Re Building, reinforcing its strategic positioning within Nairobi’s commercial heart. The…
Kenya’s equity markets opened the new year with solid gains, signaling renewed investor confidence. Prices rose 1.8%, driven largely by the top 10 most liquid counters, which advanced 2.3%. The NSE 25 and NSE 20 indices also posted gains of 2.1% and 1.3% respectively. The banking sector led the rally, climbing 2.6% on early investor positioning ahead of the March earnings season. Market Activity Despite the upbeat start, overall market activity was subdued: Turnover fell 25.2% to KES 1.07Bn from KES 1.43Bn, reflecting the extended festive period. Volumes traded rose 9.5% to 47.74Mn shares, boosted by a 164.6% surge in…
East African Breweries PLC (EABL) has announced that the High Court has allowed regulatory approval processes for a contested transaction to continue, despite an application filed by Bia Tosha Distributors Limited. High Court Allows Regulatory Processes to Proceed In its ruling delivered on Wednesday, the Court directed that all regulatory approvals and preliminary statutory steps for the transaction should move forward as planned. The Judge underscored the significance of the transaction, declining to halt or paralyse the regulatory process. Temporary Preservation Order Issued Until January 20, 2026 The Court, however, issued a temporary preservation order restraining only the final steps…