When Safaricom was founded in 1997 as a small department within Telkom Kenya, few could have predicted that it would grow into one of Africa’s most influential technology companies. In the 1990s, people had to walk into a telephone booth to make a phone call, send letters through the post office, and send money by long-distance bus. With Safaricom now part of Kenya’s story, all these are stories of the past, with TechCo’s different offerings serving those needs. This origin story begins within the Kenya Posts & Telecommunications Corporation in 1993, when it launched an analogue network. The department’s goal…
Author: Khusoko
Khusoko
Khusoko provides market insights into Africa's business investment as well as global trends that impact East African businesses.
Imagine being 900 kilometres away from Nairobi, in a remote and isolated area that suffers from regular bandit attacks, with no mobile network and having to rely on runners to relay information to a centre almost 100 kilometres away. Until recently, that was the reality for residents of Sabarei, an extremely vast sub‑location in Bole Saru, Dukana sub‑county, Marsabit County. A Colonial Outpost Holding the Line Sabarei hosts a colonial‑era police outpost that has survived for close to seven decades, protected by a handful of policemen. Next to the police station is the office and house of Gufu Habane, the…
British American Tobacco Kenya (BAT Kenya) has announced leadership changes following the resignation of its Company Secretary, Waeni Ngea. Waeni Ngea Steps Down In a notice dated November 28, BAT Kenya confirmed that Waeni Ngea will resign as company secretary effective December 31, 2025. “The Board of Directors of British American Tobacco Kenya p.l.c. (BAT Kenya, the Company) announces the resignation of Ms. Waeni Ngea as the Company Secretary with effect from 31 December 2025,” read part of the statement. Ngea rejoined BAT in October 2023 as Head of Legal & Compliance for BAT East & Southern Africa markets, where…
Mantrac celebrated eleven Kenyan winners of the CAT Excavators Campaign with an exclusive experience in Málaga, Spain, marking Caterpillar’s 100th anniversary and reinforcing Mantrac’s commitment to customer development across Africa. The Málaga visit was part of a wider Mantrac Group initiative recognising loyal customers who qualified through the purchase of eligible CAT excavator models. Alongside participants from other Mantrac territories, the Kenyan winners joined a programme designed to deepen technical knowledge, strengthen partnerships, and provide firsthand exposure to Caterpillar technologies. A World-Class Customer Experience Warm welcome at Gran Hotel Miramar, followed by a guided cultural tour of Málaga. Technical agenda…
The Court of Appeal has upheld the High Court’s decision to maintain liquidation orders against Cytonn High Yield Fund (CHYS) and its associated Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs), cementing the Official Receiver’s authority to oversee recovery for thousands of investors affected by the collapse. Who Was Involved The consolidated appeals brought together a wide range of parties, reflecting the scale of the Cytonn fallout. Appellants included: Benedicta Mukulu Musembi & 24 Others Charles K. Wambu & 6 Others Pakamu Ventures Limited (now Rudium Holdings Limited) & 8 Others Ephraim Karangi Cytonn Investments Partners Four LLP & 10 Others Mamelodi Holding Company…
In Africa, a house is more than a roof over one’s head. It is a symbol of dignity, a vessel of intergenerational wealth, and a cornerstone of economic stability. In the Kenyan context, where the housing deficit exceeds 2 million units, addressing this challenge is not just a matter of infrastructure; it is a moral and economic imperative. Locked Out: Why Homeownership Remains Elusive for Millions For low-income earners, homeownership remains a distant dream. High mortgage costs, limited access to financing, and informal incomes have locked millions out of the property market. But this is not just statistics. It is…