KCB Group Plc has received regulatory approval to acquire a majority stake in Riverbank Solutions Limited, marking another notable move in Kenya’s growing mergers and acquisitions activity. Through this transaction, KCB, a titan in corporate and retail banking, will acquire a 75% stake in Riverbank, a specialised provider of financial technology platforms and hardware components, issued share capital. The agreement is valued at about Sh1.93 billion ($15 million). Once finalized, the move is set to deepen the bank’s service delivery, particularly to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and to scale its financial technology offerings by integrating Riverbank’s innovative solutions.…
Author: Antony mutunga
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has taken action against six public transport operators following a series of deadly accidents during the recent festive season. This crackdown, which includes suspensions and strict compliance orders, indicates a growing intolerance for negligence and regulatory failure within the industry. The authority cites a trifecta of grievous failures, including fatal accidents, disregard for the critical KS 2295:2023 standards, and blatant non-compliance with the foundational National Transport and Safety Authority (Operation of PSV Regulations, 2014). The most severe sanctions have been levied against Monna Comfort Sacco, Greenline Company Ltd, Naekana Route 134 Sacco Ltd,…
Since 2014 when the Arton Capital Passport Index was launched, national conversations about mobility, diplomacy, and the perceived strength of a nation on the global stage have always followed suit. For Kenya, the January 2026 index has painted the nation as a strong regional player, although when it comes to the global stage, there is a lot more ground to cover. The index, which focuses on a passport’s power rank, a measure of how much global travel freedom a passport offers, clearly indicates the work cut out for President William Ruto and his administration to elevate the nation to the…
M-PESA Africa and ADI Chain, MENA region’s first institutional Layer 2 (L2) network for stablecoins and real-world assets (RWA), have entered into a partnership, aiming to bring institutional-grade Web3 and blockchain infrastructure to M-PESA’s vast network of over 60 million users across eight African countries. M-PESA, which was launched in 2007, has been instrumental in providing mobile-based financial services, significantly contributing to financial inclusion in Africa. However, a substantial portion of adults in sub-Saharan Africa, about 42%, remain unbanked. Henceforth, the Abu Dhabi-based ADI Foundation, established in December 2024 by Sirius International Holding (the technology arm of IHC), developed ADI…
As the ink dries on President Donald Trump’s January 2026 executive order to withdraw the United States from sixty-six international organizations, the tremors of this seismic shift are being felt acutely in Nairobi, a city often regarded as a key hub of the Global South. For years, Kenya has strategically positioned itself as a regional hub for multilateralism, although this is now being threatened by the US decision. It is essentially a direct challenge to the economic and social scaffolding that has supported development for decades. The sudden departure from thirty-one United Nations entities, including crucial bodies like the United…
Kerugoya High Court has issued conservatory orders that temporarily suspend the enforcement of the Standards Levy Order, 2025, providing relief to the manufacturing sector. The order, which was delivered by Honourable Justice T.W. Ouya, effectively puts on hold the new levy framework pending further judicial directions, marking a crucial point in the ongoing dialogue between the government, industry stakeholders, and civil society. The court’s intervention follows a petition filed by the Green Thinking Action Party (GTAP) against the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), the National Assembly, and four other parties including the Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade and Industry and…
After over two decades of protected trade, the sugar industry is stepping confidently onto a new regional stage. This is after the government decided to formally exit the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Sugar Safeguard regime, which lapsed on November 30th, 2025. This marked the end of a 24-year chapter designed to stabilize and restructure the sector, which now looks ready to compete within COMESA. The safeguard, initially sought in 2001 under the COMESA Treaty, served as a critical temporary instrument. It allowed Kenya to impose restrictions on sugar imports while implementing deep structural reforms. Over eight…
Today, millions of people continue to face terrifying realities as families are uprooted by conflict, children are weakened by hunger, and communities are shattered by disaster. In response to this escalating global crisis, a landmark agreement between the United States and the United Nations seeks to provide aid as well as fundamentally transform its delivery. The landmark Sh257.80 billion ($2 billion) partnership between the U.S. Department of State and the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is a critical step toward saving lives with greater speed, efficiency, and compassion. However, it dwarfs what the U.S. previously contributed…
A diplomatic consensus has emerged across Africa and part of the Middle East, as a number of countries have opposed Israel’s recent recognition of the breakaway region of Somaliland. This stance, articulated by both continental and international bodies, raises an alarm over the potential for renewed instability in a volatile region. The African Union (AU), the continent’s premier political body, set the tone as Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Commission Chairperson, stated that the AU unequivocally rejected any action aimed at recognizing Somaliland as an independent entity. He reaffirmed that it remains an integral part of the Federal Republic of Somalia. Grounding…
As 2026 fast approaches, a significant shift is coming for workers, as the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) prepares to implement higher mandatory deductions starting February 2026. This adjustment, part of broader pension reforms, will see monthly contributions rise, placing additional pressure on household budgets already stretched thin by the relentless climb in the cost of living. For employees earning over Sh100,000 a month, the maximum monthly NSSF contribution will jump to Sh6,480, up from the current Sh4,320. Those with incomes below this threshold but still above Sh50,000 will also see their deductions rise to Sh6,000 monthly. However, in a…
