ASTUTE

Kenya Airways has defaulted on Sh8.5 billion interest payments owed to the government. Its total debt to the state now stands at Sh131 billion, up from Sh108 billion a year earlier.

Uganda has raised Sh62 billion through a bond to build its SGR, pushing Kenya to speed up its own railway from Naivasha to Malaba. On the other side, Kenya plans to raise Sh390 billion to complete its SGR and connect it to Uganda.

A petition has been filed in court to stop banks from raising loan interest rates and charges without asking customers. The case says banks should not change loan costs on their own and should follow clear rules

President William Ruto will decide whether payslip tax cuts are included in the Finance Bill after Treasury paused the proposal. The plan had aimed to ease PAYE for low and middle income workers, but concerns over a budget gap have delayed the decision.

Carrefour says it has spent Sh239 billion on locally made goods over the last 10 years and invested Sh15 billion to grow in Kenya. The retailer now works with over 690 suppliers and has created more than 3,000 jobs.

Suguta Valley 📍 Turkana county @TropicalAir

The US and Iran are close to a deal that could extend their ceasefire by 60 days. The deal could include reopening the Strait of Hormuz, sanctions relief, and unfreezing some Iranian assets.

Simbisa Brands Kenya, operator of Chicken Inn, Pizza Inn and Galito’s, revenue was up 15% to Sh2.8 billion in the nine months to March 2026. The growth was driven by a 21% increase in customer numbers to 3.5 million and a 71% jump in delivery orders.

Interesting.

Kenya’s government exposing SGR loan documents could breach confidentiality clauses in the Sh600 billion railway deal under Kenya–China agreements. This comes after the Court of Appeal ordered their release to the public under terms meant to keep them private.

Africa’s billionaire Aliko Dangote has added Lamu to Mombasa as possible sites for his East Africa oil refinery. The final decision will be made after talks with the Kenyan government.

Adan Abdulla Mohamed has now been officially sworn in as the new Commissioner General of KRA

France now wants the IMF and World Bank to support countries like Kenya affected due to the US–Iran conflict, as fuel and inflation pressures rise globally.

Kenya’s government plan to sell 15% of Safaricom to Vodacom will be decided by the court today. The Sh204 billion deal has been delayed by court cases over its legality.

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is set to make its first investment in Kenya, and its first in East Africa. They will start by investing Sh30 billion.

Kenya has been ranked as Africa’s third-largest data centre market, behind South Africa and Nigeria. Top African countries with data centres include: South Africa (60) Nigeria (22) Kenya (19) Morocco (14) Egypt (13) Tanzania (11) Angola (10) Mauritius (10) Ghana (8)

Kenya has ended Kenya Power’s monopoly, allowing power producers to directly sell electricity to large consumers like factories and industries. The firms will use Kenya Power and Ketraco transmission lines after paying access fees.

France to Build a New Ksh 106B Port Terminal in Kenya read.kenyans.co.ke/UVzDE

President Ruto: We convene this summit, grounded in our shared conviction that enduring partnerships must not be built on dependency, but on sovereign equality. Not on aid or charity, but on mutually beneficial investment. #AfricaForward2026

Finally Aliko Dangote will set up Oil refinery in Mombasa , Kenya.