Laatste nieuws in region
Kenya's Second-Largest County Launches Climate Resilience Partnership for Pastoralist Communities
Lodwar, 11 March 2026
Turkana County has partnered with the Pastoralists Adaptive Initiative for Resilience to address climate challenges across 77,000 square kilometres of arid land. The collaboration includes a solar-powered milling enterprise already supporting 250 farming households and 271 school children in the Natoot community, reducing travel costs and distances for essential services.
East African Community Adopts Emergency Financial Reforms as Crisis Threatens Regional Unity
Arusha, 11 March 2026
The East African Community has implemented sweeping financial reforms after member states accumulated over $89 million in unpaid dues, forcing institutions to suspend operations and delay staff salaries. At March’s Arusha summit, leaders approved a new 50-50 funding formula where larger economies contribute more, replacing the previous equal-payment system. The crisis echoes the 1977 collapse of the original EAC and threatens decades of integration progress across the eight-nation bloc of 300 million people.
Kenya's Largest Bank Awaits Approval to Expand Pesapal Stake in Digital Payments Push
Nairobi, 11 March 2026
KCB Group, East Africa’s largest lender, is waiting for regulatory clearance to increase its investment in fintech platform Pesapal, which processes payments across five countries. The move follows KCB’s recent KSh68.4 billion profit surge and represents a strategic shift as traditional banks compete with fintech firms for digital transaction dominance. With 99% of KCB’s transactions already digital, the expanded Pesapal partnership could unlock merchant lending opportunities.
Kenya's Largest Bank Reports Record £530 Million Profit Despite Economic Headwinds
Nairobi, 11 March 2026
KCB Group, East Africa’s biggest lender, achieved remarkable financial resilience by posting £530 million net profit for 2025—an 11% increase despite sluggish economic conditions. The bank’s success stemmed from strategic cost-cutting measures, including a 3% reduction in operating expenses, and the profitable sale of National Bank of Kenya to Nigeria’s Access Bank. Most striking is the bank’s digital transformation: nearly all customer transactions now occur outside branches, with mobile lending disbursements reaching £6.6 million daily. Regional diversification proved crucial, with subsidiaries outside Kenya contributing 30% of total profits, demonstrating how African banks are adapting to challenging market conditions through operational efficiency and technological innovation.
Kenya Power CEO Reveals Why Your Electricity Tokens Buy Fewer Units Despite Same Payment
Nairobi, 11 March 2026
Kenya Power’s Joseph Siror explained on 9 March 2026 that customers receiving fewer electricity units stems from automatic deductions for outstanding bills and tariff structures. Up to 20% of token purchases may offset arrears—meaning a KSh3,000 purchase could have KSh600 deducted for pending bills. Additionally, households consuming over 100 units monthly face higher domestic ordinary tariffs, reducing unit quantities further.
Political Candidate Fires Warning Shots After Dawn Attack on Kisumu Hotel
Kisumu, 11 March 2026
Former government official Irungu Nyakera discharged his firearm twice into the air after more than 100 attackers stormed his Kisumu hotel at 5:00am on Wednesday morning. The Nairobi gubernatorial aspirant claims the assailants injured staff members and tied up a female security guard before fleeing when he confronted them. Despite requesting police backup immediately after the incident, Nyakera says officers failed to arrive within an hour, prompting him to warn authorities he would shoot anyone attempting to enter his property. This marks the second security breach at the hotel in three weeks, raising questions about the safety of political figures’ business interests in the lakeside city.
Kenya Links Environmental Protection to National Security in New Resource Management Programme
Nairobi, 11 March 2026
Kenya’s Interior Principal Secretary Dr. Raymond Omollo has redefined national security to include environmental protection, launching the Integrated Natural Resource Management Programme on 10 March 2026. The initiative targets ten counties and addresses how competition over scarce resources like water, land, and forests fuels community conflicts. Omollo cited recent flash floods that killed 40 people as evidence that environmental degradation threatens national stability. The programme combines watershed restoration, climate-smart agriculture, and sustainable land management, implemented jointly by multiple state departments and IFAD as part of Kenya’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.
Iran War Enters Second Week as US Launches Most Intensive Strike Campaign Yet
Tehran, 10 March 2026
The eleven-day conflict escalated dramatically on Tuesday as US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth declared it would be ‘the most intense day of strikes’ against Iran. Beyond the immediate human toll, the war has triggered an ecological disaster with black rain falling over Tehran after energy infrastructure attacks. Critical water supplies face severe disruption following strikes on desalination plants, whilst Iranian retaliation has caused banking system crashes across the UAE and sent oil prices soaring at their fastest rate since the COVID pandemic, threatening global economic stability.
Tanzanian Businessman Takes Control of East Africa's Media Giant Nation Media Group
Nairobi, 10 March 2026
Rostam Azizi has acquired majority control of Nation Media Group, purchasing the entire 54.08% stake previously held by the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development, ending a remarkable 66-year ownership period that began in 1959. This transaction represents one of East Africa’s largest media deals in decades, transforming ownership of a media empire that reaches over 62 million digital users across the region through more than 30 brands including major newspapers and broadcasting stations.
Kenya's Ruling and Opposition Parties Hold Historic Joint Parliamentary Meeting
Nairobi, 10 March 2026
Political rivals UDA and ODM convened their first joint parliamentary session today, marking a dramatic shift in Kenya’s political landscape. The meeting, co-chaired by President Ruto and Senator Oburu Oginga, addressed coalition talks for 2027 elections despite internal ODM divisions threatening the alliance.