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Number of Kenyans not able to afford a healthy diet rises by 7.7m in six years

An FAO report shows 42.8 million Kenyans (79.2%) can't afford a healthy diet, up by 7.7 million in six years. Kenya ranks third in East Africa for dietary unaffordability, behind DR Congo (91.4%) and Burundi (89.6%).

• Rising Food Insecurity: More Kenyans struggle to afford nutritious food, calling for urgent economic interventions.
• Regional Crisis: Kenya's food affordability crisis reflects a wider East African challenge, with DR Congo and Burundi faring worse.

?China secures majority of Kenya Adani-type projects

Chinese firms hold a major stake in Kenya’s PPP projects, securing Sh190 billion across five initiatives. CRBC built the Sh86.8 billion Nairobi Expressway, highlighting China’s deepening role in Kenya’s infrastructure.

• Chinese Dominance: Backed by Beijing, Chinese firms lead Kenya’s infrastructure through PPP deals.
• Expanding Investments: Beyond transport, Chinese companies are moving into water and dam projects.

?Ministries hit by exit of 9,000 staff in two years

Kenya's civil service lost 8,905 staff between June 2022 and June 2024, dropping to 133,980 due to retirements and a hiring freeze. To fill gaps, the government hired 9,100 interns, a 133% increase.

• Workforce Shrinking: Attrition and an aging workforce highlight the need for better succession planning.
• Intern Boom: Increased reliance on interns may impact institutional knowledge and service continuity.

Cracking Kenya’s peanut business one machine at a time

In 2022, Kamau Karanja and Fredrick Kimani founded Banseok Kenya, investing Sh2M in peanut peeling machines. Their devices process 30kg per hour, boosting small-scale farming.

• The machines cut labor, aiding farmers' growth.
• Tech-driven agribusiness expansion.

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Victoria Bank gets new Sh969m loan from Swedfund for SMEs:

Victoria Commercial Bank secured a $7.5M (Sh969M) loan from Swedfund to boost SME lending in Kenya. This follows a $5M loan in 2018, supporting capital growth, ESG initiatives, and financial access for SMEs.

Kenya January sugar imports surge 130pc on huge industrial orders:

Kenya's sugar imports jumped 130% in January 2025 to 32,517 tonnes, driven by high industrial demand. Despite a 22% rise in local production, imports were needed to meet market needs.

“Africa can rise amid geopolitical threats”

Despite global tensions, Africa can turn challenges like migration and economic instability into growth opportunities through strategic partnerships and strong governance.

Woman behind Burna Boy Sh128m Nairobi concert:

Joy Wachira, MD of Madfun Group, is behind Burna Boy’s Nairobi concert on March 1, 2025. With a $1M (Sh128M) performance fee, the event includes logistics for his 61-member team. Despite her experience with top concerts, hosting Burna Boy presents unique financial risks.

Hopping into business: Entrepreneur builds a rabbit sausage brand while on maternity leave:

During maternity leave, Rosemary Muthoni launched Rabbit Space Africa, turning her husband's rabbit farming into a sausage brand. Using Instagram and referrals, she built a Nairobi-wide customer base, emphasizing value addition in agribusiness.