Mwenendo
African Business
Companies, industries, deals and corporate activity across Africa.
The Lock Is Theirs: M-KOPA Buys the Phone-Switch Firm for KSh 1.03 Billion
M-KOPA bought KilpiTek on 26 March for $8 million, about KSh 1.03 billion, in cash and shares. Cash was $2.67 million, about KSh 344.43 million. The rest was shares and later payments. KilpiTek writes the software that can switch off a phone when a payment is missed. The deal sat after the 2025 accounts and did not change last year's profit.
A Divided Recovery: Kenya's Factory Output Splits as Cement and Vehicle Assembly Rise
Kenya's July factory data splits as vehicle assembly and cement output rise Heavy manufacturing rebounds while light consumer goods processing contracts Uneven output highlights diverging commercial demand across key industrial sectors
A Multi-Trillion Shilling Pipeline: Kenya's KSh3.4T Construction Queue Signals Boom for Suppliers
Kenya's planned construction and infrastructure project queue reaches KSh 3.4 trillion ($26.2 billion). Heavy project pipeline is set to keep the local building sector robust and drive demand for materials. Multi-trillion shilling pipeline promises job creation and supply chain expansion despite credit tight spots.
MTN Turns Mobile Money Into a Bigger African Finance Business
MTN says fintech transaction value reached $330.5B in the first half of 2026 as MoMo users and lending expanded across its markets.
A French Exit: Ghana Clears a Moroccan Bank to Take Société Générale
The Bank of Ghana has raised no objection to Attijariwafa Bank taking 55.22 per cent of Société Générale Ghana. SSNIT is buying the other 5 per cent of the French stake, lifting its own holding to 24.36 per cent. The securities regulator still has to sign.
KCB profit jumps 21% as first-half earnings reach KSh49.3 billion
KCB Group's profit before tax rose 20.8% to KSh49.3 billion in the six months to June 2026. The bank also lifted its interim dividend by 50% as assets reached KSh2.3 trillion.
Smaller Tokens: New Kenya Power Homes Spend KSh 818.68 a Month
Homes and shops connected in the year to June 2026 spent an average of KSh 818.68 a month, down from KSh 1,061.76. Kenya Power added 411,710 customers. Total sales still rose. The new meters are the weak ones.
US overtakes Uganda as Kenya's Top Export Market in 5 Months
Kenya's exports to the United States overtook Uganda in the five months to July 2026 as American orders recovered after preferential market access was restored.
Kenya lines up new investor for KSh33B Kitui cement factory
Kenya has announced a new investor for a planned KSh33B cement factory in Kitui County, reviving a major industrial project. The development could add cement capacity and support jobs and related businesses if the project reaches construction.
Beyond Connectivity: Telcos Are Racing to Become Financial Institutions
By carving out standalone financial arms, African telecom giants are separating high-margin fintech platforms from network infrastructure to satisfy central bank regulators and open up capital market value.
The Distributed Workforce: Africa's Tech Sector Redefines What It Means to Be Present
Commercial leases are giving way to borderless teams as African technology firms ditch traditional headquarters to extend operational runway and access regional talent.
Afreximbank Backs Dangote as $16B Lamu Refinery Moves Ahead
Afreximbank says its relationship with Dangote Group now extends to the planned $16 billion Lamu refinery in Kenya. The project is designed to process 700,000 barrels of crude a day and could reshape regional fuel supply if construction and financing stay on track.
A $2.7M Deal: BP Takes Control of Three Namibia Offshore Licences
Namibia has approved BP’s acquisition of a 60% interest in three offshore petroleum licences from Eco Atlantic, clearing the final government consent before completion. Eco will retain 25% and receive US$2.7M while BP takes operatorship and carries exploration costs.
SHA Cover Stays, but Hospitals Will Handle Billing Through Their Own Systems
SHA is still the insurer. Hospitals are dropping a second portal and sending the visit from HMIS. The Ministry says 6,427 public Level 2 to 4 facilities have switched, and no patient should be turned away while the rest finish by 30 October 2026.
Aviation Fuel Race: Rubis Takes 33.6% of Kenya's Jet Fuel Market
Rubis Energy Kenya held a 33.6% share of Kenya's jet-fuel market in the year ended June 2026, more than twice its closest rival. The disclosure comes as jet-fuel consumption and airline traffic grow, intensifying competition among oil marketers.
A KSh 100K Fee: Kenya Raises Compliance Costs for Credit Providers
Kenya has raised compliance fees for non-deposit-taking credit providers while tightening rules on products, customer information and loan recovery.
NNPC Targets 430 Million Barrels in Annual Crude Trading
NNPC targets 430 million barrels in annual crude trading. The goal measures buying and selling activity, not its own production, and higher volumes do not guarantee higher returns.
Compliance Costs Rise: Kenyan Businesses Face a Wider Tax and Records Burden
Kenyan businesses are facing a broader compliance workload as tax, electronic invoicing, stock, payroll and immigration requirements demand more records and systems.
Jambojet Resumes Daily Nairobi-Entebbe Flights After a Seven-Year Pause
Jambojet has resumed daily Nairobi-Entebbe flights after seven years. The return adds a travel option, but lower fares depend on pricing and competition.
A Quiet Power Shift: Electric Vehicles Build Kenya's Next Big Energy Market
Electric motorcycles and delivery fleets are creating new electricity demand through charging and battery swaps; expansion depends on reliable local grid connections.
A Heavy Hand: Central Bank's Payment Bill Risks Stifling Digital Finance
The Central Bank of Kenya is seeking broad supervisory powers over digital payment providers under the draft National Payment System Bill 2026, a move that threatens to stifle the competition and rapid innovation that built the nation's financial technology sector.
Kenya's Licensed Money Transfer Market Expands Beyond 33 Providers
Kenya's money remittance market has expanded from 33 licensed providers at the end of 2025, with the latest 2026 directory showing new entrants including Flowsend. A current register tracker counts 36 providers in the June 2026 directory, giving customers a wider regulated choice.
Dangote Offers East Africa 30% Stake in $16B Lamu Refinery
Aliko Dangote has offered East African governments a combined 30% stake in the planned $16B Lamu refinery. Kenya has been allocated 10%, while Rwanda and Ethiopia have expressed interest. The final ownership and financing structure will determine who carries the project's risk and shares its returns.
Kenyan Space Startup Satlyt Raises $8M for AI Software in Orbit
Nairobi-linked space startup Satlyt has raised $8M in seed funding to expand software that lets satellites process data and run AI onboard. The company is using existing spacecraft computing capacity rather than building new satellites.
Dangote Plans KSh 6.48T ($50B) African Investment Push by 2030
Dangote's proposed African investment programme targets mining, manufacturing, ports and energy by 2030; it is an ambition, not a fully financed project list.
CBK Seeks More Power Over Kenya's Payment Companies
A draft payments bill would let CBK inspect providers, demand information and intervene over serious risks. The proposals are not yet law.
Premac Care Wins KSh 1.29M ($10,000) Women in Tech Grant
Premac Care won KSh 1.29M ($10,000) in equity-free funding, one of seven grants in Standard Chartered Foundation's Women in Tech Kenya programme.
The Build Contract: Honeywell Takes the Lamu Engineering Job
Honeywell will supply engineering, licensing and equipment for Dangote's 700,000-barrel Lamu plant, Reuters reported. The firm already works on Lagos upgrades toward 1.4 million barrels a day. A vendor deal is not first fuel and does not lift the Malindi order.
A Fence Before Fuel: Lamu's Refinery Still Needs State Cover
Lamu's proposed refinery still needs financing, crude supply and clear public-investment terms. A groundbreaking does not resolve the cost of any promised state protection.
A Quiet Cash-Out: Muthoka Sells JKIA Cargo Firm for $40.1 Million
Celebi Cargo of Frankfurt paid $40.1 million, about KSh 5.2 billion, for 100 per cent of Transglobal Cargo Centre. Reporting this week puts Peter Muthoka's profit near $19 million, or KSh 2.5 billion. The handler moves 33 per cent of JKIA export cargo. CAK cleared the deal in January because Celebi had no Kenya business.
Unsigned Hospitals Lose SHA Patients From Thursday Morning
SHA contracts end at 11.59pm on Wednesday 30 September. From Thursday, an unsigned clinic cannot bill the scheme. A patient mid-treatment may be moved.
Lamu Families Take Dangote Refinery Land Fight to Court
One hundred and thirty-three Chandavai residents sued in Malindi on 28 September 2026 and protested for compensation on land earmarked for the planned Sh2 trillion Dangote Lamu refinery. The court kept the status quo on LR No. 13061 until 14 October but did not stop Wednesday's groundbreaking.
Sidama Bank joins Ethiopia exchange as seventh listed company
Sidama Bank has become the seventh company listed on the Ethiopia Securities Exchange, adding another financial institution to one of Africa's newest public markets. The listing gives investors another quoted bank to follow as Ethiopia expands its capital-market infrastructure.
Quickmart's KSh50 Billion Retail Business Runs on Supplier Financing
Supplier credit helps Quickmart keep stock moving before invoices fall due, but the same payment gap can strain the smaller businesses supplying its stores.
Kenya Tightens Insurance Rules as Kenya Re Gets Bigger Share of Business
Kenya's insurance regulator is requiring insurers to use available local reinsurance capacity before seeking approval to place risks overseas. The mandatory share of general reinsurance business ceded to Kenya Re rises to 25 per cent as insurers prepare their 2027 programmes.
The Digital Gatekeeper: Understanding Kenya's IFMIS Supplier Portal
Navigating state procurement in Kenya requires mastering the National Treasury's digital gateway, where transparent systems meet real-world payment bottlenecks.
Bank Branch Locations in Nairobi Affect Where Money is Lent
Kenya's banking sector relies on physical branch networks that funnel rural savings directly into urban loan portfolios, shaping which regions grow and which stay starved of capital.
Direct to Doorstep: Developer-Led Financing Reshapes Nigerian Homeownership
High bank interest rates and rigid lending requirements have made traditional mortgages inaccessible for most Nigerians. Direct developer-led financing models are filling the credit vacuum, changing how urban residential real estate is built and sold.
A Clearer Rulebook: Central Bank Issues Rules for Over-the-Counter Transactions
The regulator has published operational guidelines for over-the-counter transactions, introducing clear compliance standards for financial institutions operating in off-exchange markets.
A Changing Horizon: Eight African Experts View AI Risks and Opportunities
As artificial intelligence reshapes global business, eight African tech thinkers assess whether the technology poses an existential threat or immediate socioeconomic risks to the continent.
The Logistics of Risk: Oil Markets Price Infrastructure Security
When security risks threaten energy infrastructure in the Middle East, global markets react instantly. Behind the price spikes lies a complex logistical network of pipelines, processing hubs and maritime ports that dictate how crude moves and what it costs at the pump.
A Delicate Balance: Wins and Who Pays in the AI Diagnostic Pivot
As health-tech startups deploy machine learning to screen for severe malaria and other critical conditions, a complex web of commercial incentives, subscription costs, and legal risks is shaping Africa's digital healthcare revolution.
A Presidential Tribute: Nigeria Signals the Strategic Role of Banking Pioneers in Institutional Growth
President Bola Tinubu’s recognition of Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede highlights the important intersection between commercial banking leadership, institutional capital, and long-term economic development in Africa.
Building for the Long Term: Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede's Lessons on Scaling African Enterprise
The former Access Bank Chief Executive and Coronation Group founder marks a milestone, providing key insights into corporate governance, capital allocation and building durable African enterprises.
A Growing Digital Divide: Africa's Tech Boom Risks Leaving 100 Million Disabled Citizens Behind
Missing accessibility features can shut people with disabilities out of digital banking, work and public services as African technology platforms expand.
Digital Restoration: Gemini Analyzes Rare Historical Engravings
Multimodal artificial intelligence is transforming cultural preservation by automating the visual comparison and translation of fragile centuries-old prints.
Artificial Intelligence Is Changing How Museums Look After Their Collections
As generative artificial intelligence tools simplify complex cataloging tasks for global museums, African heritage institutions face new opportunities to index unmapped archives and commercialise digital collections.
A Fix for Bad Files: Photo Repair Tools Save Business Assets
Digital image corruption can disrupt commercial operations and wipe out corporate memory. Understanding how modern photo repair software works helps businesses safeguard their visual assets and avoid expensive reshoots.
Digital History: Artificial Intelligence Tools Reconstruct Rare Artifacts for Business
By using multimodal models to analyze and digitally rebuild damaged historical texts and art, institutions are lowering conservation costs and open up fresh licensing revenue.
High Costs and Strict Rules: Drones Face a Hard Road in Kenya's Medical Supply Chain
Autonomous aircraft promise rapid delivery of blood and vaccines to remote clinics, but strict civil aviation rules, payload limitations and high operating costs keep the technology grounded at scale.
The $62 Billion Question: Separating Proven Reserves From Geological Speculation in Kenya's Mining Sector
Reports claim Kwale County is sitting on $62 billion worth of rare earth minerals and niobium. But converting raw geological estimates into real money is far more complicated than the headline numbers suggest.
A Prolonged Squeeze: Kenya's Microfinance Lenders Face a Decade-Long Struggle
A decade of mounting losses and stiff competition from mobile apps is reshaping Kenya's microfinance sector, threatening credit access for small traders.
A Silent Corporate Crisis: Workplace Stress Triggers Calls for Urgent Employer Action
Unmanaged occupational stress and mental health strain are imposing heavy financial and personal burdens on employees and businesses, highlighting critical gaps in existing corporate safety policies.
Kenyan Courts Decide Who Owns Brand Names When Businesses Are Confused
When competitors clash over names, bottle shapes, and packaging, Kenyan judges do not simply place products side-by-side. Here is the step-by-step legal breakdown of how courts evaluate brand confusion and market identity.
Beyond the Hyperscalers: Specialized Infrastructure Is Remaking the AI Stack
The $11.6 billion deal between Akamai and Anthropic highlights how AI compute is decentralising away from traditional cloud giants toward specialized, high-performance edge networks.
The US Energy Playbook: Global Oil Giants Race to Buy Shale Assets
Global energy majors are turning to strategic acquisitions in North America to cut production costs, secure immediate oil reserves, and maintain profitability.
Beyond the KSh 11.6B Revenue: Unpacking the Real Efficiency of Kenya's Rail Network
Kenya's Standard Gauge Railway generated KSh 11.6 billion ($89.58 million) in gross revenue in the first half of 2026. But assessing the true value of the mega-infrastructure project requires looking beyond top-line earnings to evaluate operational efficiency, freight utilization, and supply chain costs across East Africa.
Capital Over Expansion: Retail Dividend Policy Signals About Corporate Strategy
As retail chains move away from high-cost branch rollouts, boardrooms are using dividend policies to enforce financial discipline, optimize working capital, and deliver direct returns to investors.
The Cost of Delay: Kenya Power’s Payment Cycles Shape the Supplier Ecosystem
Behind every public utility's balance sheet lies a network of contractors navigating stretched payment terms, high borrowing costs, and the structural realities of managing cash flow in Kenya's energy sector.
Governments Control AI Release with Supply Chain Rules
Behind the scenes of tech governance, governments are using compute access, export controls, and voluntary commitments to direct artificial intelligence development before formal laws ever hit the books.