Page 1: Reports that investors offered a record Sh323.4 billion in Kenya’s August infrastructure bond sale, reflecting high market liquidity due to slow bank lending and elevated cash holdings, as well as the bond’s attractive tax-free returns. However, the Central Bank of Kenya accepted only Sh95 billion, staying close to its Sh90 billion target despite the overwhelming demand.
Page 2: Reports that Kenya’s Sh468 billion Mombasa-Nairobi expressway project faces delays after U.S. lenders rejected the involvement of Mota-Engil, a construction firm partly owned by a Chinese company, due to geopolitical and tax-related concerns. Despite the setback, project proponent Everstrong Capital insists the plan is not abandoned and suggests restructuring options, including renegotiating the consortium, while addressing challenges like land acquisition costs and speculation.
Page 5: Reports that Kenya’s National Treasury has proposed a Sh4 billion seed capital to establish a Prison Enterprise Fund, which will centralize management of inmate labor and prison-based industries under a semi-autonomous CEO-led structure. The fund aims to optimize prison resources by funding rehabilitation programs, purchasing equipment, and marketing goods produced by inmates, while dissolving previous separate management systems for prison farms and industries.
Page 6: Reports that Co-operative Bank of Kenya recorded an 8.4% rise in half-year profit to Sh14.1 billion, driven by growth in interest and non-interest income, despite higher operating expenses and loan-loss provisions. The bank expanded its branch network and subsidiaries, while benefiting from a supportive monetary policy, with CEO Gideon Muriuki attributing the performance to strategic resilience and sector diversification.
Page 7: Reports that Kenya’s public universities saw their debt rise by 10.4% to Sh76.1 billion by June 2024, with Sh68.4 billion in current liabilities highlighting worsening short-term financial struggles, including unremitted statutory deductions and unpaid vendor bills. Auditor General Nancy Gathungu warned of threats to institutional sustainability, noting 17 universities owed Sh29.6 billion in payroll obligations, while 13 others had Sh8.5 billion in long-overdue payables, reflecting systemic fiscal mismanagement.
Page 10: Reports that Chinese investments in Africa have strengthened critical infrastructure across ICT, healthcare, and transport sectors such as Tanzania’s broadband backbone and Sierra Leone’s Friendship Hospital creating foundations for economic growth and regional trade. However, the article argues Africa must actively shape this partnership by enforcing trade policies, building local capacity, and moving beyond aid dependency to foster competitive industries and sustainable job creation.
Page 13: Reports that former CMA chairman Nick Nesbitt faced a Sh102 million fraud lawsuit for failing to deliver a promised currency exchange during Kenya’s 2023 dollar crisis, exposing regulatory gaps in crypto on-ramp/off-ramp transactions. The case highlights vulnerabilities in Kenya’s virtual asset ecosystem, where unregulated providers operate despite their critical role in converting between fiat and crypto currencies, prompting calls for clearer oversight as the sector grows.
Page 14: Reports that Kenya’s unit trust industry saw assets under management surge by 20.1% to Sh596.3 billion in June 2025, marking 953% growth since 2018, driven by aggressive marketing and new fund approvals. The top five schemes, led by Sanlam, controlled 64% of the market (Sh381.7 billion), as the Capital Markets Authority noted sustained investor interest with 55 approved trusts comprising 234 funds.
Page 24: Reports that while Nairobi has become a hub for Africa-focused private equity firms due to its strategic advantages, unclear tax regulations particularly around profit attribution for local support entities are creating uncertainty that could threaten Kenya’s position as an investment destination. The article calls for clearer tax guidelines to distinguish between “support” and “core” functions, arguing that predictable rules would help maintain Nairobi’s competitive edge in attracting private equity capital and expertise to the region.