Summary Of The Business Daily Newspaper Roundup-Aug 21,2025
Page 1: Reports detail a new revenue-sharing model that prioritizes equity, resulting in funding cuts for 35 wealthier counties like Nairobi and Mombasa. This shift has collectively cost these richer counties Sh6 billion, while poorer, sparsely populated counties have gained Sh3.5 billion for development.
Page 2: Reports indicate the Kenyan government plans to sell an additional 5-10% stake in Safaricom, which could raise up to Sh149 billion. This potential sale is expected to be the region’s largest transaction, attracting global private equity interest due to the company’s predictable revenues. Analysts suggest an off-market deal would yield the maximum return for the government.
Page 4: Reports state that Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) Capital has proposed selling two aircraft it leases to Kenya Airways to US-based Azorra Aviation. The COMESA Competition Commission has begun an inquiry to assess this proposed asset acquisition. If approved, Kenya Airways’ operation of the planes will be unaffected, as it will simply pay lease fees to a new owner.
Page 5: Reports show that technology firms are now the largest recipients of foreign direct investment in Kenya, accounting for over a quarter of all inflows. Investments in the information and communication sector surged to Sh64.67 billion in 2023, aided by the removal of a rule requiring foreign ICT firms to cede a 30% stake to locals. This policy change has attracted companies like Amazon and facilitated greater investment in Kenya’s “Silicon Savannah” digital economy.
Page 6: Reports reveal that Standard Chartered Bank Kenya’s net profit fell 21.3% to Sh8.08 billion for the first half of 2025, primarily due to a 59.5% drop in forex trading income. Despite the profit decline, the bank has maintained its interim dividend at Sh8 per share. It will distribute a total of Sh3.02 billion to shareholders on record as of September 11.
Page 7: Reports confirm that the National Bank of Kenya (NBK) has placed the Nairobi Upper Hill Hotel under receivership over a Sh447 million debt dispute. A receiver manager has been appointed to take control of the hotel’s assets after the owner defaulted on loan repayments. This action freezes the owner’s control and follows several unsuccessful attempts to auction the property.
Page 8: Reports describe Germany’s Energiewende, a systemic energy transition driven by the need to reduce emissions and achieve energy independence. A participatory approach addressed challenges like job losses, leading to a Coal Commission that created a roadmap for a coal exit by 2038 and a €40 billion support fund for mining regions. This holistic strategy offers critical lessons for other nations like Kenya that are shaping their own clean energy paths.
Page 10: Reports propose establishing a Health Feasibility Grants Programme to fund project assessments and build a pipeline of investment-ready health projects. They also recommend creating County Health PPC Units to shepherd projects and building trust through transparent frameworks for private partners. Development partners are urged to provide catalytic financing and a joint learning mechanism should be established to share evidence.
Page 13: Reports show the Kenyan government significantly exceeded its target by netting Sh179.8 billion from a 24-hour tap sale of an infrastructure bond, which was oversubscribed by more than four times. The sale capitalized on high market liquidity, with investors reinvesting funds rejected in the bond’s primary sale the previous week. This influx brings the total raised from the August bond issue to Sh274.8 billion, helping the government meet its domestic borrowing target.
Page 14: Reports highlight the growth of the Meat Up Fest, a barbecue festival in Nairobi that has expanded from 400 to over 1,000 attendees. The event draws a diverse crowd of Kenyans in their 30s to 50s who come to enjoy grilled meats and socialize. Attendees see it as a necessary escape and a cherished rebellion against life’s pressures and dietary restrictions.
Page 24: Reports indicate Kenya is exploring a sea-to-air multimodal logistics hub to improve its competitiveness as a trade gateway. This model, used in Dubai and Singapore, integrates port and airport operations with bonded corridors for faster, cheaper cargo transit. To replicate it, the article recommends creating a bonded corridor and free-trade zone in Mombasa to target varied trade lanes.