The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has made a significant move by officially joining a constitutional petition challenging the legality of Kenya’s public debt. This legal action, spearheaded by civil rights activist and Senator Okiya Omtatah along with eight other petitioners, accuses past and present government officials of engaging in what is described as “odious […]

The World Bank has recommended that the Kenyan government impose a carbon tax on fuel, estimating that such a levy could generate up to Sh40.5 billion (approximately US $305 million) annually. The proposal is part of the Bank’s 2025 Kenya Public Finance Review and aims to accelerate Kenya’s transition to a low-carbon economy, support its […]

Sweden has signed a US $2.7 million (KSh 348 million) agreement with TradeMark Africa to launch the two-year Kenya Enhanced Trade Environment and Inclusion (KETEI) programme. Designed to accelerate sustainable, inclusive trade in line with Kenya’s commitments under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), KETEI will enhance port efficiency, green trade infrastructure, and the […]

Introduction: Striking the Balance Between Revenue and Growth The Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK) has formally submitted a sweeping set of 39 recommendations on the Finance Bill 2025, urging Parliament to adopt measures that raise revenue without stifling economic growth or overburdening taxpayers. In a presentation on 27 May 2025, ICPAK’s delegation […]

Overview: A Game-Changing Corridor Deputy President Kithure Kindiki declared on 27 May 2025 that the 749 km Isiolo–Mandera Road, under construction at an estimated KSh 85–100 billion (US $625–735 million), will be a “game changer” for northern Kenya. Traversing Isiolo, Garissa, Wajir, and Mandera counties, the upgraded highway promises to unlock vast economic potential by […]

The World Bank trimmed its forecast for Kenya’s economic growth in 2025 from 5.0 percent to 4.5 percent, warning that heavy government borrowing, elevated lending rates, and a sharp contraction in private‐sector credit risk stifling the nation’s business engines (Reuters, Bloomberg). Growth Outlook Revised Downwards In the biannual Kenya Economic Update, released Tuesday, the World […]

Introduction The Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) is spearheading a vigorous campaign for transformative reforms in the Finance Bill 2025, urging lawmakers to adopt measures that strengthen the country’s industrial base, streamline the tax code, and institutionalize deeper private-sector input into fiscal policymaking. During a retreat in Naivasha on April 25, 2025, KEPSA engaged the […]

The Kenyan government has instituted a moratorium on hiring and contract renewals across 42 State corporations slated for merger, dissolution, or restructuring, putting the livelihoods of hundreds of executives and staff on hold. The move, communicated in a May 16 memo from Head of Public Service Felix Koskei, follows Cabinet approval earlier this year to […]

Key Highlights Background: Strengthening Kenya’s Debt Profile Over the past decade, Kenya’s outstanding Eurobond liabilities have climbed amid infrastructure and social-spending needs. As of early 2025, the country faced roughly US$7 billion in Eurobonds maturing between 2027 and 2034, straining its foreign-currency debt service costs. Recognising these pressures, the GoK, through the National Treasury & […]

In a major shake-up for Kenya’s supplier community, the National Treasury has declared Sh270 billion of pending government bills ineligible for payment, according to a statement by Treasury Principal Secretary Chris Kiptoo. A special audit committee, chaired by former Auditor General Edward Ouko, vetted Sh665 billion in outstanding claims and cleared just Sh230 billion as […]