Category: Business Daily

If you are to meet Antonina Agata in a restaurant, she will first seek to know what the menu looks like. Her eating, she says, is not dictated by what’s available; she curates what she eats to suit her holistic lifestyle, regardless of where she is.

‘I don’t just eat the way I eat at my house; even when I travel outside the country, I will look for food that aligns with my nutritional standards.’

The 47-year-old Certified Health and Holistic Nutrition Coach and founder of Emeri Holistic Health does not have fitness goals. No. She calls them standards. ‘Standards are irreducible minimums that I have set for myself; I can’t go below them. Diet is a big part of my general fitness, and I take it with the seriousness it deserves.’

Her fitness journey dates back about one and a half decades. ‘In December 2011, I went for a hospital open day where I had my vitals taken, everything. I was told, was okay except my body weight. Before this, I was not sleeping well and had elevated levels of the Prolactin hormone. I remember the doctor declaring that I was obese. This stuck with me long after leaving the hospital.’

For the longest time, she was comfortable with her weight and body structure. ‘Growing up, weight was never frowned upon; it was seen as a score of how good one was doing. So, it never struck me even remotely that I could be facing a possible health problem.’

She weighed 96 kilos back in 2011. The following year, she sought the help of a nutritionist and a gym to rebrand herself and live a healthier life. ‘It wasn’t about losing weight, though that would eventually be a consequence of the change in my lifestyle-it was more of dropping off the obese tag. I dropped out of the gym not long after.’

Then, in her early 30s and working at a leading bank, she picked up walking. She walked around Upper Hill, where she worked at the end of every working day. At home, she filled bottles with sand for weight training.

‘It never truly felt like working out. I lost 16 kilos just by minding what I ate and walking.’

So noticeable was her body’s transformation that a senior manager at her workplace noticed and asked. ‘I had just cut my hair bald, and with the massive loss of weight, my colleagues were concerned. A senior manager thought I was going through a tough season of life.’

In 2015, the weight started creeping back. ‘I went through a season of mental and professional unsettlement. I was not happy at work. I did not know where I wanted to go with my career life. I moved industries; from finance to FMCG [fast moving consumer goods] . This rapid movement did not offer a learning period. For me, this meant I was learning on the job. My working hours were affected, I had gone back to school for my masters as well, this meant I would at times have my evening meal at the university’s cafeteria on the go and mostly these were sugary snacks. The weight gain would hit me like a boulder at some point.’

Antonina is not one to let years of gains go down the drain. ‘I always go back to see what is changing, how it affects me and what I need to do to rise above it.’

The odds would have been against her if she had not adhered to her self-efficacy code. ‘I could sit back in the comfort of not finding time to eat healthy or continue with my physical fitness regime, and let life pass by. But life is about making do with what you have as you seek to reach where you want to go. I call it self-efficacy. I started waking up at 4 am to do my High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) for about 30 minutes. I made plans for my meals. I almost never ate out. I used to carry my lunch and dinner. Before leaving the office in the evening for class, I would warm my food, and just before getting to class, I would sit down and eat.’

From this part of her journey, Antonina learned something pivotal.

‘Always find a way to incorporate balance into your life. Everyone, as it is commonly said, has the same 24 hours. What happens between waking up and going to bed is what sets people apart. Balance is found in being intentional about time and activities.’

This balance, she says, may not achieve a perfect equilibrium.

‘Opportunity cost is a key factor in this business balance. My social life was heavily dented because many times, I was too pressed for time to squeeze in additional activities. You choose what you can forgo and do what must be done.’

In 2018, she returned to the gym. ‘I needed to lift heavier. My muscles had grown used to the makeshift weights I had at home.’

Antonina does not consider going to the gym as working out. ‘I call it training, teaching your body to be strong. It’s teaching your muscles resilience. The gym is your body’s classroom,’ she adds.

She got a personal trainer later on after recognising the need for one from her brother. ‘For this thing to work, you must create an environment that supports your growth. It is not a linear cast-in-stone process. You gain new knowledge on the move, and sometimes this new knowledge unsettles what you have held on to for long. The secret is in being flexible and adjusting with time. Besides, what worked 10 years ago may well not work in the present. Once you realise this, you become more receptive to change.’

Her core started to build and look stronger. She is unable to hide her excitement when showing off her midsection’s six-pack abs.

‘People see the results, no one sees the efforts. When I look at myself in the mirror and see these abs perfectly coming together to form a ‘six-pack,’ I see all the efforts I have put in training my body to look like it does right now.’ Her biceps are well-toned, and she feels good at accomplishing something not many people her age have.

She added running to her fitness catalogue in 2020. ‘It was what everyone did in 2020, but beyond this, I wanted to see how far my body could go. How much push it can accommodate.’

This is a part of the large build that is her constant movement. ‘Movement is among my very first activities of the day. I wake up and move for about 10 minutes in the estate, climb a flight of stairs three times before I can start the day.’

During this interview at the Wadi Degla Club, she parked her car at the farthest corner just so she could walk. ‘I do this even in the supermarket, I always park the farthest I can. I watch movies standing up at times. I am a creature of habit. When I started moving, it became a part of who I am, and now I just can’t sit for long periods of time.’

Around the same time in 2020, she was diagnosed with depression, which may have led to body dysmorphia. ‘Despite having lost significant weight, toning my body and attaining what many would consider an ideal body, I felt it wasn’t good enough.’

It was a dark pit that took great effort to extricate herself from. ‘I am now comfortable with the cellulite here, a wrinkle there, a dimple somewhere else, and the scars. It’s who I am, and if I don’t like myself yet I am the most important person to me, how am I supposed to be human?’

In 2022, she looked beyond the gym and training. ‘I started hiking mountains. Hiking has had tremendous benefits to my body, mind and spirit as well. It is where, besides shaping my character in terms of endurance and resilience, I hike to connect with a higher consciousness, what many would call God,’ she offers.

Her fitness journey has led her to embrace WHO’s definition of health. “A state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

‘When I got depressed and later when my father died in 2024, leaving me in a bad mental state, it was running and Yoga that held me together. This worked for me. I can’t encourage anyone out there to dismiss pharmacotherapy, but I didn’t use antidepressants for treatment. I hit the road, and I did Yoga. I got healed.’

Her motivation is simple: ‘I want to be 96 and have the ability to walk and see the world.’

With the widespread use of semaglutide injections for weight loss, especially in Kenya, bariatric surgery has somewhat taken a back seat. Yet the real question isn’t which option wins, but who needs what and when.

Dr Prabu Kathiresan, a consultant laparoscopic bariatric surgeon at Aga Khan University Hospital, states that semaglutide injections can be safely combined with bariatric surgery.

‘For example, if we combine a sleeve gastrectomy, which is a restrictive procedure for a morbidly obese patient, with semaglutide, the results are much better,’ he explains.

‘If the patient is in a wheelchair because of obesity and has arthritis, we can start with semaglutide, help them lose some weight through passive exercises, and after some time, they will be safe enough to undergo surgery.’

He explains that semaglutide works by mimicking a natural gut hormone that reduces hunger and helps patients feel full sooner.

However, once the injections are stopped, the effect diminishes. Since the anatomy isn’t altered, appetite can return to previous levels, and many patients start eating more again.

Obesity is a disease that affects more women in urban areas than men.

In a typical month, Dr Kathiresan sees six to seven patients seeking bariatric surgery. But before any intervention, he first checks whether they have followed standard weight loss protocols and examines what truly drives their weight gain. ‘What is the weight problem? Is it hormonal issues, depressive or psychiatric issues?’

For instance, if a patient has hypothyroidism and is gaining weight because of it, that must be addressed first. If it is the only cause, the patient often responds well once the thyroid issue is managed. The next step, he says, is to motivate the patient to make lifestyle and diet changes.

For bariatric surgery, surgeons either bypass the normal food pathway or restrict how much a person can eat, which naturally reduces calorie intake.

‘In restriction, we remove around 75 to 80 percent of the stomach from the body. In bypassing, we create a small pouch in the stomach and connect it directly to the small intestine. So, malabsorption will occur, and nutrients won’t be absorbed like in a normal person,’ he says.

Which procedure is more common?

According to Dr Kathiresan, the choice depends on the patient’s needs and profile. ‘For example, if a young woman wants to lose weight so she can conceive, we prefer a restrictive procedure because we cannot risk significant malabsorption. She will need those nutrients for a healthy pregnancy,’ he explains.

For sustained weight loss, bariatric surgery still requires patient commitment. ‘If patients revert to their previous eating habits, they will regain the weight,’ he says.

Success in bariatric surgery is gradual. Dr Kathiresan mentions that, for instance, if a patient is 160 centimetres tall and their ideal weight is 60 kilogrammes, weighing 110 kilogrammes means they have 50 kilogrammes of excess weight. ‘By doing surgery, after a year or two, they can lose up to 50 percent of that excess weight,’ he says.

Who should consider bariatric surgery?

The current guidance from the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery states that anyone with a body mass index (BMI) over 35 may be considered for surgery, especially if they also have obesity-related conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, or sleep apnoea.

However, before surgery, patients are encouraged to start some form of physical activity so that movement becomes part of their routine by the time they reach the theatre.

‘As a surgeon and as an anaesthetist, we’re happy when we see a patient lose around 10 percent of their body weight before surgery,’ Dr Kathiresan says.

After an uncomplicated bariatric procedure, patients can usually start consuming small amounts of liquid food on day one or two. They then gradually transition to puréed foods, semi-solids, and then solid foods.

Dr Kathiresan warns that if a patient regularly consumes large amounts of junk food, like chocolate every few hours, they will gain weight again.

‘The stomach has the capacity to stretch. Even if only 20 percent of it is left, it can still stretch to accommodate the food volume you put in,’ he explains.

Can one get pregnant after surgery? ‘Yes, but preferably after a year or two,’ he says. ‘Pregnancy is physiologically demanding, so it’s better to wait until the body has adjusted.’

When the standard gauge railway (SGR) first roared to life, it wasn’t only locomotives connecting Mombasa and Nairobi. It was people, habits, and worlds.

On one side stood Chinese engineers, disciplined and punctual; on the other, Kenyan staff, warm, social, and famously unhurried. What began as a clash of customs slowly became one of the most remarkable experiments in cultural exchange in Africa.

Culture, though often invisible, is the real engine behind every organisation. It shapes how people communicate, solve problems, and even greet one another.

Studies show that diverse teams outperform uniform ones because they challenge each other to think differently. The SGR proves this daily. The friction of difference eventually produced the spark of efficiency.

At the beginning, however, the differences were almost comic. The language barrier was so steep that a new dialect was born: ‘Chinklish,’ a lively mix of English, Kiswahili, and Mandarin. If something wasn’t satisfactory, a staff member might shrug and say, ‘No sawa.’

Food was simply ‘chaku.’ When all else failed, gestures and Google Translate did the job. What could have been chaos turned into camaraderie; every misunderstanding came with laughter, and laughter built bridges.

Greetings offered another lesson. In Kenya, saying ‘Jambo’ to everyone in sight is a sign of respect. Chinese colleagues, used to quiet starts and reserved formality, were puzzled by the constant small talk.

To Kenyans, silence felt cold; to the Chinese, chatter felt excessive. Over time, each side learned the other’s language of courtesy, sometimes literally. The same happened with timekeeping. The Chinese insistence on punctuality and scheduled meals first amused Kenyan staff, but soon it transformed operations. Time, once flexible, became sacred, and efficiency followed.

Food and festivals turned out to be the gentlest teachers of all. Chapati met dumplings, ugali shook hands with steamed rice, and curiosity replaced hesitation.

During Christmas or Eid, Chinese staff joined Kenyan colleagues in celebration; during the Lunar New Year or the Dragon Boat Festival, Kenyans returned the gesture, occasionally mastering the art of chopsticks with comic determination. These shared experiences dissolved the last traces of formality.

Working together also changed how staff saw their professions. Traditionally, Kenyans tend to specialise narrowly, but Chinese mentors encouraged versatility. Engineers began learning logistics or accounting; technicians explored management. The result was a team that could solve problems faster because everyone understood more than one piece of the puzzle.

To cement this understanding, the SGR operator introduced cultural exchange and team-building programmes, from language lessons to joint excursions in national parks. Bilingual translators eased daily communication, and more than 250 Kenyan employees have travelled to China for study and exchange visits.

Many return inspired by the precision and discipline they witness abroad, describing it not as rigidity but as deep respect for time, teamwork, and purpose.

Today, the impact of this cultural integration is visible in every arrival and departure. The trains run on schedule; safety and order are second nature. Behind the polished service is a workforce that has learned to see through each other’s eyes. They have built a common rhythm, half Kenyan warmth, half Chinese precision, and the results speak for themselves.

The SGR’s success story is a reminder that infrastructure is more than concrete and steel. It is built by people.

People who laugh through translation errors, learn new recipes, and slowly discover that respect is universal even when customs differ. Kenya’s railway may run on imported rails, but its real foundation is understanding.

When a train glides out of Mombasa on time, carrying passengers who trust its reliability, it also carries the quiet triumph of two cultures that met, listened, and learned. And that, perhaps, is the smoothest journey of all.

In a landmark ruling, the Employment and Labour Relations Court in Kisumu has decided that employees who sexually harass their colleagues at work can be lawfully dismissed, even where an employer lacks a formal sexual harassment policy.

The court held that offenders cannot use the lack of such a policy as a defence, affirming that respect, dignity and professional conduct are non-negotiable obligations in every workplace, even in the absence of a written manual.

The judgment sets a significant precedent for how courts will view sexual harassment cases, as it establishes that employers can still discipline offenders even when their policies fall short of statutory standards.

In a case involving a manager dismissed for sexually harassing a female cleaner, the court found that the offender could not use the lack of a sexual harassment policy or the absence of CCTV footage to challenge his dismissal.

The manager, identified only by initials TOO, to protect the identities of both parties, had sued a non-profit organisation after being summarily dismissed in August 2024 on allegations of sexual misconduct. The claimant was anonymised as RE.

The complainant, who was five months pregnant at the time, told the court that the manager had made sexually explicit remarks to her and indecently exposed himself to her while she was at work.

She also testified that he had sent her nude photos via WhatsApp, which he later deleted.

TOO told the court that the accusations were false, unsubstantiated and motivated by malice. He also argued that his dismissal was procedurally unfair, stating that he had been denied the opportunity to cross-examine his accuser and that the firm had relied on a non-existent policy.

He also claimed that he had given the former colleague snacks and money.

TOO had sought damages and terminal dues amounting to Sh1.78 million, citing violations of the Employment Act and the Fair Administrative Action Act.

But, the judge dismissed his argument, ruling that the absence of a formal policy under Section Six of the Employment Act did not invalidate disciplinary action against an employee accused of sexual misconduct.

‘The court is satisfied that the respondent’s sexual harassment policy was sufficient, despite the respondent not having put in place a sexual harassment policy in terms of Section Six of the Employment Act.

‘The fact the claimant [TOO] understood the ramifications of the accusations levelled against him indicate the absence of the sexual harassment policy in terms of Section Six was neither here nor there,’ reads the judgment.

The judge held that the employer had followed due process in dismissing the claimant, noting that he had been given an opportunity to respond to the charges and participate in the disciplinary hearing.

The court dismissed the claimant’s contention that the case was weakened by the absence of CCTV evidence, the complainant’s failure to report the matter to police or her earlier acceptance of snacks and small cash gifts from him.

‘The fact that she had accepted snacks from TOO does not make her complicit in any way in the misconduct by the claimant. The conduct of the claimant fits in the classic mould of sexual harassment as he chose the time the victim was cleaning the office, when no one else was around to harass her,’ the judgment states.

The NGO informed the court that the dismissal was both ‘procedurally and substantively fair’ and followed internal investigations that substantiated the sexual harassment allegations.

The firm said that the claimant had been issued with a show cause letter, had responded to it, and had been heard in a disciplinary hearing before the decision was made.

Not long ago, hiking and trail running across Kenya’s forests, valleys, and mountains were viewed as pastimes for foreigners or thrill-seeking middle-aged enthusiasts. But more Kenyans, some in their 20s and 30s, are now turning these into their favourite weekend rituals.

David Njema is one of them. He says being outdoors gives him a kind of therapy that few other experiences can ever match. ‘Trail running [which is running through forests, mountains, or valleys] and mountain climbing are therapeutic. I get to reflect, pray, and learn that nothing is impossible.’

Some of his favourite routes include Mt Satima’s Dragon’s Teeth Traverse, Table Mountain’s Seven Ponds Traverse, where he proudly holds the fourth-fastest recorded time, and Mt Kenya’s Sirimon Route.

‘Trail running is quite different and demanding,’ he explains. ‘It requires mental preparation and resilience because it’s always a race against tough terrain, boggy conditions, high altitude, limited acclimatisation chances, and the risk of altitude sickness,’ says David.

One of his most memorable experiences was on Mt Kenya’s Naro Moru Route. ‘I attempted to summit in just four hours without drinking water,’ he recalls. ‘But unfortunately, I ended up with altitude sickness. My two friends held my hands as I crawled on the summit.’

To stay sharp and perform at his best, he sticks to a rigorous fitness and wellness routine.

‘I run daily, walk, hydrate, get enough sleep, do strength training at the gym, and mentally prepare myself for the hikes and trail running,’ he says.

He adds that quality gear is essential: ‘My most important spending is on a watch, trackers, a GPS locator, and high-quality outdoor gear. I also spend between Sh50,000 and Sh200,000 on travelling.’

‘Many people are replacing clubbing and idling with wellness activities. For instance, our mental health and wellness camping trips, which are usually short hikes and trail running, attract a large number of people seeking transformation. Most of them are looking for a place to relax and meet new people,’ says David, who has now turned his hobby into a business, a travel company called Coordinates Trail, which organises camping trips, especially for women.

Read: Why running clubs are the new networking lounges for professionals

Social media, he adds, has played a big role in growing the hiking and trail running community. ‘It’s become a powerful tool that brings people together and makes it easier to plan challenging mountain summits and trips.’

Mt Kenya more than 20 times

For Adhiambo Agoro, 30, the mountain is both a mirror and a teacher. It has tested her limits and made her less fearful. Before she ever called herself a runner, she was a climber.

Over the years, she has summited Mt Kenya more than 20 times and Mt Kilimanjaro thrice. She has conquered Mt Longonot four times in a single day and run the length of Ngong Hills twice, sometimes back-to-back.

She fell in love with the outdoors almost by accident. ‘I started mountain hiking and climbing about six years ago,’ she says. ‘That’s where my love for trail running began. For me, learning the mountains first made a big difference, understanding the terrain, the weather, and how my body reacts to altitude. It made me more aware, more confident.’

Adhiambo says, ‘trail running gives me movement and momentum, but hiking teaches me patience.’

At first, she joined group hikes for the thrill, but soon, it was about what each mountain taught her.

‘It became less about ticking summits off a list and more about what each climb was teaching me,’ she says. ‘Every trail had its own lesson. Some were about endurance. Some were about surrender. When I’m out there, I notice the birds, my breath, and the wind. It grounds me. It’s where I heal, reflect, and make some of my best decisions. It reminds me how small I am, big mountain, small girl , yet how capable I can be.’

Read: A teacher who climbed Kilimanjaro 300 times, turned hiking into career

She, too, founded a business out of her passion. Avi Expeditions helps especially women reconnect with nature. She organises weekend expeditions and high-altitude runs that double as wellness retreats. ‘There’s something beautiful about watching women reach a summit they never thought they could. That look, a mix of disbelief and joy, is liberating.’

‘But it’s also freeing. There’s a kind of peace that only comes after you’ve suffered a little for it.’

And then there’s the cost. ‘Good gear doesn’t come cheap,’ she adds. ‘You need quality shoes, hydration packs, layers for altitude, energy gels, and even then, something will still fail on the trail. But the investment is worth it. Every run changes you.’

Being a woman in the mountains has also come with its challenges. ‘People still ask why I’m running alone or assume I can’t be the guide,’ she says. ‘You also have to plan routes carefully, think about safety, and think about perception. But I’ve learned not to shrink myself to fit into other people’s comfort zones. Out there, on the mountain, everyone’s equal, it’s just you, your breath, and the climb.’

There have been moments of struggle, the time she got caught in freezing fog on Mt Kenya, or the run that left her limping for a week. She calls them lessons, not regrets. ‘The mountains have taught me humility and endurance,’ she says. ‘Every climb strips away something unnecessary, fear, pride, or doubt; and replaces it with something quieter, steadier, more powerful.’

The real addict

Limo Kipkemoi is another trail runner. He jokes that running has become such a huge part of his life that it dictates how he plans his days.

‘Balancing my work life and my running life isn’t easy,’ he says. ‘Architecture is demanding, but over time I’ve learnt to work around it. I travel a lot for work, but even when I’m away, I make time to run. I wake up at 4.30 am every day. Between 5am and 8am, I’m either running or doing CrossFit. Once the day starts, there’s no time for training. So, I get it done early, when the city is quiet.’

He adds, ‘it’s a delicate balance, but I’ve managed to find a rhythm that works. I’ve literally run in every county in Kenya, almost every major town. That’s what keeps me sane. When I’m on the road, when I’m running, that’s where I reset.’

His journey into trail running didn’t happen by accident. ‘When I started running, I was more of a road guy,’ he says. ‘But road running became monotonous. I wanted more adventure, more challenge, more connection to nature. That’s how I discovered trails. The first few runs were tough; you’re dealing with mud, uneven paths, roots, stones, steep climbs; it’s chaos. But that chaos is what I fell in love with.’

Over time, Limo became one of Kenya’s most vocal advocates for trail and ultra-running.

‘When I began, there were maybe 10 of us in Kenya doing it seriously,’ he recalls. ‘I made it a mission to popularise it. I started posting photos of trails, sunrise runs, mountains, anything that would show how beautiful and raw this sport is. I was loud about it. I still am,’ he says.

‘People would laugh and say, ‘You’re the noisiest trail runner we know.’ But that’s how it started gaining traction. Now I meet people who tell me, ‘I started running because of your posts.’ That’s huge for me.’

Social media, he admits, has changed the game. ‘It has brought people together. You can plan summits, organise group runs, share safety tips, all online,’ he says. ‘But I always remind people, it’s not about competition. Run your own race. Enjoy the trails for what they give you: peace, connection, and perspective. Don’t feel pressured to chase someone else’s pace or record. There’s room for everyone on the trails.’

Trail running, though, is not without its costs, both physical and financial. ‘Injuries are inevitable,’ he says. ‘I’ve been hit by a motorbike before. I’ve been robbed in Tanzania during a run. I’ve had ankle injuries, knee strains, dehydration; you name it. But those are lessons. You learn your limits, you learn to respect the mountains.’

The financial part can also be brutal. Some of these races cost hundreds of thousands of shillings. A proper mountain expedition, like Mt Everest, can go up to Sh7 million. ‘But you find ways, through sponsors, friends, or just saving slowly. It’s worth it.’

For Limo, the outdoors are more than just trails; they are a classroom, a place of design and inspiration. ‘I’m an architect,’ he says. ‘And running across Kenya allows me to see how people live, how they build, how they interact with space and nature. I’ve landed clients just by showing up to races. It’s crazy how the two worlds, design and running, somehow blend.’

‘I’ve only done one proper hike in 10 years. They have unmatched patience. Hikers can walk for 10 hours straight, slowly. I can’t. I need to move. I prefer running, covering more ground, seeing more beauty. The faster I move, the more I see. That’s my version of meditation.’

His most difficult challenges? Attempting Mt Kenya under-24-hour run, a 98-kilometre round trip with brutal elevation.

‘Only one person, the late Cheruiyot [who died attempting to summit Mt Everest with supplementary oxygen in 2024], ever did it in under 24 hours,’ he says. ‘I took 26 hours. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. At some point, you’re not even running anymore. You’re negotiating with your mind, convincing yourself to take one more step, one more kilometre. It changes you.’

That kind of discipline, he says, spills into every aspect of his life. ‘Running has made me patient, focused, resilient,’ he says. ‘If I can endure the pain of 90 kilometres in rough terrain, then a stressful work deadline doesn’t scare me. Running has taught me to suffer well.’

The growing community around trail running in Kenya excites him.

‘When I began, there were almost no events. Now we have ‘We Run Nairobi’, ‘Team Joshua’, ‘Ultra Runners Kenya’, ‘Ubuntu’. so many groups. When we organised the Backyard Ultra last year, about 400 people showed up. That would’ve been unthinkable five years ago. People are realising that wellness isn’t a buzzword, it’s a lifestyle.’

I ask him if he plans to stop, he smiles. ‘Never,’ he says. ‘As long as I can move, I’ll keep running. Trails have taught me who I am. They’ve broken me and built me again. That’s not something you just walk away from. Some of my best ideas come to me when I’m running. The mountains have healed me more times than I can count. If I have a work trip to Kisumu or Nakuru, I’ll go a day earlier, run 50 kilometres before meetings. By the time everyone’s waking up, I’ve already finished.’

The government is eyeing a 15-year mega bond worth Sh390 billion to fund the extension of the standard gauge railway (SGR) from Naivasha to Malaba, signalling China’s unwillingness to finance the project.

Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davies Chirchir said the State is considering issuing a securitised bond, where investors would be paid using the Sh39 billion collected annually from the Railway Development Levy (RDL), a 1.5 percent tax imposed on all imported goods.

Kenya is seeking alternative ways to finance infrastructure projects amid its rising debt burden, with a focus on public-private partnerships (PPPs) and securitisation, where bonds are backed by income-generating assets.

To fund the SGR extension, the State could issue two bonds to raise about $3 billion (Sh387 billion) for the railway line.

Mr Chirchir said the government is weighing options between a bond and a loan from development banks, both expected to carry a 15-year maturity period.

Kenya had previously explored securing funding from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to complete the regional railway after China initially showed little interest. However, it later revived its push for Chinese funding during President William Ruto’s visit to Beijing in April.

The decision to turn to bond financing for the SGR expansion underscores China’s reluctance to bankroll the project amid Beijing’s scaled-down infrastructure lending.

‘We have a good stream [of income] from the Railway Development Levy, which is ring-fenced to build the railway. But if you look at it from a cash flow perspective, it’s not enough to build the project within two or three years,’ Mr Chirchir said during a press briefing on Friday.

‘We will basically look at financial markets and available instruments…leveraging, of course, the [RDL Fund] revenues. A railway should attract long-term borrowing, and we’re looking at a 15-year facility; the two percent RDLF charge is sufficient to support us,’ he added.

The railway connecting the port of Mombasa with landlocked neighbours – part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative – currently ends in Suswa, about 468 kilometres short of the Ugandan border, after a funding hitch stalled further construction in 2019.

Speaking after a meeting with transport ministers from Uganda and South Sudan in Nairobi, Mr Chirchir said both Nairobi and Kampala are keen to break ground on the next phase of the SGR, but remain constrained by the absence of a ready financier.

Under the regional plan, Uganda is expected to fund the 272-kilometre stretch from Malaba to Kampala, with further extensions to the border with South Sudan, from where South Sudan will build its section to Juba. The new line would eventually connect both hinterland economies to the Port of Mombasa, strengthening regional trade integration.

The Exim Bank of China, which financed 90 percent of the $3.6 billion cost of the 729-kilometre SGR from Mombasa to Naivasha, withdrew from financing the Naivasha-Malaba phase over concerns about Kenya’s debt sustainability and the line’s commercial viability beyond Naivasha.

During President Ruto’s visit to Beijing earlier this year, Exim Bank reportedly agreed in principle to support the project on condition that Kenya shoulders 30 percent of the total cost.

The introduction of a private sector component in the SGR extension is expected to ease the accumulation of Chinese debt, addressing Beijing’s concerns over whether the line can generate enough revenue to service its loans.

The first phase of the SGR, linking Mombasa and Nairobi, was completed in 2017 at a cost of $3.8 billion (Sh490.9 billion). This included civil works, stations, and rolling stock, largely financed through a 90 percent loan (about $3.23 billion) from the China Exim Bank, with the Kenyan government covering the remaining 10 percent.

Between 2014 and 2017, the government allocated Sh106 billion for the procurement of the initial batch of locomotives and wagons.

Exim Bank also financed Phase 2A of the SGR – the 120-kilometre line from Nairobi to Naivasha – completed in October 2019 at a cost of $1.5 billion (Sh193.8 billion).

The line currently terminates in Suswa, where its abrupt end has undermined plans to efficiently move cargo to landlocked neighbours including Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

With Kenya’s debt ceiling tightening, the government has now turned to private capital to bridge the financing gap for the Naivasha-Malaba extension.

Under a securitisation model, projected future revenue streams, such as those from the Railway Development Levy Fund, are packaged into marketable securities and sold to investors to raise upfront cash.

Uganda, meanwhile, is yet to secure financing for its section. However, its State Minister for Transport, Fred Byamukama, said the country has made ‘very good progress’ toward groundbreaking.

The High Court in Eldoret has dismissed an application by Mediheal Hospital and Fertility Centre to block the auction of its properties over a Sh701 million debt owed to Bank of India (Kenya).

The court ruled that the hospital and its director, Swarup Ranjan Mishra, had failed to prove that they had not been served with statutory notices before the bank initiated recovery proceedings.

The court also found no merit in the claims that the suit was frivolous or that the lender had violated auction rules.

In May 2023, Mediheal Hospital secured banking facilities totalling Sh1 billion from Bank of India, using multiple properties as collateral.

The properties tied to the loan include 17 parcels of lands in Eldoret, Iten and Kisii, which are registered in the names of Mr Mishra and the hospital.

However, Mediheal defaulted on the loan, accumulating arrears of Sh701 million by October 2024.

The bank issued statutory notices, including a 90-day default notice, a 40-day intention-to-sell notice and redemption notices, before scheduling auctions.

‘Despite several reminders by the bank to the borrower to make repayments and regularise their account, the borrower continued to be in default and failed to pay the outstanding amount,’ said the lender’s Eldoret branch chief manager.

Mediheal contested the process, arguing that they had never received the notices and that Bank of India had failed to provide account statements.

The company sued, seeking to block the bank from proceeding with the intended auction. It claimed that the requisite notices had been served to a former employee whose interests were opposed to those of the hospital at the time of service.

Also read: Who holds the hammer? Inside ruling on auctioneers, banks turf war

But, the court dismissed Mediheal’s claims, noting that there was proper service of notices. The bank presented stamped acknowledgment copies showing that Mediheal employees had received the notices, and that Mr Mishra himself acknowledged the debt in an April 2024 letter requesting a repayment extension.

‘This (service of statutory notices) was also evidenced by the signatures of their employees and the stamps of the office on the dates the notices were received. The court is therefore satisfied that service was properly effected,’ it ruled.

Since the statutory notices had been validly issued earlier, the court ruled that the bank was not obligated to restart the process after a related injunction was lifted in an earlier suit filed in 2024.

The judgment found that Mediheal had failed to demonstrate irreparable harm or provide evidence of loan repayments. The judge emphasised that injunctions require strong proof of wrongful conduct by lenders.

‘The applicants have not made out an unusually strong and clear case to warrant the issuance of a permanent injunction at this interlocutory stage,’ ruled the court.

Mediheal’s lawyer had argued that auctioning the hospital’s properties would disrupt healthcare services.

However, the court noted that financial disputes must be resolved through repayment, not injunctions, especially when lenders follow due process.

The court upheld the rights of lenders under Kenya’s Land Act, ruling that banks are not required to restart recovery processes if initial notices were lawfully served. It also highlighted the risks faced by borrowers who delay repayments despite receiving clear default warnings.

Listed carbon dioxide manufacturer, Carbacid Investments, is set to cut its use of electricity supplied by Kenya Power by 50 percent in two years as it steps up its investment in solar power.

The company, which is among those investing in solar energy in search of cheaper and more dependable supply, had already reduced its reliance on the national grid to 42 percent as of July after installing a 700 kilowatt-peak (kWp) solar plant.

“With the commissioning of our third solar power plant, renewable energy now contributes a substantial share of our operations, reducing reliance on the national grid by over 40 percent,” Carbacid says in its latest sustainability report.

“This shift enhances both cost competitiveness and environmental performance. Our goal is clear: achieve 50 percent renewable energy usage by 2027 and drive continuous reductions in our environmental footprint.”

The firm revealed that it plans to commission a further 750 kWp solar plant next year to meet this goal.

Reduced power costs saw the company report a six percentage point increase in operating profits, despite failing to disclose the size of its power bills and the amount invested in the solar panels.

‘Gross margin improved significantly from 59 percent to 65 percent, attributed to enhanced operational efficiency, notably from reduced power costs following substantial investments in solar energy infrastructure’ Carbacid said in its latest annual report.

‘We have installed three solar plants. The commissioning of these three plants led to a 25 percent reduction in electricity consumption in 2025,’ added the company.

In March, the company installed a 250 kWp plant to add to its existing 450 kWp solar power capacity.

Carbacid said that it was using fewer units of power to produce a kilogramme of its product: 0.428 kWh in the year ending July, down from 0.434 kWh per kilogramme the previous year – underlining improved energy efficiency.

The company is also using technology to analyse the power consumed by equipment on its production line, identifying any wastage.

‘With this system, Carbacid can monitor power consumption and any wastage noticed is rectified immediately. This also guides on how to identify and address any degradation of the equipment promptly,’ said the company.

Carbacid is the major producer of carbon dioxide, which is used to make fizzy beverages like soft drinks, among other applications.

Large power consumers such as factories, universities, hotels and banks have been switching from Kenya Power to alternative power sources, particularly solar and biomass technology.

Companies that have recently installed their own solar plants include Mabati Rolling Mills, which commissioned a 2.9 megawatt rooftop solar system at its plant in Mariakani, as well as Nandi Tea and steel producer Abyssinia Group Industries.

The trend signals the quest by firms to cut energy costs and improve reliability of electricity supply amid continued inefficiencies in the national grid.

Kenya Power, the national electricity distributor, saw its revenues fall to Sh219.2 billion in the year ended June 2025, down from Sh231 billion the previous year, partly due to the impact of lower tariffs.

Meanwhile, Carbacid posted a net profit of Sh1 billion in the year ended July, compared to Sh843.2 million recorded a year earlier.

Safaricom has disclosed that it increased its stake in the Ethiopian subsidiary to 53.37 percent, from the previous Sh51.67 percent, after the converting a shareholder loan into equity.

In the six months to September, shareholders of Safaricom Telecommunications Ethiopia completed the conversion of a Sh2.3 billion ($18 million) loan into equity, contributing to Safaricom’s increased ownership.

The partners also injected a further Sh12.6 billion ($98 million) capital into the subsidiary during the same period.

The change in the shareholding structure means Safaricom now has a greater capital contribution than its partners, giving it a higher stake in the business.

The partners have contributed additional funding to support business operations, primarily centred on network expansion.

The other shareholders in the Ethiopian business are Vodacom Group (5.93 percent), Sumitomo Corporation (24.02 percent), British International Investment (BII) (9.71 percent) and International Finance Corporation (IFC) (6.97 percent).

The shareholding of Sumitomo has been diluted slightly from 25.23 percent in March, while BII’s and IFC’s stake have come down from 10.11 percent and 7.25 percent respectively. Vodacom’s stake has edged up slightly from 5.74 percent in the six months.

‘We put in money as a shareholder to later convert into equity. Total funding at the end of September 2025 stood at Sh319.5 billion ($2.473 billion). The shareholders injected an additional Sh12.6 billion ($98 million) in the period under review,’ Safaricom’s chief finance officer Dilip Pal said.

‘We continue to assess the funding needs of Safaricom Ethiopia more regularly to ensure that the business is well funded.’

Funding for the venture includes Sh16.4 billion in local currency debt and Sh25.8 billion ($200 million) foreign currency debt from the IFC and Standard Bank.

The foreign currency borrowings doubled during the review period, rising from Sh12.9 billion ($100) million at the end of March.

Safaricom’s cumulative funding contribution to the business now stands at Sh146.8 billion ($1.136 billion).

Safaricom Ethiopia’s expansion has seen a 9.9 percent annual growth in 2G/3G/4G base stations, reaching 3,306 at the end of September 2025, up from 3,008 a year prior.

The subsidiary reached 11.15 million 90-day active customers in the period, an increase of 83.7 percent over a year from 6.07 million previously.

The unit booked Sh6.18 billion in service revenues for the period, representing a growth of 136 percent.

Mobile data revenue stood at Sh4.12 billion, with voice and messaging at Sh1.3 billion and Sh74.2 million respectively.

Revenue from M-Pesa continues to lag behind other business lines at Sh8.7 million, having fallen by 45.6 percent.

Safaricom Ethiopia’s bottom line improved during this period as its losses reduced from Sh19.4 billion to Sh15.2 billion.

The bulk of the subsidiary’s losses were due to sharp currency depreciation for the Ethiopian birr, which increased finance costs on foreign currency debt.

The total average revenue per user of 90-day active customers stood at Sh102.70, but fell by 28.1 percent from Sh142.77 last year, a factor of the currency depreciation.

Safaricom expects its Ethiopian subsidiary to break even by the end of the 2027 financial year in March.

The High Court has dismissed a petition filed by the widow of former Finance Minister Arthur Magugu, over a contested land worth Sh17 billion in Muthaiga North.

The court dismissed the petition saying issues raised by Margaret Wairimu Magugu, touched on land and should be handled by the Environment and Land court.

‘The matters raised in the petition are issues preserved for the Environment and Land court. The court is therefore, precluded from assuming jurisdiction in matters reserved for other courts,’ said the judge.

The widow had accused Karura Investment of illegally hiving off part of her 82.4-acre land in Muthaiga North and was in the process of subdividing and disposing the disputed land.

Karura Investments Limited, which claims to own the land, asked the court to dismiss the case arguing that it was a fresh attempt by Ms Magugu to litigate the matter after failing in previous occasions.

Evidence presented in court showed that Magugu obtained the title deed for a 101-acre piece of land in Muthaiga from Joreth Ltd on December 16, 1982. Magugu used the land, registered as LR number 12422/9, as collateral when his company Commercial Commodities Ltd borrowed Sh25 million from Grindlays Bank, now trading as Stanbic.

In November 1988, Magugu allegedly instructed his surveyor to initiate subdivision of the property into two parcels – one measuring 88.6 acres and another 12.9 acres. On October 25, 1993 the land was eventually subdivided into LR number 12422/203 measuring 12.9 acres and LR number 12422/204 measuring 88.6 acres.

But on the same morning, another application to subdivide the larger portion was made, and the subdivision process completed within three-and-a-half hours. The application was given the same computation number as Mr Magugu’s from five years earlier – 23380.

Ms Magugu said the family discovered the changes when she filed a succession case. The court, allowed Ms Magugu to appeal against the ruling.