Category: Business Daily

Whenever Kenya’s budget season is brought to the fore, the phrase ‘medium-term revenue strategy’ is repeatedly uttered by policymakers, professionals, and the public during the debate and public participation on the proposed revenue-raising measures.

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The Medium-Term Revenue Strategy (MTRS) is a policy framework for tax system reform aimed at boosting domestic revenues. Approved in 2024, the first MTRS covers financial years (FY) 2024-25 to 2026-27 and aligns with the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.

The MTRS sets an ambitious goal of raising the tax-to-Gross domestic product (GDP) ratio to 20 percent by FY 2026-27, which is meant to reverse a decade-long decline in Kenya’s tax-to-GDP ratio.

Specifically, ordinary revenue as a percentage of GDP had declined from 18.1 percent in FY 2013-14 to 14.3 percent in FY 2022-23.

To reverse this trend, the strategy has adopted two key pillars. First among them is the implementation of tax policy reforms aimed at broadening the tax base, adjusting tax rates where necessary, and reviewing and rationalising tax expenditure.

The second core pillar is tax administration reforms, which entail modernising the Kenya Revenue Authority’s (KRA) systems and improving compliance enforcement.

In the first two years of the MTRS period, the government has enacted several tax measures, primarily through the annual Finance Acts.

For instance, through the Finance Act 2025, the government has reviewed the tax regime for betting and gaming services to impose excise duty and withholding tax on amounts deposited and withdrawn from gaming wallets, rather than on the amounts staked or won. Further, the government raised the value-added tax (VAT) on fuel from eight percent to 16 percent.

Also, it expanded taxation to emerging sectors, such as excise duty on cryptocurrency transactions and new withholding taxes on digital content monetisation and supplies of goods to public entities.

The excise duty rates on alcoholic products were also revised to be based on alcohol content to curb health risks and raise revenue. Additionally, the government revised the corporate tax rate for branches from 37.5 percent to 30 percent and introduced a 15 percent tax on repatriated branch profits.

To tax the digital economy, the government also introduced the Significant Economic Presence Tax in 2024 to tax income earned by non-residents from digital services.

Most notably, the KRA launched the electronic invoicing system (eTIMS), requiring businesses to issue eTIMS invoices and disallowing expense deductions if not eTIMS-compliant.

However, several key MTRS proposals have faced delays. For instance, while the MTRS envisages lowering the corporate tax rate from 30 percent to 28 percent to align with global/regional averages and potentially aligning the top personal income tax rate accordingly, these cuts have not occurred, largely due to an underperformance in domestic revenue collection over the years.

Similar challenges have waylaid the implementation of the proposed reduction in the VAT rate from 16 percent to 15 percent or 14 percent.

Additionally, certain controversial VAT base expansions, such as applying it to some education and insurance services, met public resistance and have been reconsidered.

Some institutional reforms, such as the integration of all KRA systems internally and with other government systems, have encountered delays.

Other key factors have also contributed to the delays in MTRS implementation in Kenya. For instance, in mid-2024, widespread protests erupted against proposed tax measures in the Finance Bill 2024, which included higher taxes on basic goods and services.

Institutional and administrative capacity challenges have also hindered the strategy’s implementation. Fully rolling out eTIMS, for example, has been a challenge, and KRA has had to allow multiple transition periods.

Further, the MTRS’s implementation has met legal hurdles, with multiple measures such as the prior minimum tax being declared unconstitutional.

This has made the government more careful in reintroducing such measures, taking time to redesign them to withstand legal scrutiny.

More recently, parts of the Finance Act 2023, including the Housing Levy, were declared unconstitutional, making implementation uncertain.

Kenya’s MTRS status as of 2025 is a work in progress, with important reforms achieved but many still underway. Harder reforms, which may be unpopular, such as motor vehicle circulation tax and taxes on agricultural produce, or those needing complex operational capacity, are lagging.

Learning from peer countries’ experiences, Kenya can refine its strategy to ensure that the remaining MTRS measures are executed effectively.

Kenya’s experience with the MTRS, marked by ambitious goals and mixed implementation progress, is not unique.

Several other countries have adopted MTRS frameworks since the concept was introduced around 2016, with varying degrees of success. On the continent, countries such as Rwanda and Benin are in the formulation stage of their MTRS, as per the Platform for Collaboration on Tax (PCT), which is a joint initiative between the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the United Nations (UN) and the World Bank Group (WBG). Other countries such as Senegal are in the early implementation stage, while countries such as Egypt and Uganda are in the more advanced Implementation stage. For context, Kenya is classified in the pre-formulation phase of its MTRS, signalling that Kenya is far behind some of its regional peers.

The comparative experiences from the above countries highlight a few strategies for more effective MTRS implementation.

For instance, countries such as Rwanda and Egypt have high-level political commitment and support, including clear direction from the Executive and the National Treasury, which helped tax reforms maintain momentum.

Crucially, the outstanding countries are proof that strengthening tax administration as a priority is a key indicator of MTRS success.

For example, Senegal prioritized establishing a Large Taxpayers Unit (LTU) and upgrading its information technology (IT) systems, which has yielded higher revenue collection.

When many people think of breast cancer, they imagine it as a disease that mostly affects older women. Yet doctors in sub-Saharan Africa are raising a red flag, more and more younger women are being diagnosed, often much earlier than their counterparts in Western countries.

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This troubling trend is not limited to breast cancer alone, other cancers are also appearing more frequently in younger people. While genetics may play a role, more research is needed to fully understand whether environmental factors, lifestyle, or yet-unidentified risks are also driving this pattern.

This shift carries profound implications for how women of all ages should think about their health. The first and most important message is that every woman must know her breasts.

Being familiar with how your breasts normally look and feel can help you quickly notice if something unusual develops, whether it’s a lump, skin dimpling, nipple discharge, or any other change.

For younger women, this awareness is even more vital because routine mammograms are not typically recommended until after age 40. Instead, doctors often rely on ultrasounds, which are better suited for examining younger, denser breast tissue.

Breast density itself is another term that can be confusing. Simply put, it describes how the breast appears on imaging. Younger women usually have denser breasts because they contain more milk-producing (glandular) tissue.

On a scan, this makes the breast look more solid and compact. While density doesn’t necessarily increase the risk of cancer, it can make it harder for mammograms to detect problems, which is why alternative imaging like ultrasound or MRI may be recommended.

For many women, one of the hardest questions is how treatment might affect fertility.

Chemotherapy and certain hormonal treatments can temporarily disrupt the cycle of egg release, and in some cases, may have longer-term effects on fertility, while fertility does dip during treatment, many young women have successfully undergone therapy and later had children.

Read: WHO ranks Kenya as Africa’s top in breast cancer control

Today, doctors are increasingly offering fertility preservation options, such as freezing eggs or embryos before treatment begins, to give women more choices for the future.

Breast surgery typically comes into the picture as one of the first major steps in breast cancer treatment. In cases where the cancer is caught early and remains localised, surgery is often performed immediately to remove it.

If the tumor is small, a lumpectomy (removal of just the lump and some surrounding tissue) may be enough. For larger tumors, or when cancer involves multiple areas of the breast, a mastectomy (removal of the whole breast) may be recommended. In other situations, doctors may begin with chemotherapy to shrink the tumor, making surgery easier and less invasive.

Surgery can also include removing lymph nodes under the arm to check if the cancer has spread. The timing and type of surgery depend on the stage of the cancer, overall health, and the woman’s preferences, but it remains one of the critical aspects of breast cancer care.

The decision between a lumpectomy and a mastectomy has also been a challenge for many women and depends on factors like the size and location of the tumor, whether multiple tumors are present, and sometimes, the patient’s own preference. Both approaches can be highly effective, and in many cases, they are paired with additional treatments such as radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or hormone therapy to reduce the chance of recurrence.

One of the most encouraging advances in modern medicine is the shift toward personalised medicine. In the past, breast cancer was treated as a single disease.

Today, doctors analyse tumors at a genetic and molecular level to determine the best approach for each patient. For example, some cancers are fueled by hormones and respond well to drugs that block estrogen production, while others carry changes in specific genes and can be treated with targeted therapies. This precision-based care has significantly improved outcomes, offering women not just longer survival but better quality of life.

Genetics play an important role in understanding breast cancer risks. Many people have heard of BRCA1 and BRCA2, but the terms can sound intimidating and abstract.

These are simply genes we all have. In their normal form, they act like repair workers, fixing broken DNA and helping prevent cancer from developing.

But when there is an inherited fault, or mutation, in one of these genes, the repair system doesn’t work properly. As a result, the risk of breast and ovarian cancer rises sharply.

Women with these impaired genes can face up to a 70 percent lifetime risk of breast cancer compared to the much lower risk in the general population. The good news is that genetic testing can help identify women who carry these mutations, allowing for closer monitoring and preventive options.

Life after treatment is another area where medicine has advanced. For women who undergo mastectomy, breast reconstruction can help restore the breast’s shape using either saline/ silicone implants, or tissue from another part of the body. Reconstruction not only helps with physical recovery but also plays a powerful role in emotional and psychological healing.

The focus in modern breast cancer care is not only on survival but also on ensuring women live full, dignified lives after their treatment.

Several risk factors are known to increase the likelihood of breast cancer.

These include obesity, smoking, heavy alcohol use, long-term hormone replacement therapy after menopause, and even certain herbal treatments that contain estrogen-like compounds. However, having a risk factor does not mean a woman will definitely get cancer; it simply highlights the need for vigilance and regular checkups.

In Kenya and across much of sub-Saharan Africa, one of the greatest challenges remains late diagnosis. Many women present to hospitals at advanced stages of the disease, when treatment options are more limited and survival rates are lower.

The barriers include the high cost of diagnosis and treatment, fear of the disease, and limited access to specialists and diagnostic tools, especially in remote areas.

Breast cancer is not a death sentence. But it can become deadly if diagnosis is delayed. Early detection, timely treatment, and consistent follow-up are the keys to survival. Go for your screening today and get to know your breasts.

Breast cancer when caught early is often treatable, and with the advances in care today, survival and recovery are more possible than ever before.

A legal battle has unfolded at the High Court after National Land Commission (NLC) Commissioner Tiyah Galgalo accused the agency of obtaining a questionable consent order to compensate her for the premature termination of her constitutional tenure.

In her fresh court filings, Ms Galgalo alleges the NLC colluded with a petitioner to secure a September 30, 2025 consent judgment from the Nairobi Employment and Labour Relations Court that would effectively end her term, set to expire December 2026, without due process.

The disputed order originated from a petition filed by Fredrick Mukali against the NLC, its CEO Kabale Tache and Attorney-General Dorcas Oduor regarding commissioners’ recruitment.

Mr Mukali’s petition concerned President William Ruto’s decision to initiate the recruitment of a new set of eight commissioners, because the term of the current team ends next month.

He argued that the terms of two of the commissioners were ending in December 2026, hence it was wrong for the recruitment panel to announce there were eight positions to be filled.

Though he did not name the two commissioners, public records show it was Ms Galgalo and former Nyeri Town MP Esther Murugi. He differed with the PSC call that the terms will lapse in November 2025, triggering fresh interviews.

However, the petition was terminated through the contested consent order. While presented as a mutual agreement, Ms Galgalo contends she was excluded from proceedings despite being directly affected.

“This was a simulated exercise designed to circumvent constitutional safeguards,” Ms Galgalo states in her affidavit replying to the commission’s application for dismissal of her case.

She notes that the Labour Relations court lacked jurisdiction over disputes related to members of independent commissions, as per a binding Court of Appeal precedent of 2020.

The contested consent order read: ‘By consent of the parties, the two commissioners who were sworn in at a later date shall have their dues paid in full and the process of such payments shall commence forthwith. The recruitment process shall proceed.’

Ms Galgalo’s lawyer, Senior Counsel Fred Ngatia, revealed startling irregularities in the dispute, stating that no replying affidavits were filed in the original petition and that the Attorney-General, who was named a respondent, played no active role.

He adds that the consent was recorded unusually quickly and without the involvement of Ms Galgalo, despite directly affecting her office tenure.

“The inclusion of the AG was merely to hoodwink the court,” Mr Ngatia argued, alleging the NLC and the petitioner conspired to create an artificial vacancy.

He claimed that the Petition was crafted deliberately at the behest of the NLC with the knowledge that the two Commissioners had a legal right to their full statutory term in office.

‘The filing and subsequent hurried consent was done notwithstanding that I was never involved and/or enjoined, despite the fact that it was my remaining term of office which was in issue. Neither the purported Petitioner nor NLC was acting on my behalf. Both were co-conspirators to abridge and/or curtail my term of office,’ said Ms Galgalo.

‘At no time did I seek any compensation in lieu of serving my remaining term of office. c) That the orders made by “consent” without jurisdiction’.

At stake in the legal dispute is the security of tenure for constitutional officeholders. Ms Galgalo maintains that her six-year term, confirmed in her December 2020 appointment letter, cannot be truncated without lawful cause.

She initially filed her own case at the Labour Relations Court but withdrew it upon discovering the jurisdictional conflict, promptly refiling in the High Court, a move the NLC now characterizes as “forum shopping.”

Lawyer Ngatia insists that the six-year term of his client is set to end in December 2026, and the same cannot be cut short without due process.

The NLC, however, insists the recruitment process should proceed, citing the contested consent order.

Mr Ngatia dismissed this as a backdoor maneuver, arguing that the Labour Court’s orders were null and void.

He contends that allowing the NLC’s application would create constitutional confusion on the jurisdiction of the two courts -the High Court and Labour Court.

“The balance of convenience, public interest, and the rule of law weighs in favour of preserving the status quo,” Ms Galgalo asserted, urging the court to dismiss the NLC’s application.

The High Court is expected to rule on whether to uphold its earlier conservatory orders blocking Ms Galgalo’s replacement pending the petition’s determination. The case is set to be mentioned on October 23, 2025, before Justice Chacha Mwita.

James Odongo, the CEO of the Kenya Extended Producer Responsibility Organisation (Kepro), likes to think of himself as a handyman.

He carries out his own electrical repairs. He rides a motorbike. Well, he used to. He also thrives off-road, packing his 4×4 wheeler to a wilderness somewhere, adrenaline throbbing through his veins.

Mashujaa Day has always been a time to celebrate Kenya’s heroes whose courage and sacrifice shaped the nation’s journey.

This year, as the celebrations are held in Kitui County, the moment carries added significance. It is a recognition of the resilience of dryland communities and an opportunity to inspire a new chapter of progress, sustainability, and inclusive growth.

Hosting the national celebrations in Kitui is a proud milestone that honours the spirit of a region long known for hard work and innovation.

It symbolises the government’s commitment to balanced regional development and its recognition that Kenya’s drylands hold immense untapped potential.

From the Presidency to the Kitui County Government, the national and county administrations have shown strong alignment in promoting projects that enhance livelihoods while restoring ecosystems.

However, Kitui’s big day must also spark honest reflection on stalled development projects that hold the key to long-term transformation.

The Thwake Dam and Umaa Dam projects were conceived to provide reliable water for households, irrigation, and energy production, yet progress has been painfully slow.

For many residents, the promise of clean water and improved farming has remained a distant dream. The renewed national attention on Kitui should, therefore, bring renewed urgency to complete these critical projects and ensure they deliver lasting benefits for the people.

Alongside these major infrastructure efforts, Kitui continues to show the power of community-led initiatives.

Beekeeping, for example, is a sustainable enterprise that supports biodiversity and provides income for local farmers. In contrast, sand harvesting, though economically significant, requires tighter regulation to prevent environmental degradation.

These contrasting realities highlight the need for development that balances economic opportunity with ecological care.

The Agriculture and Environment ministries have a shared responsibility to translate national policies into tangible results for dryland counties. By promoting dryland farming, tree growing, and carbon projects, they can help communities turn climate challenges into opportunities for green growth.

True heroism in Kitui today is found in the quiet determination of women, youth, and farmers who nurture the land and protect scarce water sources. Their efforts reflect a modern form of patriotism; one rooted in sustainability and shared prosperity.

Mashujaa Day ceremony in Kitui should, therefore, not just be a celebration of history, but also a call to action. Completing the stalled projects, empowering local initiatives, and restoring the land will be the surest way to honour our heroes and build a resilient future for generations to come.

Global index provider FTSE Russell has upgraded its market access rating on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) following the recent move by the bourse to allow investors to trade in multiples of a single share compared to the previous minimum lot of 100 units.

FTSE Russel’s annual review of markets that was carried out in September raised the NSE from ‘Restricted’ to ‘Pass’ status on its efficient trading mechanism criterion, reflecting the improved access to the market by investors as a result of the change in minimum lot size.

The index provider assesses the quality of markets under a number of criteria which cover regulations, foreign exchange access, dealing, custody and settlement.

The ratings are done on a sliding scale, starting from Pass which signals that the market is meeting the minimum requirements of a particular criterion.

A Restricted rating indicates that a market has partial failure to meet some of the required metrics, while Not Met indicates failure to meet the minimum standards.

In a statement following the review, the NSE said the upgrade will improve the Kenyan market’s standing among global asset allocators, while reinforcing confidence in the country’s capital markets.

‘FTSE Russell’s flagship equity indexes are trusted worldwide for portfolio construction, risk analysis, and asset allocation, making this development a strategic win for Kenya’s integration into global investment flows,’ said the NSE in its statement last week.

‘By enabling trading in single-share multiples, the NSE opens doors for retail investors, making participation more accessible than ever before. The change also drives liquidity, creating deeper, more active markets that benefit all stakeholders.’

Starting August 1, the Nairobi bourse changed its trading rules to allow for trades of shares in multiples of a single unit, while also shutting down its odd lots board that previously handled such small trades since the market’s automation in 2006.

The new rules ended two decades of a two-tier trading board system, collapsing the odd lots and the normal board-which had a minimum trading stipulation of 100 shares- into a single new platform that has no trading size restriction.

The NSE also created a new recovery board which will temporarily host listed firms that are technically insolvent, non-compliant with listing obligations or whose operations are considered prejudicial to the interests of investors.

Trading boards are electronic platforms or systems where shares and other securities such as bonds are traded. Both normal and restricted boards sit across the NSE’s main and SME market segments.

Under the old system that had minimum trading sizes of 100 shares, stocks with high nominal process were often out of reach for retail investors, locking them out of the dividends and capital gains that are usually available on such counters.

Such market access roadblocks did not favour the NSE’s standing with global index providers such as FTSE Russel and the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI), which are keenly watched by foreigners looking to invest in emerging and frontier markets such as Kenya.

Inclusion in the indices is dependent on meeting conditions such as free float liquidity for key stocks, market accessibility for investors and availability and free flow of foreign currency.

The NSE has 10 of its companies included on the FTSE Africa Extended Index, which tracks 239 stocks with a combined market capitalisation of $463.3 billion (Sh60 trillion) in seven African markets.

Kenya has the fourth highest number of firms on this index behind South Africa (120), Egypt (55) and Morocco (37), and is ahead of Tunisia (nine), Côte d’Ivoire (seven) and Tanzania with one company.

The NSE is also represented on the MSCI frontier markets and frontier small cap indices by 14 companies.

The firms on these global indices comprise the largest at the market by valuation, including Safaricom, Equity Group, KCB Group, EABL, Standard Chartered Bank Kenya and Co-operative Bank of Kenya.

Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) is seeking to raise the cost of storing, handling and transporting fuel through its infrastructure in a bid to boost revenues ahead of its Initial Public Offering (IPO) in March next year.

The State-owned firm submitted a new tariff where the cost of storing and handling every 1,000 litres of fuel will rise 7.4 percent to Sh1,065.61 in the year to June 2026, from the current Sh992.46 for similar quantity. It will then jump to Sh1,068.94 from July next year.

KPC’s proposal to increase the tariffs is aimed at raising an additional Sh2.79 billion in revenues to fund a number of projects even as the firm looks set to list on the Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE). The company’s sales stood at Sh28.9 billion in the year ended June 2025.

The government is set to sell up to 65 percent of its stake in KPC by March 2026, in a bid to raise an estimated Sh100 billion and help plug the widening budget deficit.

‘The derived composite tariff is a marginal increase of 2.4 percent above the current tariff of Sh5.44 per cubic metre per kilometre,’ KPC says in tariff application to the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (Epra).

The tariffs which will be in force for a three-year cycle to June 2028, must get approval from Epra in order to become effective. A composite tariff refers to a single charge that combines multiple fees such as storage, handling and pipeline transportation, into one fee per a defined unit of fuel, mostly 1,000 litres or one cubic metre.

Read: MPs approve sale of KPC, State to retain 35pc stake

Oil marketers will be hit hardest on the storage fees as compared to the transport charges. Transport cost for every 1,000 litres will rise to Sh4.10 per kilometre from the current Sh4. It will then increase to Sh4.26 from July 2027 and then to Sh4.93 a year later for the same quantity and over the same distance.

The composite tariff will rise highest in the last year (2027/28) when it will increase from Sh5.76 per cubic metre per kilometre to Sh6.61 for the same quantity and distance.

The new tariff will replace the current ones that which started in July 2022 and lapsed in June this year.

The higher charges come at a time when the State is preparing to relinquish its majority ownership in the company by listing at the NSE.

Sale of KPC marks the start of the government’s plan to raise billions of shillings through privatisation of State entities and help reduce the growing budget deficit without relying on fresh loans.

KPC is eyeing revenues of Sh31.69 billion in the year to June 2026, from the current Sh28.9 billion. The revenues will then jump to Sh39 billion in the last year, if Epra approves the tariff as proposed by KPC.

But KPC has downplayed fears that the new higher will trigger more pain at the pump, saying that the impact of the new rates on pump prices will not exceed Sh0.16 per litre of fuel.

Epra is expected to factor in the new tariffs when setting both retail and wholesale prices of petrol, diesel and kerosene. Oil marketers in the transit market will also factor in the impact of KPC’s higher tariffs.

KPC enjoys a near monopoly status in the storage and transport of fuel for the local market and Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan.

Many people eat healthily and exercise regularly, yet still struggle to lose fat around their waist. Experts suggest that the solution may not lie in doing more exercise or reducing calories, but rather in understanding how the body stores and uses energy.

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According to nutritionist Gladys Mugambi, the head of the Division of Health Promotion and Education at Kenya’s Ministry of Health, strategic fasting, a mindful and structured eating pattern, may hold the key.

While intermittent fasting is often practised in a routine manner-such as the popular 16/8 method (fasting for 16 hours and eating within an 8-hour window), strategic fasting takes a more tailored approach. It involves planning fasting and eating windows based on individual lifestyles, metabolic needs and goals.

‘Intermittent fasting focuses on the schedule,’ says Ms Mugambi. ‘Strategic fasting, on the other hand, emphasises the strategy-why, when and how you fast, as well as what you eat in between. It’s about aligning fasting with your body’s natural rhythms to improve hormone balance, metabolism, and overall body composition.’

Why is belly fat so stubborn?

‘There’s no specific area where the body chooses to lose fat first,’ says Ms Mugambi. ‘However, people tend to notice belly fat more because it is visible, and it is often the last to go.”

The midsection is particularly resistant to fat loss because visceral fat-the deep fat that envelops organs is hormonally active. This type of fat releases compounds that increase inflammation and insulin resistance, creating a cycle that makes fat harder to burn.

While exercise can tone muscles and boost metabolism, Ms Mugambi emphasises that diet and hormones play the most significant roles in fat loss.

‘You can’t out-train a poor diet. The balance between food and exercise is crucial – not just for the stomach, but for the whole body,’ she says.

The hormonal connection: Insulin, cortisol and growth hormone

Hormones, particularly insulin, determine whether your body stores or burns fat. Frequent eating, especially of refined carbohydrates or sugary foods, keeps insulin levels elevated, signalling to your body to store fat rather than use it.

‘That’s where fasting helps,’ explains Ms Mugambi. ‘When you go for extended periods without food, insulin levels drop and your body begins to use stored fat for energy instead of relying on glucose.’

Fasting can also help to rebalance cortisol (the stress hormone) and growth hormone, both of which influence belly fat. High cortisol levels resulting from chronic stress can lead to cravings for sugary or fatty foods, whereas growth hormone, which increases naturally during fasting, promotes the breakdown of fat and preserves lean muscle.

Read: Weight loss: How to find what works for you

How strategic fasting works

When practised correctly, fasting triggers a process called metabolic switching, whereby the body shifts from burning glucose (sugar) to burning stored fat for energy.

‘Initially, the body may resist; you might feel tired or hungry,’ says Ms Mugambi. ‘However, once it adapts, it becomes more efficient at burning fat.’

It is at this point that many people start to notice significant changes, particularly in terms of their waistlines.

However, Ms Mugambi cautions that fasting should always be combined with physical activity. ‘Exercise helps your body utilise stored energy and maintain muscle mass. But don’t overdo it; fasting should be gradual and disciplined to avoid straining the body.’

Common fasting strategies, she says include the 16/8 method: Fast for 16 hours and eat within an 8-hour window each day, for example from midday to 8pm. This approach supports insulin regulation and calorie control.

The 5:2 method, which entails eating normally for five days a week and consuming 500 to 600 calories on two non-consecutive fasting days. This creates a manageable calorie deficit and a metabolic reset.

Ms Mugambi advises beginners to start with shorter fasts of eight to 10 hours and gradually extend them as their bodies adapt. She emphasises that what you eat after fasting is as important as the fasting itself.

She recommends a nutrient-dense, whole-food approach, including plenty of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and healthy fats such as olive oil, avocados, and nuts, but in moderation.

‘Drink eight to 10 glasses of water daily to flush out waste and support metabolism,’ she adds. ‘Choose whole foods such as traditional brown ugali or brown rice, reduce refined carbohydrates, and limit fried foods.’

While fasting can be beneficial for many people, it is not suitable for everyone. Those with diabetes, heart disease or other chronic conditions should only fast under medical supervision. Pregnant or breastfeeding women, older adults and people taking blood sugar-lowering medication should also be cautious, as fasting can have adverse effects if not managed properly.

Ms Mugambi warns that one of the biggest mistakes is to treat fasting as a quick fix. ‘Some people lose weight quickly, but then regain it once they return to normal eating habits. Fasting should form part of a long-term lifestyle change, not a short-term challenge,’ she advises.

Another common pitfall is overeating during eating windows. ‘If you fast for 16 hours and then snack continuously for eight, you cancel out the benefits,’ she cautions. Be deliberate with your portions.’

Stress and poor sleep can also undermine fasting efforts. ‘When cortisol levels rise, your body craves quick energy from sugary foods. Adequate sleep and hydration are critical, as they help regulate hormones and support metabolism,’ adds Ms Mugambi.

Additionally, mindset and routine are crucial for success. “First, decide that you’re going to do it, and then plan your routine. Support from friends or family can help keep you accountable,” she advises.

She also recommends changing your environment. ‘If you tend to eat out of boredom, keep busy or spend more time outdoors during your fasting hours to avoid temptation.’

Eating at consistent times helps to align your body’s internal clock with digestion and energy use. ‘If you eat just before going to bed, your body will store most of that energy as fat,’ she explains. ‘Eating earlier allows your metabolism to utilise food more efficiently.’

Kenya’s trade deficit with China widened further in the first half of 2025 to Sh295.80 billion, underlining the country’s continued dependence on Chinese-manufactured goods, even as it pushes to expand exports through a proposed bilateral deal.

Latest data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) shows that the gap between exports and imports increased by 21.86 percent from Sh242.75 billion in the same period a year ago.

The widening gap was driven by the growing value of imports from China, which surged past Sh300 billion in the half-year period for the first time.

Imports climbed 18.42 percent to Sh304.65 billion between January and June, up from Sh257.27 billion a year earlier. Exports, on the other hand, nearly halved to Sh8.85 billion from Sh14.53 billion in the same period, highlighting the persistent imbalance that has for decades defined the bilateral trade relationship between Nairobi and Beijing.

Over the last decade, China has tightened its grip on Kenya as a top source market, strengthened after it won a landmark deal to build a modern railway from Mombasa to Suswa near Naivasha and has dominated the supply of machinery, electrical and electronic equipment, construction materials, and other manufactured goods.

KNBS data shows that iron and non-alloy steel products – including automotive frames, panels, and building materials – were among the biggest imports in the first half of 2025, valued at Sh12.53 billion.

This growing inflow of capital and intermediate goods underscores Kenya’s reliance on Chinese industry to power its construction, manufacturing, and logistics sectors.

However, exports to China have narrowed for two years running after the shipment of titanium ores dried up following the closure of the Kwale mines.

Top sales to China included copper waste and scrap, whose value was nearly Sh3.34 billion in six months to June 2025, and tea at Sh1.14 billion.

The depth of the trade imbalance was a key agenda for President William Ruto during his four-day State visit to China in April.

‘We have concluded the high-level conversations with China. They have agreed to a reciprocal arrangement between Kenya and China.to remove all the tariffs on our tea, coffee, avocado and all other agricultural exports,’ Dr Ruto told business leaders in Nairobi on August 6.

‘That I think is a major breakthrough for us. We are now finalising the bilateral instruments so that in the next couple of months, we should be able to take advantage of that huge market.’

The looming bilateral deal, the finer details of which remain confidential, will mark a significant step towards removing long-standing inequities in trade flows between the two countries.

Farmers and exporters will, however, still face challenges in scaling production, meeting stringent certification requirements, and competing on quality in the highly regulated Chinese market, which has a population of 1.4 billion.

Investments, Trade, and Industry Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui has backed the proposed tariff agreement to transform Kenya’s export landscape.

‘If we were to plug into just one percent of that market for our coffee or tea, it would completely change the lives of Kenyans,’ Mr Kinyanjui said in August.

‘Some of our exporters have been forced to pay up to 10 percent duty to China, while our neighbouring countries pay zero because they are low-income. Others even export through Rwanda to avoid the tariff. With the removal of that, we can now export directly to China, and that will be a landmark deal.’

Kenya’s push for a bilateral trade deal with China aligns with its Integrated National Export Development and Promotion Strategy, an initiative launched in 2018 to diversify exports beyond traditional Western markets.

Read: Kenya edges closer to trade deal with China after Trump tariffs

In the same year, Kenya posted five new envoys to key Far East capitals – Beijing, New Delhi, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore – to scout for new market opportunities.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, agencies such as the Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency (Keproba) had embarked on aggressive marketing drives in China, including plans to establish promotional centres in Wuyi (Fujian province) and Hunan, major agricultural and tea-growing regions.

President William Ruto last week signed into law the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act, 2024, in what has been widely interpreted as a move to give the State broader powers to police online spaces in addition to enhancing penalties for digital offences.

The law, assented to last Wednesday amends the 2018 Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act to cover emerging threats such as SIM-swap fraud, phishing, and cyber harassment.

While the signed version was yet to be publicly published by the time of going to press, the changes are largely based on a legislative Bill tabled in the National Assembly in August last year.

Analysts at Nairobi-based legal firm Manwa OH Advocates have described the law as a pivotal shift in Kenya’s digital governance, one which extends the State’s enforcement reach while introducing heavier compliance burdens on businesses.

Under the amendments, the National Computer and Cybercrimes Coordination Committee (NC4) gains powers to direct service providers to block websites or mobile applications deemed to promote illegal activity, terrorism, or extreme religious practices.

‘.seeks to give the NC4 an additional function of issuing directives on websites and applications that may be rendered inaccessible within the country where the website or application promotes illegal activities, child pornography, terrorism and extreme religious and cultic practices,’ read the draft copy.

The publicly-available Parliamentary version allowed such orders to be issued without prior court approval.

‘This grants significant government control over online content and raises the need for companies hosting platforms to align with content moderation standards,’ observes Manwa OH Advocates.

The new law also introduces a new offence targeting unauthorised SIM-swap transactions. A person who alters or takes ownership of another person’s SIM card with the intent to commit a crime faces up to 10 years in prison or a Sh5 million fine.

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At the time, Wajir East MP who had sponsored the legislative paper noted that the amendments sought to curb rising mobile-based fraud affecting banks, fintech players, and digital payment platforms.

In addition, the enactment raises the penalties imposed for cyber harassment, with offences such as online stalking or conduct that induces self-harm now attracting up to 10 years in prison or a Sh5 million fine.

The Bill had also proposed to prohibit the spread of ‘false’ or ‘misleading information’ that causes public panic or threatens national security.

However, the vague wording of the ‘false information’ clause has drawn criticism from civil rights groups, who are apprehensive that it could be deployed as a tool to silence journalists and whistleblowers.

The High Court has previously suspended similar provisions in the 2018 law for infringing on the freedom of expression.

The current amendment further expands the scope of obligations for operators of critical information infrastructure such as banks, telcos, and utilities, requiring them to localise data storage, conduct annual cybersecurity risk assessments, as well as establish internal operations centres.

All cyber incidents must be reported to NC4 within 24 hours.

According to Manwa OH Advocates, the requirements ‘align with global data governance standards but impose steep compliance costs, especially for fintech and telecom operators.’ Non-compliance could attract fines of up to Sh10 million or prison terms of up to 20 years in severe cases.

Kenya’s tightening of cybercrime laws comes amid a sharp rise in digital fraud and a growing State appetite to regulate online activity.

In recent years, banks, telcos and government agencies have faced escalating breaches that have exposed vulnerabilities in payment systems and public databases.

Data from the Communications Authority shows that detected cyber threats rose to 842.3 million during the quarter ended September 2025, up from 657.8 million recorded during the period between July and September last year, driven by phishing, SIM-swap fraud, and ransomware targeting institutions handling financial data.

Mobile money services, which move more than Sh8 trillion annually, remain a prime target for fraud syndicates exploiting weak verification systems and insider collusion.

The 2018 Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act was Kenya’s first attempt to address hacking, identity theft, and online harassment, but enforcement has remained uneven.

The High Court in 2020 suspended several sections of the law over free speech concerns, leaving regulators with limited tools to act against emerging online crimes.