Category: Business Daily

When Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (Ketraco) signed a $311 million public-private partnership with Africa50 and Power Grid Corporation of India to develop a major power transmission line, the most salient feature of the deal was not its size, complexity, or even its novelty.

It was how quietly it happened. In a country where large infrastructure projects often provoke heated debate, court challenges, or public suspicion, this transaction passed with relatively little controversy. There were no loud protests, no sustained political resistance, no widespread public anxiety about hidden costs or loss of control over strategic assets.

Instead, there was a broad sense that this was a necessary, sensible and well-structured step forward.

That reaction is not accidental. It is a function of leadership.

From the outset, this project was framed and driven not as a commercial privatisation exercise, but as a development-led partnership.

Africa50; an African infrastructure investment platform promoted by the African Development Bank and African states, sat at the centre of the transaction. Its presence shaped both the structure of the deal and the way it was perceived.

In infrastructure, trust is often more scarce than capital. Kenya does not lack investors interested in roads, power, housing or ports.

What it often lacks is public confidence that these investments are aligned with national priorities, fairly structured, and transparently governed. Without that confidence, even technically sound projects struggle to gain social and political legitimacy.

Africa50’s involvement changed that dynamic. It reassured government, investors and citizens alike that the project was anchored in a development mandate, not just a commercial one.

It signalled that the transaction would be guided by long-term national interest, disciplined risk allocation, and institutional governance standards consistent with multilateral practice.

That reassurance mattered. It shifted the narrative. The conversation moved away from familiar fears about privatisation, foreign control or hidden fiscal risks, and towards more constructive questions about delivery, reliability and impact. In doing so, it created space for consensus.

The result was a rare alignment. Government secured a critical piece of infrastructure without placing additional strain on public finances.

Investors gained access to a stable, long-term asset under credible governance. Citizens gained confidence that the project served a public purpose rather than narrow interests.

This three-way alignment is unusual precisely because it is difficult. It does not emerge naturally from either public-sector planning alone or private-sector initiative alone. It emerges when institutions that straddle both worlds provide leadership.

That is the deeper lesson of the Ketraco -Africa50 transaction. The success of the project lies not only in its financial closure, but in its social acceptance. And that acceptance was not negotiated; it was earned through institutional credibility.

Kenya’s infrastructure ambitions are large and growing. The country needs new transmission lines, new transport corridors, new urban services and new climate-resilient systems. Delivering them will require vast amounts of capital, technical expertise and coordination. But just as importantly, it will require public trust.

It’s 2026 and it’s shaping up to be a massive year for the silver screens. We’ve got industry titans like Steven Spielberg, the Russo brothers, and Denis Villeneuve all coming back to the director’s chair. From big budget superhero events to biopics, there’s a lot to keep track of.

Now, I’ve broken down my most anticipated films into three categories: Day ones, excited but skeptical, and let’s wait and see.

These are the heavy hitters. Whether it’s a director I trust or a story I’m already invested in, I’m showing up on day one.

Avengers: Doomsday

The Russo brothers are back, and that alone is enough to get me in the seat. They’re the ones who gave us Winter Soldier, Infinity War and Endgame, so they know how to handle the scale of an ensemble movie. Even with “superhero fatigue” floating around, bringing back icons like Tony Stark and Steve Rogers makes this feel like the biggest comic book movie event of the year.

The Odyssey

Christopher Nolan taking on Greek mythology is a cinephile’s dream. We know him for high-concept sci-fi that challenges you psychologically, and seeing him tackle the Trojan story, shot completely in IMAX, is definitely exciting. Plus it’s star-studded, and as a Kenyan, Lupita Nyong’o is in the movie, so it’s a day one.

Dune: Part Three

Denis Villeneuve has already proven he can handle the scale of Frank Herbert’s world. Dune: Messiah will conclude this arc, and given how exceptional the cinematography and storytelling have been in the first two parts, I wouldn’t miss the conclusion of this trilogy for anything.

Michael

Antoine Fuqua is directing this Michael Jackson biopic, and it’s going to be a must-watch for any music fan, Gen X and millenials. It follows the King of Pop’s massive rise and his personal struggles, and with Jaafar Jackson in the lead, I’m interested to see how they handle such a complex legacy.

Disclosure Day

Steven Spielberg returning to his sci-fi roots is a huge deal. This looks like it’s going to be “Prime Spielberg” a director who knows exactly how to capture our attention with high-tech storytelling that still has heart. If the trailer is any indication, he’s still the master of the genre.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day

The end of the last movie felt like a total recalibration. We saw Spiderman’s high-tech Stark suits stripped away, leaving us with a much more grounded, “friendly neighbourhood” hero. I’m very excited to see this version of the character return to basics.

Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu

Apart from revolutionising filmmaking with the use of The Volume, Jon Favreau basically saved modern Star Wars with the streaming show, so seeing him bring these characters to a theatrical format is exciting. The show has always maintained high production quality, so I expect the jump to the big screen to be a great time.

Toy Story 5

I’ve never quite understood the obsession with Toy Story, but I have to respect the consistency. Pixar has kept the quality level so high for so many years that even if I’m not a superfan, I want to see what they do with Woody and Buzz next.

GOAT

This is an animated sports comedy produced by Stephen Curry. I absolutely loved the trailer, the animation style is fresh and the idea of a “sports animal” world is really fun. It looks like a great underdog story.

Excited but skeptical

I’m giving these a chance, but I’ve got some reservations about the direction or the “why” behind them.

Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow

I like the look of the trailer, it has a textured, darker feel that reminds me of Guardians of the Galaxy. I’m just a bit skeptical because James Gunn isn’t directing it himself, though it’s clearly part of his new universe.

The Bride!

I’ve always been fascinated by the Frankenstein story, and Maggie Gyllenhaal’s take on a horror-infused Bride of Frankenstein in 1930s Chicago sounds bold. Christian Bale is in the movie, but I’m just not sure exactly what the final vibe will be.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie

The first movie was okay, but this sequel feels like a bit of a cash grab after the first one hit a billion dollars. I love the idea of expanding the Nintendo world, but I’m walking into this one with some scepticism.

The Devil Wears Prada 2

This is pure nostalgia. The first movie was perfect as a standalone, so I don’t know who was actually asking for a sequel. I’ll watch it for the cast, but it feels unnecessary.

Hoppers

A Pixar movie about a girl putting her consciousness into a robot animal is a cool concept (just like Avatar). However, Disney has been taking Pixar in some odd directions lately, so I’m holding my breath on this one until I see more.

Mortal Kombat II

The 2021 movie was decent, but the editing was all over the place. I’m hoping they’ve refined the storytelling this time around and give us a more cohesive action focus on characters that the audience is familiar with.

Minions 3

Look, I love the Minions, but we need to know where to stop. These movies make a ton of money, but I’m not sure where the story could possibly go that we haven’t seen before.

Let’s wait and see

These are the ones I’m most skeptical about. I won’t be making a deliberate effort to see them unless they get great word-of-mouth.

Thread: An Insidious Tale

We’ve had so many Insidious movies in the last decade that I feel like the story is exhausted. It’s another Blumhouse project, so it’ll have the scares, but do we really need it?

Clayface

A Batman villain horror-thriller sounds cool in theory, but we’ve seen zero trailers or concept art. I have no idea what the story is or how it fits in, so it’s a total mystery right now.

Digger

Even with Tom Cruise involved, I’m just not confident about the direction based on what’s been teased so far. I need more context before I get excited.

Street Fighter

The character designs look okay, but video game adaptations are a coin toss. It’s all going to come down to the script.

Jumanji 3

The last two were successful because of the chemistry between The Rock and Kevin Hart, but it feels like we’re just going to get more of the same. Do we really need a third round?

Scream 7

Hollywood is definitely milking this franchise. I’m not particularly excited about another Ghostface saga, but I’m sure people will still show up for it.

Moana (Live-Action)

Disney’s live-action remakes make money, but they rarely improve on the original stories. This just feels like the same movie with a “new coat of paint”.

Scary Movie 6

The Wayans brothers are reviving this parody franchise, but I don’t know if that brand of humour still works the same way today. We’ll have to see if they try something different or stick to the old formula.

Masters of the Universe

As a Millennial, I have a very specific memory of He-Man. Modern Hollywood hasn’t been kind to 90s properties, and I’m worried they’ll water down the heart of the character.

The stock of loan defaults in the country’s banking sector has eased for the first time in eight months on the back of increased recoveries and repayments, offering a breather to banks and emboldening them to increase lending to households and businesses.

The pursuit or threat of arrest against a sitting head of state, such as Nicolás Maduro, is often framed as a moral or legal question, but its deeper implications lie in economics and global stability.

Beyond the political arguments for or against the Venezuelan president, actions that target incumbent leaders through unilateral legal measures introduce dangerous uncertainty into world trade and the international economic system. In an already fragile global economy, this kind of precedent does far more harm than good.

Global trade depends on predictability. Markets function not on moral judgments but on expectations-about contracts, governments, borders, and continuity. When powerful states signal that sitting presidents of sovereign countries can be treated as criminal suspects outside multilateral frameworks, they inject fear into the system.

Investors, shipping firms, insurers, and trading partners begin to reassess risk, not just in one country but across entire regions. If political disputes can suddenly become criminal pursuits, then no government is fully insulated from disruption, especially in the developing world.

The arrest or attempted arrest of a sitting leader also threatens the basic principle of sovereign immunity, a cornerstone of international commerce. Heads of state are not protected because they are flawless, but because global interaction requires stable interlocutors.

Trade agreements, energy contracts, debt negotiations, and development partnerships are all conducted between governments that must be recognised as legitimate counterparts. Undermining that legitimacy through unilateral legal actions weakens the foundations on which long-term economic cooperation is built.

For energy markets in particular, the consequences can be severe. Venezuela sits atop one of the world’s largest proven oil reserves, and while its production has declined, it remains an important factor in regional and global energy calculations. Any move that increases political volatility around such a producer adds pressure to already strained energy markets.

Price fluctuations, supply uncertainty, and speculative behaviour follow, affecting not just oil-importing nations but global inflation trends. Economic instability, once triggered, rarely remains contained.

There is also a chilling effect on South-South trade and cooperation. Many developing nations see actions against leaders like Maduro not as neutral law enforcement but as selective punishment.

This perception encourages countries to insulate themselves from Western-dominated financial systems, accelerating fragmentation in global trade.

When states seek alternatives to avoid vulnerability-through parallel payment systems, new trading blocs, or currency diversification-the result is a less efficient, more divided global economy. Fragmentation may benefit no one, but it is often the predictable response to perceived economic coercion.

World trade is also damaged by the normalisation of sanctions and legal threats as political tools. Sanctions regimes tied to leadership targeting often extend far beyond individuals, restricting banks, shipping companies, insurers, and exporters.

Ordinary businesses become collateral damage, forced to navigate complex compliance risks that raise costs and discourage engagement. For small and medium-sized economies, these barriers can be devastating, cutting off access to capital and markets even when humanitarian or commercial needs remain pressing.

Crucially, such actions weaken multilateral institutions designed to manage global economic disputes. When powerful states bypass international courts and collective mechanisms, they signal that rules apply selectively. T

his erodes trust in institutions like the United Nations, the World Trade Organisation, and international arbitration systems. Once trust erodes, compliance follows, and the entire architecture that supports global commerce begins to crack. Economic stability cannot survive in a system where rules are optional for some and absolute for others.

There is also a long-term strategic cost. Actions taken against one leader today may be used as justification against another tomorrow. Governments begin to price political survival into economic decisions, prioritising short-term security over long-term growth.

Infrastructure projects stall, trade negotiations freeze, and regional integration slows. The world economy, already grappling with debt, climate shocks, and geopolitical rivalry, can ill afford additional self-inflicted instability.

Opposing the arrest of a sitting president like Maduro is not the same as endorsing his governance. It is a defence of economic rationality and global stability.

A Sh622 million revenue dispute between the government and Chinese-owned Bao Gold Hill Kenya Limited over gold mining fields in Narok County has escalated to the Court of Appeal, which has suspended mining activities pending a full hearing.

Equity Bank and Co-operative Bank of Kenya owe the government Sh457 million arising from historical agreements where the State provided funds to the firms for onward lending to businesses, including in the agricultural sector.

The High Court has struck out a tea exporter’s case against the government’s decision to revoke its trading licence, ruling that the dispute should be resolved through statutory appeals under the Tea Act rather than judicial review.

Adoption of electric vehicles has moved beyond pilot phases in Kenya, but gaps in charging infrastructure and the intensive capital required for rollout are emerging as the primary bottlenecks to expansion.

Nzoia Sugar Company has resumed milling operations after a seven-month silence, following a takeover by new owners under lease terms.

Last year opened with a sense of anger and global disorientation that many citizens across continents felt immediately and viscerally. The return of American President Donald Trump to power reshaped diplomatic language, trade expectations, aid architecture, and the emotional climate of insults, disrespect, and international mobility almost overnight.