Category: Business Daily

The government has surpassed its revenue targets for entry into national parks, reserves, sanctuaries and marine protected areas for three consecutive years, due to the digitisation of tourism payments and increased visitation, officials have disclosed.

Officials from the State Department for Wildlife told the National Treasury that revenue from wildlife conservation matched its target of Sh7.92 billion for the financial year ended June 30,2025.

The performance extended the upward trajectory after the collections hit Sh7.74 billion in 2023/24, surpassing the Sh7.53 billion goal and Sh5.37 billion the previous year, which was also above the Sh5.27 billion target.

The State department says the revenue growth has been underpinned by an increase in domestic and international visitors to national parks and other conservancies.

The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) recorded 3.38 million visitors in the year to June 2025, exceeding the planned 3.3 million.

The State department says the revenue growth has been underpinned by an increase in domestic and international visitors to national parks and other conservancies.

The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) recorded 3.38 million visitors in the year to June 2025, exceeding the planned 3.3 million.

Visitations the previous year reached 3.18 million, beating the 2.7 million target, while 2022/23 drew 2.4 million against the 2.1 million goal.

‘Target [for revenue] surpassed due to increased visitors in parks and digitisation of revenue collection (e-Citizen),’ the State Department for Wildlife said in its report to the National Treasury to inform allocation for the next financial year starting July 2026.

‘Target for park visitors surpassed due to enhanced marketing initiatives, rehabilitation of the guesthouses in parks, and tourism recovery measures in place.’

Digitisation of park payments has helped improve collections of park entry fees, officials say, after Kenya transitioned to e-ticketing for national parks and attractions, including Nairobi National Park.

That has eliminated cash transactions, with visitors required to pay in advance through platforms such as eCitizen, reducing queues at park entry points.

‘Through innovations such as TouristTap, which convert NFC-enabled smartphones into point-of-sale devices, foreigners can pay with Visa or MasterCard directly, or via mobile money, without the need for cash, foreign exchange, or traditional point-of-sale machines,’ Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano said in September.

The disclosures on above-target performance have come amid a policy battle between the State and stakeholders over a policy to increase park entry fees.

The KWS has sought to introduce a new fee structure for accessing national parks, reserves, sanctuaries, and marine protected areas under the Wildlife Conservation and Management (Access and Conservation Fees) Regulations, 2025.

The new fees, announced at the end of September, are aimed at helping bridge a Sh12 billion annual budget deficit in the KWS books.

The High Court has, however, temporarily stopped their implementation after the Kenya Tourist Federation petitioned the move on grounds that the abrupt rollout would hurt Kenya’s competitiveness as a global safari destination.

Justice John Chigiti issued conservatory orders halting the changes in early October, noting that the matter required fair hearing and proper stakeholder engagement.

Tour operators complained that the new fees made it impossible to adjust pre-sold packages or consult stakeholders adequately.

Before the injunction, entry fees for adult Kenyans and East African residents visiting Amboseli or Lake Nakuru National Park had been raised by 74.4 percent to Sh1,500, while foreign visitors were to pay $90, up from $60.

Charges for students and children aged between five and 17 were to more than triple to Sh750.

The entry fees to Nairobi National Park would have jumped steeply by 132.5 percent for locals to Sh1,000, while foreign charges would have climbed 86 percent to $80.

The entry charges for Tsavo East and Tsavo West had been raised by 94.2 percent to Sh1,000 for citizens and 53.8 percent to $80 for foreigners.

KWS says Amboseli, Lake Nakuru, Nairobi National Park, Tsavo East, and Tsavo West account for more than three-quarters (78 percent) of its park revenue.

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, world champion athlete Faith Kipyegon, and the Social Health Authority (SHA) were the most searched topics by Kenyans this year, according to Google.

The annual ‘Year in Search’ report, now in its fifth year, reveals the questions, curiosities, and cultural moments that captured the nation’s attention and provides a window into what Kenyans were thinking, talking about, and exploring online.

Raila Odinga dominated public interest, with searches mostly linked to the term ‘enigma meaning’, which surrounded his political persona. Kenyans also followed his statements, engagements, and public appearances closely.

In the year under review, sports also captured the hearts of the nation, with Faith Kipyegon emerging as the most searched sports personality, attributed to her consistent excellence as a runner, which affirmed her status as a national icon.

“Football continued to unite and energise the country, with the African Nations Championship, popularly known as CHAN, becoming the most searched news item,” Google said.

Similarly, interest in global football stars, including Slovenian player Benjamin Šeško and Portuguese player Diogo Jota, whose passing left a mark on fans, also trended strongly, blending local passion with international attention.

SHA became a central topic of discussion in 2025 as Kenya transitioned from fragmented healthcare schemes to a more structured national system.

In their search, Kenyans sought to understand how the new authority would streamline access to medical services, introduce standardised benefit packages, and improve financial sustainability for both patients and private health facilities.

“Questions about registration processes, contribution rates, service delivery, and compliance with the new system drove online searches, reflecting the public’s keen interest in how SHA would affect everyday healthcare access and affordability,” said Google.

Kenyans also spent the year exploring language, culture, and global events. Searches for terms like conclave, habemus, and papam accompanied curiosity about the new pope, while interest in international figures such as Charlie Kirk indicated an awareness of global political developments.

Locally, searches for jowi, kubant, saba saba, demure, and wantam reflected evolving language and cultural conversations, while questions about Sudan and Congo highlighted the public’s engagement with global geopolitical shifts.

In kitchens across Kenya, the year was marked by a mix of health-conscious habits and indulgent cooking. Ginger shots led culinary searches, reflecting a focus on wellness and home remedies, while comfort foods and creative dishes such as chocolate chip cookies, cinnamon rolls, dawa, mini pizzas and osso buco captured the public’s imagination.

Meanwhile, music trends painted a vivid picture of Kenya’s cultural landscape, blending nostalgia with contemporary hits. Harry Belafonte’s Jamaica Farewell became the most searched lyrics, resonating widely alongside modern tracks like Kendrick Lamar’s Not Like Us. Regional hits, including Mbosso’s Pawa, Donjo Maber, Iyanii with Dufla Diligon, and Toxic Lyrikali’s Backbencher, illustrated the richness and diversity of the music scene.

The year’s top songs, such as Jamaica Farewell, Taya by Okello Max, and Bien’s All My Enemies Are Suffering, shaped the soundtrack of 2025, reflecting a dynamic interplay between the old and the new.

In theatre, the staging of The Nutcracker signals that Christmas is finally here. With the first shows opening last weekend, The Nutcracker continues its run this weekend at the Kenya National Theatre. This show also marks DCK’s 10th anniversary as a production company.

Based on Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s two act classical ballet, the story begins at the house of Count and Countess Stahlbaum hosting their annual Christmas party.

The beauty of this show happens because one guest, Dr Drosselmeyer, (Alvin Weru) a friend of the family always remembers the children and brings something special for them including Clara, who is his goddaughter. While the other children get toy soldiers and life-size dancing dolls, Clara (Ava Cheptoo Cheruiyot) gets an extraordinary toy – a wooden nutcracker in the shape of a toy soldier.

It is Clara’s dalliance with her nutcracker that makes the magic of the evening through the various scenes she imagines on that Christmas night, entirely in her dreams.

Managing a large ballet company of over 500 students, each of whom is expected to appear on stage at some point, can be daunting. This show gives company director Cooper Rust the opportunity for each child to experience the magic of performing on stage.

From the dancing mice who first appear under the tree to the snow-flake fairies in the Kingdom of Sweets and the beautiful angels, each moment offers an opportunity for the children to get their part. They do it oh so well and Ava Cheptoo charms with her small frame and maturity on stage in her role as Clara.

The Nutcracker comes to life at the arrival of the Rat King (Hyogo Yamane), and they battle it out in a ferocious sword battle. The Nutcracker’s spell is broken with the wave of Drosselmeyer’s cape transforming him into a handsome prince (Abdoulaye Diebate) who sweeps Clara to the Land of sweets.

This show’s central focus is not only its storyline but the changing scenes and costumes. Outside of the producer’s primary role, the costume director would be the most important assignment on this show.

From procuring the trimmings and tule for the skirts to the battle soldiers coats and hats, the mice’s outfits and Little Bo Peep and her beautiful sheep at the very end, it requires attention to detail. It is in the satins and corsets, the winter hats and cloaks of the men and the crowns worn by each of the ballerinas. It is in the colours that come in the second act complementing the winter wonderland in the backdrop.

Movement is also determined by the type of costume worn. The handsome prince and Snow Cavalier (Francis Kibe) keep their arms around the ballerina’s waists, measuring the distance with the tule skirts yet keeping the ability to lift them off the ground and admirably, into the air.

Cooper celebrates the growth even in costuming, noting that when they first produced The Nutcracker, the productions used leotards with tulle skirts stitched by themselves. Today, DCK can have their costumes made to the highest standards both locally and abroad, and it shows.

Music in this show is another achievement and area of growth. The symphonies in The Nutcracker are old, the sound of yesteryears demanding an experienced hand in its direction.

May Ombara leads the music composed by Igor Tchaikovsky and conducted by Anthony Muriuki and Levy Wataka, now in his 5th year with DCK on their musicals. The sounds coming from the pit also feature experienced hands and transport us to the music from Russia, India, Arabia all the way to the Dance of the Reed Pipes and all the 24 tracks combined.

This year, the musical was graced by the presence of Christine Gustafson, a flute soloist who has performed in several places including Austria, Germany, Taiwan and China. A renowned player in her circles, it speaks to the influence that DCK has for its ability to bring in this talent to join them.

DCK uses a cast made entirely of students in its performances, and if there are adults, very few and often just graduated students. In contrast, the New York city ballet which does up to 50 shows of the same performance has both professionals and students showing that DCK can only keep growing in its appetite for great things. This year however, there was the noticeable presence of four adult ladies in the middle of the second act in the scene with the sugar plum ladies. The special group are ladies taking adult ballet classes and are also parents and desired to be included. The magic seemingly rubbed off and they could not resist.

Speaking of students, a special mention must be made for Brookhouse school’s Jannel Musili playing P.T. Barnum, the master of the Show in The Greatest Showman. Showing at the Brookhouse theatre two weeks ago, The Greatest Showman is the story of Barnum, the dreamer who turned imagination into spectacle and gave the world one of its greatest shows.

Jannel not only played Mr Barnum effortlessly, but her voice travelled far into the spaces in which she sang. A multi-talented actress, singer and musician, the year 11 student shows great promise in the theatrical world. She studies drama amongst her other subjects but is keen on finding a career on stage, or as a lawyer and it can only get better for her from here.

A parliamentary committee and the Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) have rejected a request by local transporters to have multinational companies operating in the country compelled to give them at least 60 percent of transportation contracts.

Acting on the regulator’s advice, the National Assembly’s Trade, Industry and Cooperatives Committee dismissed the bid by the Kenya Transporters Association (KTA), which argued that its members receive minimal business from multinationals in Kenya.

CAK told MPs that enforcing a quota would distort fair competition and breach the Competition Act, and therefore should not be permitted. Enforcement of a fixed quota system would be inconsistent with prevailing competition laws and Kenya’s trade liberalisation commitments,’ the committee, chaired by Ikolomani MP Bernard Shinali, said in its report.

KTA, a lobby for local freighters, had petitioned Parliament to sanction several multinationals for allegedly favouring foreign transporters at the expense of Kenyan firms.

It argued that global companies rely on pre-established contracts used across their markets, thereby bypassing local operators and undermining fair competition, contrary to local laws.

The association claimed local freighters own 90 percent of trucks but receive only about 30 percent of logistics contracts issued by multinationals, with the bulk going to foreign transporters who control a small share of the fleet.

It also accused international firms of price fixing, predatory pricing, exclusive agreements, barriers to entry, and opaque conduct.

CAK was asked to investigate these allegations but found no evidence to support them. MPs separately questioned several multinational firms, including Kenya Breweries Limited, British American Tobacco, Nestlé, Unilever, Coca-Cola, and GlaxoSmithKline, all of which submitted contractor lists showing that most of their logistics providers are local.

The regulator reviewed contracts awarded to both local and foreign transporters and found no significant differences or exclusionary terms as alleged by the locals’ lobby in their petition.

‘There was no evidence found to establish that the multinationals were discriminating against local transporters, leading to market foreclosure,’ the committee said.

‘While local transporters raised legitimate concerns about limited access to logistics contracts and perceived preferential treatment of multinational peers, the evidence provided did not substantiate claims of deliberate discrimination or exclusionary conduct.’

Although MPs declined the 60 percent quota, Parliament is currently considering a separate bill that would require foreign firms to source at least 60 percent of their inputs locally and ensure that at least 80 percent of their employees are Kenyan citizens.

Existing regulations also require public entities to give preferential treatment to local suppliers, including sourcing consumable products from Kenyan firms.

KTA did not respond to requests for comment on the committee’s decision.

Joe Thomas, better known as Joe, the quintessential 1990s American R and B crooner, best known for a string of soulful romantic classics, returns to Nairobi for an eagerly awaited concert tonight, more than 13 years after he first performed in the city.

After making his debut as a 20-year-old in 1993, Joe became a prolific star of that decade with a catalogue of hits that turned him into a household name the world over.

Here in Kenya, his music became a staple on the playlists of radio station in the 1990s and the popularity of his songs has transcended generations.

As the veteran singer takes to the stage in Nairobi tonight as part of a tour that has already seen him perform sold-out shows in Kampala and Dar es Salaam, here are 10 essential songs from Joe’s discography.

I’m in Luv

Joe was just 20 in 1993, pictured on the sleeve of his debut album Everything wearing his cap back to front. This upbeat R and B track flavoured with dancehall ‘Toasting’ by Brown Man was the pick of that album whose style was largely hard-edged New Jack Swing in keeping with the trend of black urban music at the time.

All The Things (Your Man Won’t Do)

Four years after his debut, Joe returned with the follow up, All That I Am and the sheer class of songwriting, the strength of his vocals and the overall production has made this album an absolute classic.

The opening track, All The Things (Your Man Won’t Do) builds the anticipation for the rest of the high-quality set. The song had first been released a year earlier than the album when it was featured on the soundtrack to the comedy Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice In the Hood. The spoken word intro, sensual lyrics delivered with genuine sincerity and a sweet guitar solo make for an outstanding arrangement.

The Love Scene

The tempo drops slightly and the lights get dimmer on the second track of the album All That I Am as Joe paints a vivid picture of ‘a love scene steamy and blue’. Even the most emotionally hardened person would find it difficult to resist being swept up by the heights to which Joe takes this scorcher.

Good Girls

Another sparkling tune from All That I Am – how good was the album! Here Joe moans about the heartbreak of always falling for the girl who is already taken and the frustration is clear when he asks: ‘why are all you good girls taken every time’. The single topped the R and B charts in the US in 1997.

All That I AM

When he performed at the Bomas of Kenya in 2013, Joe, perched on a high stool with his guitar, swept the crowd away with an acoustic medley of All That I AM and No One Else Comes Close.

The two songs are placed next to each other sequentially on the album, but the title track just slightly edges it because it is so beautifully produced with lyrics expressing the sincerity of love.

Stutter

Another mid-tempo R and B jam showcasing Joe’s versatility as a multi-dimensional artiste who has over the years, in addition to his well-loved ballads, also been adept at dropping energetic dance grooves. Produced by the pioneer of 1990s New Jack Swing, Teddy Riley, Stutter, is from his third and most successful album to date, My Name Is Joe released in 2000.

I Wanna Know

No doubt about Joe’s signature tune and his most streamed song (more than 230 million plays on Spotify alone). It was a major success for him hitting No 4 on the main US pop singles charts, the Billboard Hot 100 and one of the biggest hits of 2000. The song also appeared on the soundtrack to the 1999 film The Wood.

I Believe in You (featuring NSYNC)

Another classic from My Name Is Joe and one that was such a huge radio favourite. It is not hard to see why the song still resonates with audiences, because Joe’s soulful voice matches the pop-oriented harmonies of one of the most successful boy bands of the 1990s, NSYNC. Together, the vocals blend perfectly on this romantic masterpiece with a chorus that captured the hearts of millions around the world.

What If a Woman

Released as the second single from his fourth studio album Better Days in 2001, Joe pricks the conscience of the man by asking if he could handle a woman, who just like him, is always ‘working late’ leaving him ‘home with the kids’ and ‘running the streets’. Lyrically, this is one of Joe’s strongest songs and, fingers crossed, should be on his concert setlist tonight.

Ride Wit You (featuring G-Unit)

Whenever Joe collaborates with rappers, from Fat Joe to Mystikal, his personality adds melody and soul to the raw edges of hip hop. And so, it was when he combined with 50 Cent and his G-Unit crew on this head-bopping jam from Joe’s fifth album And Then.in 2003.

In the midst of their contrasting musical styles, the artistes found a connection between rapid-fire rap bars and smooth, soulful rhythms.

Kiharu Member of Parliament Ndindi Nyoro sold 3.08 million shares of Kenya Power with a current market value of Sh37.8 million in the six months to June 2025, booking part of his profitable investment in the electricity distributor.

The sale reduced his holdings to 26.9 million at the end of June this year compared to 30 million shares in December 2024. He remains the top individual investor with a stake of 1.3 percent.

The stake is now valued at Sh322.8 million based on Kenya Power’s closing price of Sh12 yesterday, having posted major gains from the share price rally that has been driven by the company’s return to profitability and increased dividends.

Mr Nyoro had accumulated 32.5 million shares of the company at much lower prices to emerge as the top individual shareholder with a stake valued at Sh51.3 million at the end of June 2023 when the share price closed at Sh1.58.

The stock has risen by about 7.6 times since then, boosting the fortunes of investors who bought the stock when it was trading cheaply. The share price hit a record high of 15.8 on October 03, 2025.

Mr Nyoro has been buying and selling the company’s shares over the years, with his previous sales occurring in the six months to December 2023 when he traded 11.78 million units.

Two other individual investors increased their shareholding in Kenya Power in the six months to June this year, setting them up for enhanced dividend payouts from the company.

James Ochieng Ooko bought an additional 1.39 million shares in the six-month period to June this year, pushing his total shares to 13.67 million.

Nehemia Ikuah Ruhari was the other individual shareholder who increased his ownership stake with a purchase of 1.29 million shares, boosting his total to 11.27 million units.

‘I can assure our investors that this (dividend) is not a one-off and for the next few years they should expect to see growing profitability and more value for their money,’ Joy Masinde, chair of the Kenya Power board of directors said when the company announced its results for the year ended June 2025.

Kenya Power’s net profit dipped 18.66 percent to Sh24.46 billion in the review period as lower electricity prices and higher finance costs ate into the increased power sales.

But the firm enhanced its dividend payout to Sh1 per share for the year ended June 2025 from Sh0.70 a year earlier, boosting earnings for its big individual shareholders like Mr Nyoro.

The firm’s fortunes are set to get a major boost from July 2026 if it maintains the growth in electricity sales. This is because new electricity tariffs which are expected to be higher than the current ones will kick in.

Without doubt, the Kenyan diaspora plays a vital role in the country’s development and socio-economic transformation. This fact is underlined by the nearly Sh600 billion remittances they sent home last year.

The number of Kenyans overseas currently stands at an estimated 4 million, with most of them working in the Middle East and European countries. A good number are in the US, Asia, Latin America, Canada and Australia. In Africa, thousands of Kenyans are in South Africa, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.

Cognizant of the immense contribution that Kenyans abroad make to the country, the government has in the recent past put in place robust measures to safeguard their welfare and interests.

The labour mobility programmes are now an integral component of the government’s strategic plan to address widespread joblessness.

This is understandably so, considering that about 1.2 million youths join the labour market every year, a number that outpaces the country’s economic capacity of nearly 800,000 jobs.

In the last three years, the government has rolled out various reforms and plans to expand employment opportunities abroad even as it steps up efforts to implement multiple programmes at home to absorb as many as possible in the local job market.

Initiatives like Kazi Majuu are deliberately crafted to open more opportunities overseas and link Kenyans with well-paying and dignified jobs in foreign land.

Besides lack of adequate opportunities locally, another primary driver of labour mobility is the high demand for Kenya’s human resource.

This is so because our workers are highly-skilled, qualified and diligent.

Even in jobs that do not require extensive knowledge such as domestic workers and drivers, our citizens have a competitive edge on account of their unbeatable work ethic.

Likewise at the top echelons of the labour market, Kenyan experts, scientists and innovators are giving a good account of themselves, making notable contributions in various spheres of knowledge globally.

The current government deserves mention for launching Jamhuri Diaspora Awards to honour these exceptional contributions of Kenyans living abroad.

Thanks to their solid credentials, the Kenyan worker is poised to take advantage of the massive job opportunities unfolding across the world.

A quick peek into the global demographic dynamics reveal that Kenyans have a big chance to continue being a hot cake in the global job market.

The trends in some countries in Asia and the West are tending towards an aging population, reducing the number of able-bodied people who can actively work.

Kenya, like many African countries, boast a very youthful population, with the median age at about 20, a number that is more or less similar to the average age on the continent.

Europe’s median age stands at about 45, Asia 30 and the world at 30. European and Asian countries are, therefore, hard-pressed to find ways to fill the vacancies caused by a shrinking workforce.

One such way is to create a favourable environment that attracts foreign workers. With the dwindling global workforce and the demand for foreigners rising rapidly, it will be imperative to improve workers’ pay, welfare and the terms of service.

Kenya has a head start to strategically leverage these opportunities to provide their citizens with decent, high-paying jobs.

But age cannot be the only winner in the global labour marketplace. The growing need for imported workforce in the global labour market will immensely benefit African countries whose people are equipped with a set of tools necessary to succeed in a highly competitive world stage.

Kenya must therefore double down on sharpening the skills of the youth through training that prepares them for the rigorous demands of the global labour market.

The benefits of labour mobility are not only enormously beneficial to workers and their family. The nation reaps big too. Many Kenyans working overseas have transformed their lives and the face of their families here at home. For instance, some have built permanent homes for their parents. This is clearly evident, when you travel in rural areas across the country.

Previous ramshackle structures have been replaced by posh homes, signifying a stunning transformative power of a good job and decent income.

Needless to say, the diaspora plays a central role in various national socio-economic development programmes that positively impact lives.

Remittances are now at the heart of economic growth, having risen exponentially in the last decade to become the country’s highest foreign exchange, overtaking tea, coffee and tourism. Data show inflows went up sixfold from slightly more than Sh100 billion in 2012 to nearly Sh600 billion in 2024.

The last two years have seen an exponential jump of Sh120 billion from Sh480 billion in 2022.

President Ruto has set an ambitious target of boosting remittances to Sh1 trillion by 2027, which is by no means beyond reach, considering the host of radical reforms being undertaken in the labour mobility realm.

In addition to being a source of job opportunities and remittances, labour migration fosters technology and skills transfer.

Kenyans overseas are bound to bring the global knowledge and their experiences back home, helping to catalyse economic growth, elevate local standards across sectors and deepen an entrepreneurial culture.

Among the consequential reforms implemented in the last three years is the establishment of the State Department of Diaspora Affairs, dedicated to the welfare of Kenyans in foreign countries. President Ruto deserves accolades for this action which was long overdue.

No previous administration paid such serious attention and recognition to the diaspora, yet they are an engine of national development. Thankfully, this wrong has been righted now by the current president.

Another notable change is the new 2024 Diaspora Policy being crafted to enhance support for diaspora investments, foster communication, and provide firm legal protections for Kenyans overseas.

In addition, the proposed law looks to reduce bureaucratic hurdles, and offer incentives to accelerate growth of remittances and business ventures.

To crown it all, the government has been working to fill loopholes that have left Kenyan workers exposed to exploitation, mistreatment, discrimination and poor pay.

Sanlam Allianz Holdings Kenya, the new name for Sanlam Kenya PLC, marks a new chapter for a company that started operating in Kenya on October 26, 1946 as Indo Africa Insurance Company Limited.

The firm, which was initially offering life insurance only, listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) in 1963 and changed its name to Pan Africa Insurance Company.

Once an insurer with the largest market share in Kenya, Sanlam has been overtaken by the likes of CIC, APA, GA, Old Mutual, Jubilee and ICEA Lion. Now it dreams of reclaiming this lost insurance crown thanks to the recent joint venture between South Africa’s Sanlam Limited and Germany’s Allianz SE.

Sanlam Allianz Holdings Kenya CEO Patrick Tumbo reflects on the decades of the company in the market, what the new deal means in terms of the company structure and the ambitions for the new entity.

What is the rationale for this transaction?

We started as a life company in 1946 and then moved on and became the leader in the life business for many years. Then we lost it.

We have now reorganised again to be the leaders. We have refined our strategy and in three to four years, you will see us at the top. But it might happen earlier.

We honour the healthy legacy which was built on nearly eight good decades of service, trust and enduring commitment to Kenya and now the idea is to make this journey even better.

At independence we made history as the first insurance company to list on the NSE, demonstrating our commitment to transparent growth and shared prosperity.

Pan Africa Insurance was for the longest the top insurer in the country before losing out. The new brand is a chance for us to start the journey of going back to the number one spot. We were here at independence and we want to be here for years to come.

We have successfully finalised a strategic regulatory approved merger of Sanlam General and the Jubilee-Allianz General into Sanlam Allianz General. We have streamlined operations and are ready to move the market and position ourselves perfectly for growth. Our history is defined by foresight, resilience and pursuit of scale. This has prepared us for the new era that begins now.

What does the shareholding structure look like after this joint venture?

To be more efficient now, we have to be nimble. The listed company remains. It was founded by the owners of the life company. They diversified out but the life company continues to be the flag bearer of the listed company.

We have diversified in a manner that the investments company- Sanlam Allianz Investments- will now be operating on its own. We will have the Sanlam General Insurance, also operating on its own. The life entity will also be operating on its own.

But together, these companies will be bearing the Sanlam Allianz brand. When you grow up, you move from the homestead. So, these companies have come of age.

The ownership structure in Kenya remains a bit complicated, whereby the law insists that one third must be owned locally. Sanlam Allianz Holdings will own all the entities.

Instead of holding another holding company, now Sanlam Allianz Holdings will own directly the Sanlam Allianz Investments, Sanlam Allianz General and Sanlam Allianz Life which will remain the listed entity so that the shareholders locally continue with what they started.

What does this rebrand mean for the market besides the name change?

This is not merely a change of the logo or a change of the name, but the culmination of a powerful venture between two titans-the African giant and the global giant.

Sanlam brings expertise in Africa and Allianz brings world leadership in insurance and asset management. Therefore, this for us, is about bringing together over a century of global excellence and technical innovation.

When you look at the two muscles coming together and with the expertise we have, we are prepared to take Sanlam Allianz to the top.

This new entity signifies unmatched expertise with an understanding of Kenya and Africa, allowing us to provide a broader, more innovative portfolio of financial solutions and risk solutions. We will leverage this immense scale and capital to underwrite giant risks and guarantee security that our clients demand.

You have talked of this deal giving you the capacity to underwrite giant risks. How much money has flowed into these entities as a result of this transaction and how does the capital look like now?

Some things are confidential and as a listed entity, there are things we cannot disclose publicly. But for all our entities they have a capital ratio of more than the prescribed minimum of 200 percent.

We are very stable now. When we publish financials, you will see the numbers. When we talk about scale and capacity, you just need to check who is backing us. The way we are structured, the balance sheet backing the risks that we underwrite in this market is massive.

Sanlam was once the top insurer in Kenya but lost out this position and is not even in the top five when you look at general and life business. What does the actualisation of this new venture mean?

Our goal is very clear- to be among the top one three financial services players in terms of market share and profitability, with the ultimate aim of being second to none.

When we look at culture, we realise that strategy is meaningless without the right people and the right culture. Our true strength lies in how we execute and live our promise and our purpose.

Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) is the leading cause of preventable childhood blindness globally. As medical advances allow more premature and extremely premature infants to survive, the number of babies at risk of developing ROP continues to rise.

In Kenya, recent investments in maternal and neonatal health have led to establishment of newborn units even in remote and previously under-served regions. Yet while we have made important strides in saving premature infants, equivalent progress in protecting their sight is yet to be met.

With only about 150 ophthalmologists serving a population of 55 million, and most newborn units lacking specialised eye-care coverage, the majority of the 200,000 premature babies born annually do not receive the retinal screening they urgently need.

Local studies estimate that between 17 and 42 percent of Kenyan premature infants develop ROP. Many of these cases are preventable, and nearly all can be treated effectively when detected early.

Recognising this, Retinopathy of Prematurity Working Group of Kenya and Ministry of Health introduced national ROP guidelines in 2018, training for both trainee and practicing ophthalmologists, and strengthened screening programmes across the country.

A semi-informal but vital network of general ophthalmologists emerged, using binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy and smartphone-based fundoscopy to capture retinal images and share them remotely with paediatric ophthalmologists and vitreoretinal surgeons for guidance.

These innovations have improved early detection, lowered the severity of disease among diagnosed infants, and reduced the rates of visual impairment among those who require treatment.

Despite these gains, universal ROP screening remains out of reach. It is within this gap that telehealth and AI offer transformational solutions-solutions that Kenya has already begun to deploy. In March 2025, a tele-ophthalmology programme was launched at Kenyatta National Hospital’s newborn unit.

Today, KNH is now connected to newborn units at Mbagathi Hospital, Kiambu Level Four Hospital, Pumwani Maternity Hospital and Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital. Trained technicians equipped with a mobile retinal camera rotate across these facilities each week.

For every eligible preterm baby, they capture six retinal images per eye, record clinical risk factors such as gestational age, birth weight, oxygen exposure and illnesses like sepsis, and upload the data for remote review by ophthalmologists.

Within just six months, the programme has screened 960 infants, of whom 360 were diagnosed with ROP, proving itself cost-effective and scalable. It offers a glimpse of a future where no child goes blind just because a specialist was hours away.

Telehealth, however, is only part of the solution with AI poised to revolutionise the landscape even further. Around the world, AI algorithms are increasingly being used to diagnose retinal diseases, from diabetic retinopathy to hypertensive retinopathy, with accuracy comparable or surpassing to that of human specialists.

Yet Africa risks being left behind, because most AI systems are trained using non-African datasets and may perform poorly when applied to African populations due to racial differences in anatomical features such as retinal pigment.

To correct this imbalance, Kenyan specialists are building an AI-ROP model specifically designed for African infants. Using retinal images gathered through the telehealth programme, the team is training a system that will be capable of detecting and staging ROP with high sensitivity.

Once fully developed, the AI tool will allow any healthcare worker to take retinal images using a smartphone and receive an instant preliminary diagnosis. This will dramatically reduce delays, ensure timely intervention and bring expert-level screening to remote newborn units that lack ophthalmologists.

Behind the statistics are real children and families impacted by untreated ROP; whose eyesight could be saved with simple, timely ROP screening. ROP-related blindness is almost entirely preventable, and Kenya now stands on the brink of becoming a continental leader in eliminating it.

To achieve this, we must expand tele-ROP services to counties nationwide, invest in training more technicians and equipping newborn units with retinal cameras, accelerate development and regulatory approval AI models and mobilize government and private-sector funding to sustain and scale these innovations.

Treasury bond investors shunned the reopened 30-year paper in the dual tranche December auction, opting for the 25-year bond that pays higher annual interest.

In the sale that targeted Sh40 billion, the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) reopened a 25-year bond that was first sold in May 2021, at a coupon of 13.92 percent, and a 30-year bond first sold in February 2011 that pays annual interest of 12 percent.

Investors offered a total of Sh53.13 billion in the auction, with CBK taking up Sh47.1 billion. The 25-year bond accounted for the bulk of the activity with bonds valued Sh48.5 billion and an acceptance of Sh43.2 billion, while the 30-year bond realised Sh3.9 billion from Sh4.59 billion offers. The 30-year bond, dubbed a Savings Development Bond (SDB) when it was floated in 2011, was most recently reopened in September, when it raised a modest Sh2.4 billion against a target of Sh20 billion.

It was also reopened in June this year alongside a 15-year bond from 2020 that carried a coupon of 12.75 percent.

The SDB netted Sh13.8 billion from Sh16.6 billion bids in this sale, where it was outperformed significantly by the 15-year paper which raised Sh57.9 billion from bids of Sh84.7 billion.

Investors have been keen on locking in any bond offering a relatively high coupon amid falling interest rates, regardless of tenor, as general interest rates in the fixed income market continue to fall.

The maturity profile of these bonds would have appealed to buyers who normally have a long investment profile such as pension funds, but retail investors also bought in as returns from other assets such as Treasury bills, unit trusts and fixed bank deposits continue to trend lower.

The general decline in interest rates has tracked the easing of the CBK’s monetary policy committee, which has cut rates in its last eight meetings held since August 2024.

The Central Bank Rate (CBR) currently stands at 9.25 percent, having been cut by 0.25 percentage points in the latest meeting on October 7. The CBR stood at 13 percent before the current easing cycle started in August 2024.

The CBK has been taking advantage of the willingness by investors to lend long term against favourable coupon rates to lengthen the maturity profile of domestic debt while running ahead of the year’s borrowing target.

In November, the CBK carried out two separate issuances in which it reopened four papers, comprising a pair of 15-year bonds that had 8.7 years and 11.4 years to maturity, a 20-year bond with seven years to maturity and a 25-year bond that had 21.9 years until it falls due.

These bonds pay investors interest at rates of between 12 and 14.2 percent, which is well above the rates of between 7.8 percent and 9.4 percent that are available on short term Treasury bills.

Investors offered the government a cumulative Sh208.75 billion in the two issuances, with the CBK taking up just over half of this amount at Sh107.6 billion.