Category: Business Daily

On October 19, 2025, together with other participants in the Yale University Environmental Leadership and Training Initiative, I arrived in Porto Seguro, Bahia, Brazil. It was here that the Portuguese first set foot centuries ago, forever changing the destiny of this land and its people.

My journey here and my participation in the programme were among the most significant in my career. It brought class knowledge and theory to life, showing how history reshaped nature and how we can help it heal. The experience also deepened my conviction as a storyteller and climate action advocate.

For one week, we travelled across southern Bahia, a region where the Atlantic Forest, once vast and continuous, now survives in scattered fragments. Yet within those remnants lies a powerful story of recovery, where science, culture, and community are knitting back life into the land.

The Veracel Ecological Station shows how degraded forestlands can heal through natural regeneration supported by research and local commitment. Here, every seedling is tracked and every tree restored with purpose. It is the kind of long-term vision Kenya’s 15 billion trees initiative can draw from, combining the Kenya Forestry Research Institute’s research services with community-based monitoring.

Pau-Brasil National Park, one of the last strongholds of the ancient Atlantic Forest, will teach you the importance of protecting what still stands while restoring what has been lost. The park thrives because surrounding communities see conservation not as exclusion but as a partnership.

It reminds us that Kenya’s protected landscapes, from Mau to Kakamega, can only endure if local people remain part of their story.

Pau-Brasil Rural Settlement, where families who were once landless grow cocoa beneath native trees under the cabruca system, keeps the forest canopy intact while producing food, showing that land reform and ecological restoration can work hand in hand. The shamba system could evolve in a similar direction with stronger ecological safeguards and farmer training.

In Teixeira de Freitas, the Arboretum Programme stands tall in its work on forest diversity through seed collection, nursery management, and research.

It unites institutions, scientists, and communities under one coordinated restoration effort, a model Kenya could emulate to secure native species for its 15 billion trees campaign.

The Egídio Brunetto School of Agroecology trains small-scale farmers through a hands-on model that blends classroom learning with practical fieldwork. It proves that restoration and food sovereignty can grow together, a lesson Kenya’s agricultural training institutions can adapt.

At the Jaqueira Indigenous Reserve, the Pataxó people demonstrated how culture and conservation coexist.

Their indigenous-led tourism preserves both biodiversity and identity, echoing the struggles and resilience of Kenya’s communities, such as the Ogiek and Sengwer.

Kenya should learn from Brazil, rooting every tree in research, community, and culture. This will not just restore forests; it will restore hope, because every forest tells a story, and Kenya’s is still being written.

Land prices in Spring Valley and Upper Hill grew at the fastest pace last year compared to other high-end Nairobi estates amid a shift in investor appetite towards residential and mixed-use property.

Latest survey report by real estate firm HassConsult for the third quarter of the year shows that the price of an acre of land in Spring Valley shot up 13.3 percent over the last 12 months to an average of Sh305.9 million.

‘The strongest growth in Nairobi was in Spring Valley, up 3.6 percent in the quarter, and 13.3 percent in the year, as the area transits from large stand-alone houses to apartments and commercial use,’ said HassConsult.

The price of an acre of land in Upper Hill, one of Nairobi’s prime suburbs for commercial and multi-storey residential properties, grew 9.6 percent to Sh554.6 million.

This was attributed to developers snapping up larger plots to convert them to high-rise apartments and mixed-use developments.

‘Spring Valley continued to lead, heating up further as developers chased large single-home plots to develop into multi-use properties in line with the rapidly changing character of the area, from exclusively top-of-the-market large homes and gardens to a mixed-use area, with commercial properties and apartments,’ said Hass Consult.

‘This delivered a further increase in land prices in the suburb of 3.6 percent from June to September and 13.3 percent over the year.’

The strong growth in land prices in Spring Valley and Upper Hill comes amid a slowdown in the overall value of non-residential building plans within Nairobi as investors avoided the pain of oversupply of office space or stand-alone commercial property with diminished foot traffic in a tough economy.

For instance, the value of non-residential building plans in the capital dropped to a 27-month low of Sh1.6 billion in August 2025, levels last registered in May 2023, according to data by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics.

In contrast, developers in the same month received approvals for home projects worth Sh9.5 billion, up from Sh8.4 billion in July, consolidating a shift in preference among investors.

‘If you look at the demand curve, more people are looking for residential to buy than commercial because remember the basic necessity of a human being is food, shelter, and clothing. Before they go to other expenses like office things and the shops,’ said Mr Daniel Ojijo, the chairman of Homes Universal.

The rise in land prices comes as a boon for investors in Upper Hill, which has, for close to a decade, suffered a downturn in both land and house prices amid the declining allure of the elevated section of Nairobi where big local firms in insurance, banking and public sectors and several multinationals had set up base.

Upper Hill suffered a hit mainly due to constant traffic congestion, which triggered exits of some large corporations from the area

Higher land prices in Spring Valley resulted in increased rental and property values.

‘Only areas with strong developer demand are now reporting strong land price growth,’ said Sakina Hassanali, co-CEO and creative director at Hass Consult.

Spring Valley posted the second-highest increase in rental prices of 7.4 percent in the last 12 months and 4.1 percent in the quarter to September.

This was behind an annual rental increase of 8.7 percent in Gigiri.

These land price gains and rental yields are now competing favourably against returns in other asset classes, including government securities where annual interest rates touched a high of 14 percent this year gross of tax, but are now seen to be trending downwards.

Annual price increases have been more robust in satellite towns, with Juja (14.9 percent), Kiserian (13.2 percent), Limuru (12.4 percent), and Ruiru (10.5 percent) recording double-digit gains.

The average price per acre remained much lower in the satellite towns at an average of Sh32.3 million, compared with Sh223.9 million in the 18 Nairobi suburbs at the end of September 2025, leaving some areas of the city only accessible to a few well-heeled developers.

Upper Hill and Westlands remained the most expensive locations in the city in terms of land prices at an average of Sh554.6 million and Sh504 million per acre, respectively.

Parklands (Sh465.6 million), Kilimani (Sh422.8 million), and Muthangari (Sh400.9 million) also averaged above the Sh400 million mark.

A senior legal officer was sacked for running a private law firm while employed by the State-owned Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC), court papers show, turning the spotlight on moonlighting in the public sector.

The Employment and Labour Relations Court found that Eurry Mabonga, who worked at AFC from April 2013 to January 2025, registered Mabonga and Company Advocates in July 2020 while still at the corporation. During his 12-year stint, he was never promoted and was not paid a non-practice allowance, the judgment notes.

In the public service, a non-practice allowance is payable to professionals who relinquish private practice to serve exclusively in the public sector.

Mr Mabonga was terminated in January 2025. AFC accused him of breaching fiduciary duties under the Public Officer Ethics Act by engaging in private practice and exposing the institution to legal risk. To buttress its case, AFC produced a certificate of registration and a firm profile for Mabonga and Co. Advocates. The corporation also accused him of gross negligence in handling court matters.

Evidence presented showed Mr Mabonga’s work laptop contained draft legal documents, including a Sh7.5 million professional undertaking for an external firm. AFC argued this proved he was managing a private practice during work hours, a claim Mr Mabonga denied, insisting his firm handled AFC-related cases.

Court’s ruling

The court held that Mr Mabonga’s alleged cumulative negligence in court cases, exposing AFC to losses, justified termination. However, it declared the dismissal unlawful for failure to follow due process, including denying him access to crucial documents and allowing an investigator to sit on the disciplinary panel.

The corporation’s IT officer, who extracted evidence from Mr Mabonga’s laptop, sat on the disciplinary committee, breaching AFC’s HR policy.

A witness testified that analysis of the confiscated laptop uncovered unauthorised professional undertakings for third parties, including loan facilities and a land transaction. Mr Mabonga denied the allegations.

The court found AFC breached Mr Mabonga’s rights by withholding evidence. He was denied access to critical documents before the hearing, undermining his defence.

The court faulted the disciplinary process, stating it ‘was a mere formality’, declaring the termination unlawful under Section 41 of the Employment Act.

Professional negligence

At the same time, the court agreed that AFC had valid reasons for termination, citing alleged negligence, including a Sh316,515 loss from a salary dispute. It noted a pattern of professional negligence, such as failure to file defences in a magistrate’s court matter, leading to a Sh30,000 costs award against AFC, and the dismissal of two debt-recovery suits for inaction, costing AFC Sh807,041.

AFC also accused him of signing loan documents without authority, though the court found insufficient proof of forgery.

The judge observed that while individual lapses might not warrant dismissal, their cumulative effect undermined AFC’s legal interests, satisfying Section 45 of the Employment Act.

Problematic practice

Still, the private-practice issue-though ethically problematic-was not included in the termination charges.

‘The disciplinary process was a procedural mockery,’ the court observed, citing breaches of natural justice.

In his claim, Mr Mabonga admitted registering the firm but said it was not concealed and benefited AFC, asserting all filings were on the corporation’s behalf.

The court stated: ‘However, the claimant did not produce any pleadings filed for the respondent (AFC) through the firm. Even if such filings existed, it is unclear how filing the pleadings under the firm was beneficial to the respondent, seeing that there is no indication nor even a suggestion that the respondent was unable to file pleadings in its own name.’

AFC was ordered to pay Sh3.3 million plus interest and Mr Mabonga’s legal costs. The award includes Sh2.6 million in non-practice allowance for 88 months (April 2013 to July 2020, when he registered the firm) at Sh30,000 per month.

The court dismissed his claim for Sh1.7 million in salary disparities, finding no evidence that he performed the duties of a head of department.

Costlier mistake

While the court accepted that ‘Public officers must avoid conflicts of interest, but employers must follow due process,’ it concluded that AFC’s procedural missteps rendered the dismissal unlawful-making the flawed process, rather than the alleged misconduct, the costlier mistake.

Mr Mabonga described himself as well-educated and said he leveraged his skills to deliver favourable judgments that saved AFC over Sh3.5 billion in direct costs. He also claimed stagnation, alleging junior and inexperienced staff were promoted over him, leaving him with heavier workloads and lower pay.

Every dawn around 5am, it’s a familiar sight at Alpha Fit Gym in Thindigua: 50-year-old Richard Agufana pedalling steadily on a Merach cross-trainer. His mornings begin slowly and deliberately, spending 15 to 20 minutes easing his body into motion.

Some 27 kilometres away at Workout Warehouse on Uhuru Highway, 59-year-old Susan Omondi has already broken a sweat by 6.30am. You’ll find her commanding a StairMaster or at her neatly arranged corner, dumbbells at the ready.

Susan’s devotion to weighted cardio borders on sacred. Her unwritten rule: two hours minimum – 30 minutes of weighted cardio, an hour of strength training, then 30 minutes on the treadmill or stairs, without fail.

‘I always start with a light cardio session, then move on to strength training where I push the weights a little harder. I must finish with at least 30 minutes of walking on the treadmill,’ she told BD Life. It’s been her ritual for years.

For the muscular and disciplined Richard, the cross-trainer is the only cardio he trusts. Once done, he spends an hour and a half lifting weights.

‘I played football until I fractured my right leg at 28, that’s why I don’t do much cardio anymore. Everything starts and ends with the cross-trainer. It’s less risky than the treadmill for my old injury. The only other time I do cardio is certain Sundays when my peers and I play football, and as you know, ‘mpira ya wazee’ isn’t that intense,’ he explains.

Then there’s engineer Peter Kamau, 46, who lives for the treadmill. At least an hour on it kicks off his session, followed by 30 to 45 minutes of lighter strength work-often sled pushes.

‘At the gym, I always start on the treadmill. I’m a recreational runner, doing about 200 kilometres a week. There’s always a distance target to hit. I don’t do much strength training; 30 to 45 minutes is enough. Sometimes, depending on the race I’m preparing for, I finish with a slow run on the treadmill.’

For Lorna Bonareri, 53, a die-hard advocate of intermittent fasting and an all-round fitness enthusiast, the ‘cardio before or after weights’ debate barely registers.

‘I’ve been active for more than 30 years,’ she says. ‘My body has muscle memory, so I can switch things up easily. I don’t stress about what comes first. One week I’m cycling; the next I’m lifting or doing cardio; the next I could be swimming. Sticking to one routine plateaus your growth.’

A daily dilemma

As gym culture surges among urban Kenyans, especially those in their 40s and 50s, increasingly conscious of how their bodies age and perform, the conversation keeps returning to one question: after 40, the age where life supposedly begins, should you do cardio before or after strength training?

For many gym-goers, the daily dilemma is familiar: you arrive, scan the room, and wonder-left toward the weights, or right toward the cardio section? You planned to do both, but in what order? Does it even matter?

‘I do believe it depends on one’s objective. What is your goal? Do you want to lose weight, build some muscle, or keep up with general fitness without caring much about your physique?’ argues Juma Hamisi, 47, a certified fitness trainer and ardent advocate of listening to your body.

As you get older, the body gets stiffer and strength declines naturally.

‘If one’s target is to lose weight, it’s advisable to start by warming up the muscles. This increases blood flow and gets your body ready for a more intense cardio workout. But if the goal is to build muscle, then a warm-up is okay-followed by an intense strength session or lifting weights depending on the workout of the day. You might finish with light cardio, either a 20-minute walk on the treadmill or cycling on the spinning bikes,’ adds Juma.

Juma Hamisi: Why I have slowed down on exercises at 47

Former bodybuilder turned fitness instructor Collins Omondi, 49, wants anyone past 40 to be very careful about how they start.

‘I highly recommend starting with cardio, although the intensity varies from person to person,’ Omondi says.

‘It’s important for those aged above 40 to warm up their joints, which naturally become stiffer with age. The body takes longer to heat up, which is why cardio is effective in getting things moving. Jumping straight into strength training or weightlifting increases the risk of injury, and as you may know, the body’s recovery and healing processes slow down with age.’

But 50-year-old boxing coach Hassan Abdul Salim disagrees.

‘I think many people get it wrong. Before we even discuss cardio versus weights, let’s talk about what should truly come first – stretching. Most gym-goers skip stretching because they think it’s a waste of time, but there’s nothing more effective, especially for anyone over 40,’ Hassan explains.

‘Stretching shocks all the nerves in your body and wakes them up because nerves naturally go numb with age. After a proper stretch, which should take no less than 15 minutes, you can move into light cardio like a slow treadmill run, progress to light-weighted cardio, and finally build up to heavy lifting or intense strength training.’

The sequence matters, he insists.

‘If you immediately jump into strength training or load lifting with your muscles and nerves still stiff, getting injured isn’t a question of ‘if’ but ‘when’ and ‘how soon.’ That is why I insist for clients past 40 that we start with stretches to eliminate stiffness and prepare the body for what’s ahead. Once you’ve done that, the rest of the workout becomes a matter of personal preference. To me, this is the safest and most effective way to begin any workout session.’

Start this way…

All things being equal, it makes little difference whether you do cardio before or after weight training. However, if one discipline matters more – say your cardio is part of marathon prep, or your lifting is aimed at building muscle – start with that.

‘Start with the thing you want to get better at,’ advises exercise physiologist John Mukami.

‘If you’re a recreational runner training for a race, you want to do the cardio before the strength work. The reason is simple: if you lift first, you’ll already be fatigued when you start your run, which means you won’t perform at the same level. You’ll compromise your ability to hit your target pace during tempo runs, intervals, or whatever workout you’ve planned for that day.’

Similarly, if your goal is to build strength or hit a personal best in the gym, st art with weights.

‘If that is your priority, begin with strength training and then move on to cardio,’ Mukami adds.

While the physiological differences between doing cardio before or after lifting are minimal, instructors Hassan and Omondi agree that for those past 40, it’s often wiser to separate the two sessions entirely. The risk of injury rises with fatigue-and full recovery takes longer.

‘Fatigue only makes your form worse. You’ll never have better form when you’re already tired,’ Omondi notes. Even when cardio and lifting hit different muscle groups-say, a shoulder workout followed by a run-the combination can still tax your overall systems and mental focus.

A 2025 report by a sports science team on SportRxiv found that warming up before strength training had an insignificant impact on overall exercise performance, including strength, endurance, and perceived exertion.

‘At the end of the day, skipping strength, cardio, or even a warm-up-because you might get too tired to finish the rest of your session-does more harm than worrying about which one to start with,’ notes Juma.

After all, the best workout is the one you actually do.

Competition in Kenya’s high-end health insurance market is heating up after UK-based AXA Global Healthcare partnered with Old Mutual General Insurance Kenya to roll out international private medical insurance (IPMI) plans locally.

The cover, which is aimed at executives working abroad or those who frequently travel overseas, offers comprehensive international medical protection, including emergency care such as ambulance transport and hospital stays when urgent treatment is needed.

The AXA-Old Mutual deal also includes Executive Healthcare Solutions (EHS), one of the major IPMI providers in Sub-Saharan Africa, which targets executives, expatriates, families and organisations with exclusive access to global healthcare solutions.

‘This partnership strengthens Old Mutual’s mission to provide accessible, trusted and customer-focused healthcare protection that meets the needs of a dynamic and globally connected population,’ said Japheth Ogalloh, managing director at Old Mutual General.

The policy also provides access to specialised services like cancer treatment, virtual doctor consultations, and mental health support with access to psychologists.

Members also benefit from medical evacuation and repatriation, as well as a second medical opinion from world-leading health specialists.

Second entry

The entry of AXA into the country’s high-end health insurance market comes barely seven months after another UK insurer, Bupa Global, entered Kenya.

In April, Bupa opened its first African office in Nairobi after receiving approval from the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA).

The deal highlights a growing race among international players to capture the country’s expanding market for premium health cover.

This is amid forecasts that Kenya’s IPMI market will grow by more than 10 percent annually, driven by rising demand for cross-border healthcare and quality medical protection for executives, expatriates and globally mobile professionals.

Under the new deal, EHS will act as the exclusive distributor of AXA policies in Kenya, while Old Mutual will provide local insurance backing.

The agreement also includes the renewal-based transfer of EHS’s existing IPMI customer portfolio across several African markets.

Karim Idilby, chief growth officer at AXA, said collaborating with Old Mutual aligns with the firm’s global growth strategy.

‘Old Mutual’s leadership position in Kenya and East Africa makes them an ideal partner, particularly as we focus on the individuals and small and medium-sized enterprises strategic growth segments,’ said Mr Idilby.

‘Our deep understanding of the insurance needs of those living and working in Africa means we know what clients are looking for from their international health cover,’ said Aly Maherali, CEO at EHS.

Andy O’Cain, global head of distribution at AXA, said the firm aims to sign partnerships in other markets in Africa to gain access to existing and new customers and become the leading player in the continent’s international private medical insurance market.

AXA’s move follows its recent market expansion in the UAE, as the company continues to build momentum in key global growth regions.

The High Court has ruled that banks and financial institutions cannot be subjected to disciplinary action by the Auctioneers Licensing Board for conducting auction-related activities without licences, dealing a blow to professional auctioneers fighting to monopolise asset recovery services.

In a ruling that limits the disciplinary powers of professional boards and protects the financial sector from dual regulation, the court emphasised that the board’s mandate only covers licensed auctioneers, not banks regulated by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK).

The court overturned a decision by the Auctioneers Licensing Board, which had sought to penalise Co-operative Bank of Kenya and several other lenders for allegedly engaging in auctioneering without proper licensing.

The judgment clarifies that only licensed auctioneers – not banks – fall under the board’s regulatory purview, setting back professional auctioneers’ arguments that lenders have encroached on their exclusive domain.

Kensap complaint

The case arose from a complaint made in February 2023 by the Kenya National Society of Professional Auctioneers (Kensap), who accused banks of conducting repossessions and auctions without auctioneering licences, thereby violating Section 4(2) of the Auctioneers Act.

Kensap argued that publicly advertising auction sales and conducting repossession exercises are activities reserved for licensed auctioneers under the Auctioneers Act.

The complaint arose from an auction advertisement published in the Daily Nation by the Co-Operative Bank concerning the sale of repossessed property.

Kensap contended that, by engaging in the auction business, the financial institutions had subjected themselves to the jurisdiction of the Auctioneers Licensing Board.

In a November 2024 ruling, the board concurred with Kensap and dismissed Co-operative Bank’s objection, asserting jurisdiction over the matter.

Disciplining an unqualified person

This prompted an appeal to the High Court, which overturned that decision, declaring that the board erred fundamentally.

‘Just as an unqualified person posing as a doctor cannot face medical council sanctions, banks, (regulated by the Central Bank) cannot answer to auctioneers’ tribunals,’ said the court.

The court held that the Auctioneers Licensing Board lacks authority over banks, as they are governed by CBK regulations, not the Auctioneers Act.

It likened the situation to disciplining an unqualified person practicing law before the Advocates Disciplinary Tribunal, an impossibility since tribunals only regulate licensed professionals.

The judgment affirmed that if banks engage in unlicensed auctioneering, the proper recourse is criminal prosecution under Section 9(2) of the Auctioneers Act-not disciplinary action by the board.

Penalties under this section include fines of up to Sh100,000 or imprisonment for up to two years.

The court found similarities between this case and a 2022 dispute involving the Kenya Bankers Association, in which it was ruled that complaints against unlicensed auctioneering must be pursued criminally, not administratively.

The ruling reinforces banks’ ability to conduct auctions and repossessions without fear of disciplinary action from the Auctioneers Board. It also weakens Kensap’s ability to regulate auctioneering activities, potentially reducing demand for licensed auctioneers in bank-led recoveries.

Festering issue

While the judgment settles the jurisdictional question, it leaves unresolved whether banks’ auction activities constitute illegal auctioneering.

The court acknowledged this ambiguity stating that ‘the dispute remains a festering issue’ requiring legislative or judicial clarity.

‘The issue as to whether the appellant (Co-operative Bank) can continue to render services that are exclusively reserved for auctioneers (as held out by the Kenya National Society of Professional Auctioneers) still largely remains unresolved. It is a question that will continue to vex the licensed auctioneers while causing anxiety and apprehension to parties who render the services that the auctioneering body complains of,’ said the trial judge.

Prosecutors must mostly pursue criminal complaints against entities engaging in unlicensed auctions, though such prosecutions remain rare.

What Kofisi Art Gallery have done is breathe life into spaces that would normally be considered stiff because of their corporate nature. Their first show dubbed Force Field is perhaps the exhibition of the year.

Few exhibitions have come close in terms of the quality and quantity of work that was on display in an unfinished section of a burgeoning high-rise corporate-setting office apartment. Their second exhibition in the same space is smaller, quainter, and is composed of a collage of works that are fragments of the same mirror.

The artworks are from Seven Artists Collective and an interlinked collage of stories told through visual art in varied styles. It is an art showcase that invites reflection and inflection in the pursuit of meaning and evokes dialogue across generations, mediums and ideas told in the language of the artists who include; Onyis Martin, Onesmus Okamar, Deng Chol, Lemek Sompoika, David Thuku, Rasto Cyprian, Taabu Munyoki, Paul Njihia, Nadia Wanjiru, and Maori Wasike.

For David art has been a fundamental part of his upbringing. He recalls childhood as littered with memories of being beaten numerous times for drawing when he should have been studying. He, however, credits his family for understanding the importance of art to him and encouraging him to pursue it.

He comes from the crop of artists who honed their craft at the Buruburu Institute of Fine Arts (Bifa) but for an artist who has had 10 years of full-time professional practice he has never worked individually, his craft has always involved working around a group of artists, a pack mentality habit that he isn’t niggly about sharing.

‘I have worked under three collectives so far, one in Buruburu, another at Kuona Trust, and currently I am working with Seven Collective. Working under collectives has built my career because an artist never works in a vacuum, they need inspiration from different things but mostly, from fellow artists,’ he says.

Whereas he studied as a painter, time has seen David evolve in a different direction.

‘I haven’t painted for a while. I like mixing materials and rarely will you ever find me sticking to one material. It was during this process that I ended up focusing on paper trying different styles until I found one which defines me. My technique is more or less one of paper collage where I study papers. I try pushing every parchment of paper I encounter to be able to learn its limits. My style is one where I marry different techniques, layering them over each other to come up with a complete body of works, a style they call graffito,’ he says.

What separates Middle Ground from the other groups shows is the existence of a pattern in the showcased works, it is not a walk-in show whereby artists just submit work without consideration of the overlying theme.

The artist Middle Ground having worked together before exhibit a seamless sync between their varied works on display in a sense that would be considered as telepathic.

‘Each of the works on display was considered with the larger body of works in mind. Each piece was picked with the purpose of complementing the next piece, everyone has a different style and story but if you look keenly, they all fit into the bigger narrative,’ says David.

Middle Ground suggests a consensus and mix of resources, intellect, and perspective from the viewpoint of the artists. It merges different styles and technique into a collective tale.

For some like David and Wasike, their works dally around movement and spaces, Njihia’s as well as Onesmus’ work parleys with characters and figures as does Taabu’s which pays homage to women and their salon spaces. In the latter three, the notable recurring theme dances around issues of identity.

Lemek’s work inasmuch as it addresses cultural issues inclines itself toward telling the history of a culture which plays into the picture of movement patterns and identity.

Rasto moves about through nature in his work whereas Deng’ who hails from Sudan fancies patterns and abstract characters. Patterns repeat themselves in most of the portraits and for David, who lauds himself as a translator of patterns, they signify belonging. The more one repeats something, they more they become.

It is Nadia Wanjiru’s work however that sticks out for me. It is bold, loud, red and with an impressive almost minimalistic concept of patterns sprinkled reservedly in her canvas spaces that complete the full picture.

Nadia’s use of larger-than-life figures with a backdrop of a dull sharp red creates an image that evokes varied emotions, her figures carry emotions of their own and in a sense create impressions that are both relaxed but still profound.

Taabu pays homage to the woman, space and crown in a series of hair themed portraits. She honours a woman’s crown- her hair- and the salon her sacrosanct space, the throne in which this crown is polished with movements of grace and purpose. Her portraits pay homage to femininity in a way that relates deeply to the African culture.

Middle Ground is being showcased in Westlands and the exhibition runs until December 11, 2025.

The funeral of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga in Nyanza pushed up the country’s inter-county travel costs, with domestic airfares and matatu fares rising sharply in October.

Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) shows that the average cost of a local flight increased by 52 percent to Sh16,722.56 from Sh11,001.44 in the same month last year, as airfares on the Nairobi-Kisumu route surged ahead of Odinga’s burial.

Domestic air ticket prices also increased by 3.8 percent month-on-month, rising from an average of Sh16,106.09 in September, reflecting the sharp rise in inter-county travel by wealthy Kenyans and government officials flying to Kisumu for Odinga’s funeral.

The veteran politician died on October 15, 2025 and was buried in Bondo, Siaya County, on Sunday October 19.

Inter-county bus fares, which typically spike in December, also increased in October as tens of thousands of mourners, alongside dignitaries, travelled to the funeral.

Read: Nairobi-Kisumu airfares double ahead of Raila Odinga’s funeral

‘The cost of international flights declined by 0.6 percent, while prices of petrol and diesel remained unchanged. In contrast, country bus and matatu fares for travel between towns increased by 1.4 percent,’ said KNBS Director-General Macdonald Obudho in the October Consumer Price Index and Inflation Report.

Air fares

Following Odinga’s death, most flights were fully booked throughout the weekend as mourners and political delegations prepared to travel to Nyanza for the final ceremonies. Some airlines, such as Kenya Airways, had to increase their flight frequencies.

Buses on the Nairobi-Siaya route were also fully booked, with some transport companies adding extra services.

A spot check by Business Daily showed that one-way air tickets on major carriers ranged from Sh18,000 to Sh23,000 – almost double the usual price of Sh8,000 to Sh10,000 for this route.

As of midday on Thursday October 16, a one-way Jambojet flight from Nairobi to Kisumu on Saturday was priced at Sh19,500.

Prices have since dropped to between Sh8,300 and Sh10,300, reflecting the cooling demand after the burial of the opposition leader’s burial.

Ordinarily, the Nairobi-Kisumu corridor is one of Kenya’s busiest domestic routes, connecting the capital to western Kenya’s commercial and political heartland. Fares usually range between Sh8,000 and Sh10,000 depending on the time of booking and seat availability.

Odinga, who died at the age of 80 while receiving treatment in India, was a towering figure in Kenyan politics for more than three decades. His death sparked national mourning and drew thousands to vigils in Nairobi and Kisumu, triggering a surge in travel demand.

Read: KCAA halts operations at JKIA as Raila mourners throng facility

Airline data shows that most morning and evening flights from Nairobi to Kisumu on the Friday and Saturday ahead of the burial were sold out, with return flights early the following week also filling up fast.

The rise in ticket prices pushed the cost of a return trip to about Sh40,000 – roughly double the normal average – highlighting how Kenya’s domestic air market remains highly sensitive to sudden, event-driven demand spikes on high-traffic routes like Nairobi-Kisumu.

Odinga, a five-time presidential contender, commanded a passionate following, especially in the Nyanza region, explaining the heightened interest in his funeral.

Hotels in the lakeside city of Kisumu also reported being fully booked in the lead-up to the ceremony.

Inflation rate

According to KNBS data, transport inflation rose by 4.8 percent year-on-year in October, even though the overall inflation rate – the increase in consumer prices over the previous 12 months – remained at 4.6 percent.

Equity Group Holdings has reported a 32.6 percent growth in net profit for the first nine months ended September 2025, riding on cheaper cost of deposits while holding other operating expenses flat.

The regional lender, with operations in six countries, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, reported a net profit of Sh52.1 billion for the period ended September, up from Sh39.2 billion in a similar period the previous year.

The growth followed a 20.6 percent drop or Sh9.3 billion in the bank’s cost of funds to Sh35.9 billion from Sh45.3 billion. The drop was despite a 2.2 percent growth in customer deposits, signalling the decline was due to a drop in interest rates.

‘As interest rates came down late, we passed that to the customers and reduced lending rates by 300 basis points. Interest income has grown by three percent. But interest expense has gone down by 20.6 percent, giving us a 16 percent growth in net interest margin from Sh80 billion to Sh93 billion,’ said Equity Group Chief Executive James Mwangi.

Banks traditionally make money by accepting cash deposits from their customers in return for interest payments and then investing that money elsewhere. The profit made by a bank is the difference between the interest it pays its depositors and the yield it makes through investing.

Equity held its operating expenses flat at Sh90.7 billion, which the management attributed to efficiency arising from digital banking.

‘It is the efficiency of automation – we have digitised the bank significantly. The second one is the use of artificial intelligence (AI). For the last four years, the bank had been messed up by fraud. Financial losses from fraud have been eliminated by using AI,’ said Mr Mwangi.

Kenya was the largest contributor to the group’s performance, having posted a 51.2 percent growth in after-tax profit despite a shrinking of its balance sheet.

The Kenyan subsidiary recorded a net profit of Sh31 billion, up from Sh20.5 billion. Its balance sheet shrank by Sh7 billion to Sh978 billion due to a decline in lending.

‘When the government decided to lower its rates from 17 percent to the current range of 10 to 12 percent, the cost of funds went down, and the net interest margin has driven Kenya. The cost-income ratio of Kenya has moved from 57 percent to 47 percent,’ said Mr Mwangi.

‘What does it mean? That as at December, for every 100 shillings of revenue Kenya made, 57 was spent, but now it is only spending 47 and keeping 53.’

Equity’s DRC subsidiary raked in Sh13.8 billion in after-tax profit, Uganda (Sh2.9 billion), Rwanda (Sh4 billion), and Tanzania (Sh1.5 billion).

The bank’s pile of non-performing loans dropped by Sh10 billion in the three months from June to Sh129 billion, which management attributed to debt collections, especially in Uganda and Tanzania. Bad loans in Kenya were 18.2 percent of the total loan book, the bulk of which was held by corporate borrowers.

Besides banking, Equity also has subsidiaries in insurance, investment banking, telecom, and fintech. The non-banking operations raked in the group Sh800 million.

The bank’s performance saw its share price at the Nairobi Securities Exchange rise 5 percent in Thursday’s trading to a historic high of Sh63.50 per unit.

The hike in share price saw the bank’s valuation at the bourse rise by Sh10 billion on Thursday, cementing the bank’s position as the largest listed lender by market capitalization at Sh239 billion.

Kenya’s insurance penetration remains relatively low at just under 2.5 percent despite the rising insurance risks and the young population, that is hooked to digital platforms such TikTok, Instagram and X.

APA Life insurance CEO Erick Wanting speaks to Business Daily about the missing link in the race to deepen insurance penetration, filling data gaps to start offering personalised covers that appeal to the young people and the advantages of teaming up with banks.

You have previously served in senior roles at Liberty Africa and Hollard, giving you a view of the African insurance market. What is distinct about the Kenyan market?

For 18 to 19 years, I have been in Pan-African roles, with a lot of focus on Southern African Development Community (SADC).

There is a high cultural acceptance to life insurance in those markets, with the most popular ones being funeral and last expense products.

The Kenyan insurance market is a very well-established market, with some companies dating back almost 100 years.

However, the life insurance market is still quite concentrated. Products like funeral insurance are still mostly concentrated in higher net worth people.

Life insurance as a standalone product is still fairly new in the Kenyan context. The market is dominated by investment products.

However, as the younger generation is getting more exposure to information globally, I think they are starting to see the need and the value in having pure life insurance. But this a process that is going to take time. It is not going to be an immediate switch.

Kenya’s insurance penetration remains relatively low at just under 2.5 percent. What do you see as the strategies in increasing life insurance uptake among underinsured and uninsured populations, especially in rural and informal sectors?

The first thing is that we need to understand the people’s needs. We need to move away from a sales approach to a solution space.

It can no longer be a one-size-fits-all approach in terms of making sure that our products are relevant. We need to stop and ask: Does our product meet a customer’s need? What feedback are we getting from our intermediaries and our partners? Understanding what the customers’ need is at the core.

Secondly, our products need to be accessible. Kenya is the envy of a number of markets throughout Africa, because mobile money has created a platform for digital distribution.

The use of digital platforms can be a key enabler. But we have a lot to do to create the awareness of that product, even as we load these products into digital platforms.

Further, insurers need to ask: What is the value the customer is going to get out of it? And how does that process works when they need to make a claim? How do they make premium payments?

Our products need to be relevant and accessible. We have got to do a lot that demystifies the benefits of the product and that means a lot of work needs to go into educating our customers on the benefits of not just our products but of the insurance benefit in totality.

Do you feel there is a big gap in the market between what insurers are offering and what customers think is being offered?

Maybe this is a criticism that we need to look at internally. I think we need to be more deliberate in terms of the message we are putting into the market and what we are marketing through different distribution channels.

Are we reaching our customers through the right communication mediums? That is something that, as a strategy, we need to look at.

We have not done enough in making people understand [the value of insurance. We are not growing the market. We’re not growing the pie. Now we need to start focusing on growing the pie.

Investments in technologies like artificial intelligence and big data seem to be gaining traction as insurers move to improve underwriting and claims management process. How is APA Life playing in this space?

We are modernising our systems so as to harness the value that data and AI can offer. The second thing is using that system’s ability to create value for customers and efficiencies within the business.

We are constantly searching for refined answers to key questions such as: How do we manage our customers better? How do we make sure we are targeting the right customers to offer them the right solution when it comes to using data or using AI in our systems?

We will start seeing increased use of AI for predictive analytics to be able to identify risk areas a lot earlier. The process of modernising our systems is expected to unlock a lot.

As you think about AI, how do you ensure that you still have your hand on the handle as opposed to letting technology take over, given all the biases that may come with it?

This is a question that a number of people are grappling with: What is the role of AI and how is it going to influence business? I think we must be very careful so that we don’t run too far ahead in terms of allowing AI to make decisions when the business isn’t ready for it.

I think it is going to be an iterative process that we introduce in stages into the business.

At the moment, we should have the first line of checks that can be automated but then still have supervisors as a second line of defence, that can actually go and make sure that we’re paying out valid claims.

Software systems and the technology is going to be an entry to the game. But ultimately, it is the people who can use it that will count. That is where our focus is.

We will find our feet as we introduce different kinds of AI efficiencies over time. But there’s no doubt it is going to have a profound impact on how we operate.

Banks and insurers are increasingly teeming up to give life to bancassurance. How important is this distribution model for the industry?

I get very passionate when I speak about bancassurance because I think it is the perfect distribution channel for insurance. Banks are the most trusted financial institutions. Insurers are very good at managing risks. When you take the partnership of these two entities and you marry them, the outcome is a very powerful distribution proposition.

This is the reason why the growth in the bancassurance sector has been in the region of about 25 percent as a compound annual growth rate, compared to 11 percent in the insurance sector.

Banks are realising that to build an insurance business on credit life alone is not sustainable; you need to be a full-service insurance intermediary- which means aligning insurance need to all the banking services they offer.

Developing products that speak to the changing needs of people may require quality data, yet many industry players are suffering from massive data gaps. How can the industry go about it?

Data is definitely the new wealth. Unfortunately, given legacy systems-and APA is no different- a number of players in the market have legacy systems.

At APA, we are now recollecting data and rebuilding up our database. We have gone through a process of redesigning our five-year growth strategy and part of that has been the role of data analytics in the future success of the business.

We’re already in the process of building our data warehouses and recording the correct data.

A lot of it has to do with going back to our existing customer base, putting human resources in place to contact those customers and expand on the data gaps that we have. We will then back up this process with proxy data. It is a bit of an arduous process but one that will pay tremendous dividends in the future.