Kenya’s creative industry just got a major boost. NCBA Bank and HEVA Fund have signed a groundbreaking MOU to roll out tailor-made financial products designed specifically for artists, musicians, and creative entrepreneurs. The announcement came during the NCBA Creative Economy Summit and the Elev8 LIVE album launch—a high-energy celebration of emerging talent and the evolving Kenyan music scene. What’s New for Creatives? HEVA and NCBA are introducing five financing solutions that directly address the unique challenges of the creative sector: Event Financing – for concerts, festivals, and shows Invoice Discounting – to ease cash flow gaps LPO Financing – supporting…
Author: Lorine Otamo
Lorine Otamo
Lorine Otamo is a science journalist who covers health, technology, agriculture, and climate change. She has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication and a knack for simplifying complex scientific topics.
Electric mobility firm Roam Motors has launched Kenya’s first universal fast‑charging station for light electric vehicles (LEVs), branded Roam Point. The system delivers up to 20 kilometres of range in under five minutes, marking a step toward nationwide EV charging infrastructure and positioning Roam as the operator of Africa’s first fast‑charging network dedicated to LEVs. Fast, Universal, and Always On Roam Point introduces 24‑hour, self‑service fast charging, designed to ease long‑standing frustrations among electric motorcycle and tuk‑tuk operators who often face long queues, restricted station hours, and compatibility problems at existing swap and charge facilities. Speed: Riders can fully charge…
The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has rolled out a new feature on its DhowCSD platform that allows investors to pay for successful bids in government securities directly through their mobile phones. Mobile Payments Through M‑Pesa CBK announced that investors can now make payments of up to Ksh250,000 via M‑PESA, accessible under the “Transactions” tab in the DhowCSD mobile app or online portal. Currently, M‑PESA is the only supported option, but CBK confirmed that additional mobile payment channels will be introduced in the future. You can now pay for your successful Government securities bids directly from your mobile phone for…
Stanbic Bank Kenya has reported a profit after tax of KES 9.38 billion for the nine months ended 30 September 2025. While this marks a 7.5% year-on-year decline, the bank maintained strong fundamentals amid a challenging macroeconomic environment, driven by interest rate compression and reduced foreign exchange margins. Despite the dip in profitability, Stanbic’s balance sheet remained resilient, with customer loans growing by 16% to KES 253 billion and customer deposits rising by 5% to KES 344 billion, reflecting continued customer confidence and strategic execution. Stanbic Bank Q3 2025 Financial Summary Metric Q3 2025 (KES Bn) YoY Change (%) Profit…
Britam General Insurance, Hotpoint Appliances, and MIC Global Risks have announced a strategic partnership to offer a 12-month all-risks insurance cover on select appliances purchased at Hotpoint outlets nationwide and online at no extra cost to customers. The cover is automatically activated at the point of purchase and protects eligible appliances against accidental damage, power surges, fire, water damage, transit loss, theft, burglary, and political violence and terrorism. Customers also benefit from a repair-or-replace guarantee, with claims processed via Britam’s digital claims portal. What’s Covered Eligible products include: Refrigerators and freezers Televisions and selected audio equipment Laundry machines and dishwashers…
Zenith Bank, Nigeria’s second-largest lender by asset base and market capitalisation, is set to acquire Kenya’s Paramount Bank in a strategic move that deepens its footprint in East Africa and signals growing investor confidence in Kenya’s evolving financial landscape. Nigerian Banks Deepen East African Presence Zenith joins Access Bank, which acquired the National Bank of Kenya from KCB Group in April 2025, as part of a broader wave of Nigerian financial institutions expanding into Kenya’s high-growth market. Executives from Zenith Bank recently travelled to Nairobi to meet with Paramount Bank shareholders. The transaction is expected to close within months, pending…