Author: Edwin Mwangi

Makutano is increasingly attracting the attention of Kenyans looking to buy land, as demand for residential property grows around emerging towns with access to infrastructure, social amenities and established commercial centres. For Cledun Realtors Limited, Makutano has become one of the company’s key property markets, with the real estate firm developing several residential projects in the area. The company says its journey in Makutano began with Neema Garden Phase I before expanding into additional projects including Neema Garden, Tumaini Garden, Fahari Garden and Wema Court. According to Cledun, the growth of Makutano is being supported by its strategic position along…

Safaricom Hook has taken its search for Kenya’s next generation of performing talent to Kisumu, where regional auditions for the Hook Hip Hop Musical were held over the weekend at Mama Grace Social Hall. The auditions, held on Saturday and Sunday, marked the third stop in the national talent search after previous auditions in Kakamega and Embu. The initiative brought together dancers, musicians and actors aged 18 and above, giving young creatives an opportunity to showcase their talents and compete for a place in the musical. The top five performers in Kisumu — Michael Jonnes, Victoria Ojiayo, Stephen Ochieng, Brian…

Six Kenyan photographers and videographers have emerged as the inaugural winners of the Safaricom and M-Pesa Foundations Capture the Good Challenge, taking home a combined KES 4.5 million for their compelling stories of transformation from communities across the country. In the photography category, Mathew Meli from Uasin Gishu emerged the overall winner for his work capturing improvements in school infrastructure under the education pillar. Charles Muia from Embu was named first runner-up for his story on the provision of laboratory equipment, while Lameck Ododo from Kericho took second runner-up for his work highlighting the kitting of Kapkatet Football Club. In…

Bamburi Cement Plc yesterday hosted the destruction of more than one tonne of narcotic substances valued at more than KSh 8.2 billion as part of the firm’s law enforcement support programmes. At a function presided over by Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, Bamburi Cement’s Clinker manufacturing kiln, which fires to temperatures of more than 1,500 °C, provided the ideal space for destroying the methamphetamine. Speaking at the event, Bamburi Cement Plc Chief Executive Officer Mr Geofrey Ndugwa, alongside national security leaders, said the firm had, over the years, supported and facilitated law enforcement programmes as part of…

The International Trade Centre (ITC) and Access Bank have entered into a three-year partnership aimed at expanding access to finance, markets and skills for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across 14 African countries. The partnership, formalised through a memorandum of understanding on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, will initially be piloted in Ghana before being expanded to other African markets. The 14 countries targeted under the programme are Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Mozambique, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia. The initiative seeks to…

The Co-operative Bank of Kenya has partnered with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) under a US$100 million financing programme aimed at expanding access to competitively priced foreign currency financing for Kenyan businesses. The first tranche of US$50 million has been executed through a cross-currency swap transaction, marking the initial drawdown under the broader US$100 million facility agreed between the two institutions. The transaction also marks the first cross-currency swap in Kenya to utilise the Kenya Shilling Overnight Interbank Average (KESONIA), the country’s benchmark reference rate. According to Co-op Bank, the financing programme will increase its capacity to…

Kenyans are being encouraged to experience the country beyond its conventional tourist attractions as a new campaign seeks to promote more inclusive and accessible tourism for people living with disabilities. The campaign, dubbed “Kenya Beyond Sight,” has been launched by KCB Bank in partnership with RUBiS Energy Kenya and the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB). The initiative brings together six content creators—J-Supercharge, Denno Music, Sammy Brayo, Nancy Cosy, Chelah Richards and Delvin Obara—to challenge perceptions around disability and tourism while showcasing destinations, cultures and experiences across Kenya. The creators will embark on a five-day journey through parts of the Eastern and…

Technology students at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) and neighbouring institutions in Kakamega have received hands-on exposure to emerging technologies through Safaricom’s Regional Decode Café. The initiative brought Safaricom’s developer-focused innovation platform to Western Kenya, giving students an opportunity to explore how technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), AgriTech and Cyber Security can be applied to solve real-world challenges. The sessions placed particular emphasis on agriculture, a major part of the region’s economy, demonstrating how technology can support areas such as smart farming, automation, data collection and informed decision-making. Rather than relying…

The National Treasury has vowed to challenge the High Court decision nullifying the government’s sale of a 15 per cent stake in Safaricom PLC to Vodacom, saying the transaction was conducted within the law and in line with prudent management of public finances. Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi in a statement on Wednesday said the government was studying the judgment delivered on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, before pursuing further legal action. “The National Treasury will pursue this appeal vigorously and provide further updates as the matter progresses through the courts,” Mbadi said in a statement. The three-judge High Court bench…

The Packaging Producer Responsibility Organisation (PAKPRO) and the Kenya Scouts Association (KSA) have partnered to promote environmental education, waste segregation and packaging recovery in schools across Kenya. The two organisations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Tuesday to officially launch the Tuwezeshe programme, an environmental education and awareness initiative aimed at equipping young people with the knowledge, skills and practical tools needed to embrace responsible waste management. Through the partnership, PAKPRO and KSA will use the Scouts’ extensive youth network to promote environmental stewardship in schools and communities while creating practical opportunities for learners to participate in waste segregation,…