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Kenya: President Ruto introduces tax relief for low- and middle-income earners

The Kenyan government is set to provide significant tax relief for low- and middle-income earners, a move aimed at boosting household income and helping workers cope with rising living costs. President William Ruto announced that salaried Kenyans earning up to Sh30,000 per month will be fully exempt from income tax, while those earning between Sh30,000 […]

WhatsApp Messages Legally Binding, Kenya’s High Court Rules

Kenya’s High Court has affirmed that WhatsApp messages and SMS conversations can form legally binding evidence of a contract, even where parties never signed a written agreement. In a judgment delivered on January 19, 2026, the High Court sitting in Siaya dismissed an appeal in a dispute involving the leasing of an ultrasound machine, and […]

Nedbank Strikes Deal for Control of NCBA, Setting Stage for East Africa Push

NCBA Group has struck an agreement that would hand South Africa’s Nedbank a controlling stake in the Kenyan lender, a move that positions Nedbank to re-enter East Africa at scale through one of the region’s most recognisable banking franchises.

Kenya’s $5 billion diaspora inflows set regional benchmark for East Africa

Kenya’s diaspora remittance inflows reached a historic $5.084 billion in the 2024/25 financial year, surpassing the $5 billion mark for the first time, according to the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK). While growth has moderated to 12.1%, this milestone highlights the country’s ongoing reliance on diaspora capital as a stabilizing force for its economy. Beyond […]

Rwanda’s Imports from Kenya Plunge 80%

Rwanda’s imports from Kenya have plummeted by over 80 percent in the past year, signaling one of the most significant changes in the country’s regional trade patterns, Kigali, December 2025  The National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) reported in its Formal External Trade in Goods – October 2025 report that imports from Kenya fell […]