Kenya News updates

Kenya Women Microfinance Bank (KWFT) has expanded access to affordable housing finance for more than 83,000 customers, with regional financial institutions now exploring its Nyumba Smart model as a potential solution for low-income households. The bank has disbursed more than 100,000 housing loans worth a cumulative KES 6.7 billion, with an average loan size of KES 70,000 and a portfolio performance rate of 98 per cent. The initiative enables families to build or improve their homes gradually without the financial burden of raising the entire construction cost upfront. Unlike conventional mortgages, which often require substantial borrowing and formal income documentation, Nyumba Smart allows customers to obtain financing in phases based on their immediate needs, from purchasing construction materials and laying foundations to building walls and installing roofs. KWFT Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Rose Muyanga said the model was designed to reflect the realities of fami...

Kenya Women Microfinance Bank (KWFT) has provided more than 100,000 housing loans to over 83,000 customers, building a cumulative KES 6.7 billion housing finance portfolio through its innovative Nyumba Smart model targeting low-income households. The model, which allows families to construct and improve their homes gradually, has recorded a 98 per cent portfolio performance rate, demonstrating the potential of housing microfinance to expand access to decent housing among underserved communities. Unlike conventional mortgages that often require borrowers to secure substantial financing upfront, Nyumba Smart enables customers to access smaller loans in stages, depending on their construction needs and ability to repay. With an average loan size of KES 70,000, the financing can support the purchase of building materials, foundation work, wall construction, roofing and other home improvements. KWFT Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Rose Muyanga said the approach rec...

Patrick Musili Mbangula is positioning himself as a potential new face of leadership in Nairobi County ahead of the 2027 General Election, with his supporters describing him as a visionary leader capable of steering the capital towards better governance, improved service delivery and inclusive development. As Nairobi residents continue to raise concerns about service delivery, urban planning, waste management, traffic congestion and economic opportunities for young people, Mbangula’s supporters believe the county needs leadership that prioritises practical solutions and responds to the everyday challenges facing residents. His growing political profile comes at a time when the Nairobi gubernatorial contest is expected to attract intense competition, with aspiring leaders seeking to convince voters that they have the ideas and commitment needed to transform Kenya’s capital. For Mbangula, the vision of a better Nairobi presents an opportunity to rally residents around an agen...

Stanbic Kenya Foundation, in partnership with GIZ, has celebrated the graduation of 351 entrepreneurs under the Women Employment for the Green Transformation (WE4D) programme, in a move aimed at strengthening businesses, promoting job creation and advancing sustainable economic growth across 10 counties in Western Kenya. The programme seeks to equip entrepreneurs with skills and support to grow their enterprises, create employment opportunities and adopt environmentally friendly business practices. Women account for 85 per cent of the graduating cohort, underscoring the importance of women-led businesses in driving economic empowerment and strengthening local communities. The wider initiative has reached 706 business owners, with supported enterprises collectively sustaining 2,378 jobs, including 1,591 opportunities for young people. The figures highlight the programme’s contribution to enterprise development and employment, particularly among women and youth. The businesse...

 Incoming Judicial Service Commission (JSC) women’s representative Ekaterina Handa has called for expanded access to justice, increased government funding for legal aid programmes and better support for advocates providing pro bono services to vulnerable Kenyans. Speaking during the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) Legal Awareness and Legal Aid Week, Handa said many Kenyans continue to face challenges accessing justice because they cannot afford private legal representation, despite having legal issues that require professional assistance. She said legal aid clinics play a critical role in bridging the gap between citizens and the justice system by bringing legal services closer to underserved communities and helping people understand their rights and available remedies. Handa noted that the LSK has consistently championed pro bono services and legal aid initiatives, adding that collaboration with the National Legal Aid Service was strengthening efforts to make justice access...

  Wiper Patriotic Front (WPF) leader Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka and Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua have committed to strengthening their political cooperation and rallying like-minded parties behind one presidential candidate ahead of the August 10, 2027, General Election. The two leaders held a meeting at Gachagua’s Wamunyoro home in Nyeri County, with their allies indicating that the discussions focused on uniting their political bases and building a formidable opposition coalition under the WANTAM campaign. Speaking during the meeting WPF Senate Minority Leader Kiio Wambua described the meeting as a “cordial and frank discussion on the future of Kenya,” saying the leaders had reaffirmed their commitment to working together to achieve their political objectives. Wambua said the partnership would seek to bring together supporters of both parties and other like-minded political formations under a common platform ahead of the 2027 polls. DCP ...