The Central Bank of Kenya warned eight commercial banks of daily penalties for failing to align lending rates with recent policy cuts that lowered the Central Bank Rate from 13% to 9.5%. Governor Kamau Thugge stated that the regulator will enforce full compliance with the new uniform loan pricing model. Only six banks, including Absa, Stanbic, and Citibank, met or fell below the revised benchmark, others raised rates despite seven policy reductions in August.

Kenya secured a USD 1.5 billion (Ksh193.8 billion) loan from international markets to repay USD 1 billion (Ksh129.2 billion) of its 2028 Eurobond early. Treasury PS Chris Kiptoo said the deal reflects strong investor confidence and prudent debt management. Issued in 7- and 12-year tranches at 8.7%, the loan attracted USD 7.5 billion in bids, easing repayment pressures and supporting fiscal stability.

South Sudan has asked Kenya to reduce cargo handling fees and container deposits at Mombasa port, citing the current US$5,000 charge per container as too high. Officials say the fees deter traders and increase costs. Negotiations through the Northern Corridor Transport Authority aim to introduce alternative guarantees for container returns. South Sudan handles nearly 10% of Mombasa’s cargo, second only to Uganda.

Kenya plans to generate Sh1.2 trillion from intra-African tourism by 2027, aiming to create 1.7 million jobs under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda. Deputy President Kithure Kindiki announced the strategy at the Magical Kenya Travel Expo, highlighting AfCFTA opportunities, infrastructure upgrades, digital innovation, and public-private partnerships to boost arrivals and diversify the sector.

Co-operative Bank of Kenya won the Product Innovation of the Year (Africa) at the 2025 Global SME Finance Awards, organized by the IFC and SME Finance Forum under the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion. The award recognizes Co-op Bank’s leadership in creating innovative, inclusive products for MSMEs through digital platforms and tailored financial solutions, highlighting its role as one of Africa’s most forward-thinking financial institutions.