Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) invested Sh15.5 billion in capital expenditure in the year ended June 2026, as it moves to expand electricity generation, with a 63-megawatt (MW) geothermal plant at Olkaria awaiting commissioning.The investment rose 14.3 per cent from the previous financial year, reflecting the power producer’s push to increase capacity, improve plant efficiency and meet rising electricity demand while keeping generation costs in check.
Category: Economy&Finance
-
Why Kenyans Abroad Struggle to Invest Back Home
For many Kenyans living abroad, leaving Kenya does not mean leaving their responsibilities behind. Family is still here. Investment opportunities are still here. Property, business interests and long-term plans may still be here too. But managing all of that from another country can become complicated very quickly.
-
Jumia Kenya Black Friday targets shoppers beyond Nairobi
Jumia Kenya will launch its 2026 Black Friday campaign on 30 October, targeting consumers across the country as the e-commerce platform expands beyond Nairobi.
According to Jumia, its physical-goods gross merchandise value (GMV) in Kenya grew by 23% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2026. Kenya accounted for 15% of the company’s physical-goods GMV during the quarter.
The company said 67.6% of its active customers in Kenya are now based outside Nairobi. Data for the first half of 2026 shows Kiambu County accounts for 10.5% of active customers, followed by Mombasa at 5.9%, Nakuru at 5% and Kajiado at 4.2%.
“The bigger story is where Kenya’s online growth is coming from. Two in three of our active customers are now outside Nairobi, while physical-goods GMV grew 23% in the second quarter. That tells us e-commerce is becoming a more national retail channel,” said Vinod Goel, MD of Jumia East Africa.
“At the same time, the online basket is broadening from smartphones and televisions to household and everyday products. Black Friday brings these shifts into focus and gives Kenyan sellers, SMEs and brands an opportunity to reach consumers at scale.”
The figures point to opportunities for businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), that want to use online marketplaces to reach customers beyond their immediate location.
Umesh Bhojwani, founder of Vision Plus Kenya, said partnering with Jumia had been a significant catalyst for the company. It has helped Vision Plus grow its market share without a large physical retail presence. He added that customer feedback through the platform helps the company understand demand and see where to improve its products.
During the campaign, customers will be able to shop across electronics, beauty, telecoms and sports. Participating brands include Xiaomi, L’Oréal, Nivea, Vision Plus, Itel, Oraimo, Haier, Hisense, Lyons, Electromate, Decathlon, Safaricom and Nairobi Sports House.
This year’s line-up also includes household appliances and livestock such as cows. Jumia said this reflects its aim to offer locally relevant products through the platform.
According to Jumia’s data, 82% of its audience is aged between 18 and 44, which shows the importance of younger, mobile-first consumers to Kenya’s online retail market.
To reach customers outside Nairobi, the company plans to use pick-up station activations, its agent network and regional radio.
Go to TECHTRENDSKE.co.ke for more tech and business news from the African continent and across the world.
Follow us on WhatsApp, Telegram, Twitter, and Facebook, or subscribe to our weekly newsletter to ensure you don’t miss out on any future updates. Send tips to info@techtrendsmedia.co.ke
-
Bolt adds pay-more, wait-less ride options in Kenya
Ride-hailing firm Bolt has rolled out three ride categories in Kenya. Customers can pay extra for a faster pick-up, wait longer for a cheaper fare, or hire a car by the hour.
The Priority category lets riders pay a premium to be matched with a driver faster, aimed at people heading to meetings, flights or other time-sensitive appointments.
Wait and Save offers lower fares to customers willing to wait for demand to ease, targeting cost-conscious riders during peak hours.
Ride by Hour lets customers book a car for one or two hours at a fixed hourly rate, priced on time rather than distance. It is aimed at errands, shopping and business visits with several stops, and carries no extra charge per stop during the booking.
“These categories give customers more control over how they travel, whether they want a faster pick-up, a lower fare by waiting for demand to ease, or the flexibility of having a car for multiple stops,” said Dimmy Kanyankole, Bolt’s senior general manager for rides in East Africa.
“We’re responding to the different needs of riders while creating more opportunities for drivers to access trips, reduce idle time and earn on the platform.”
Bolt says the options will also help drivers. Priority gives them access to higher-value trips, while Wait and Save brings in riders who might otherwise skip a trip when fares are high.
The hourly model gives drivers more predictable earnings and could reduce disputes with riders over waiting time and extra stops.
Drivers remain free to choose which trips they accept, the company said. Priority is offered alongside, not instead of, standard rides.
The new categories come as Bolt and rivals compete for riders in a price-sensitive market. Drivers have repeatedly protested over low fares and high platform commissions.
The rollout follows Bolt’s launch of Bolt Plus, a subscription offering ride cashback and free food delivery, earlier this month.
Go to TECHTRENDSKE.co.ke for more tech and business news from the African continent and across the world.
Follow us on WhatsApp, Telegram, Twitter, and Facebook, or subscribe to our weekly newsletter to ensure you don’t miss out on any future updates. Send tips to info@techtrendsmedia.co.ke
-
Jumia Black Friday 2026 highlights E-commerce growth beyond Nairobi as sales rise 23%
Jumia's physical-goods Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) in Kenya grew 23% year-on-year in 02 2026Jumla Black Friday 2026 Spotlights E-commerce Growth Beyond NairobiTwo in three Jumia Kenya customers are based outside Nairobi, as physical-goods GMV grows 23% in Q2 2026NAIROBI, Kenya, 29 October 2026: Jumia will launch its 2026 Black Friday campaign on 30 October, against a backdrop of continued growth in Kenya’s online retail market and a widening customer base beyond Nairobi
-
Ecobank Kenya appoints Centum Finance Director Risper Alaro to board as women reach 55%
Ecobank Kenya has appointed Risper Alaro as a Non-Executive Director following approval by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), increasing women’s representation on the bank’s nine-member board to five.The appointment raises women’s representation on the board to approximately 55.6%, strengthening the bank’s focus on gender diversity, inclusive leadership and corporate governance.
-
Bolt expands ride options to give customers more control over fares, waiting time
Kenyans using Bolt can now choose between faster pick-ups, cheaper fares and hourly bookings for multi-stop journeys, as the ride-hailing platform expands options aimed at different travel needs.The three categories, Priority, Wait and Save, and Ride by Hour, allow customers to balance cost, time and convenience while creating additional opportunities for drivers to access trips and earn through the platform.
-
Who Owns Naivas Supermarket?
From a family business in Rongai to one of Kenya’s biggest supermarket chains. Discover its history, name changes and the people who own it today.WhOwnsKenyaIt Started as a Family Shop in 1990Founded in Rongai, Nakuru, in 1990, the business was started by David Kimani and Simon Gashwe, with their father, Peter Mukuha Kago, later joining the family enterprise.
-
Meru farmer develops first locally bred dragon fruit variety
Dragon fruit, a tropical fruit prized for its striking appearance, distinctive flavour and nutritional value, is attracting growing interest among Kenyan farmers seeking to diversify their crops and tap into emerging markets.Also known as pitaya, the fruit is recognisable by its brightly coloured skin and white or red flesh speckled with tiny black seeds.
-
AFA closes avocado sea export season over low production
The Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) has announced the closure of the avocado harvesting season for sea exports from October 30, 2026, citing inadequate production levels in major growing regions.The restriction covers Hass, Fuerte, Pinkerton and Jumbo varieties, with the authority cautioning exporters and processors against breaching the seasonal controls.