1,000 CEOs have presented President William Ruto with recommendations for economic reforms to enhance business conditions in Kenya.

• CEOs highlighted the need for political stability and called for tax reductions, improved credit access, and the settlement of pending bills.
• Key concerns included the impact of tariff wars, with Kenya facing a 10% baseline trade tariff.
• The Central Bank of Kenya has reduced lending rates to 9.75%, but CEOs argue that more significant reforms are necessary for real change.

President William Ruto has signed into law critical legislation aimed at combating money laundering and reforming the insurance sector in Kenya.

• The Anti-Money Laundering and Combating of Terrorism Financing Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2025 addresses long-standing loopholes and enhances the country's financial integrity.
• Amendments affect ten Acts of Parliament, focusing on compliance with global standards set by organizations like the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
• The Insurance Professionals Bill establishes robust oversight for the insurance industry, including a new Registration Committee and a focus on professional misconduct.

The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has announced an 80 per cent discount on penalties for loan defaulters, valid for the next 30 days from June to July 2025.

• Defaulters must repay their loans in full to benefit from the discount.
• Geoffrey Monari, HELB CEO, revealed the initiative amid backlash over plans to utilize law enforcement to recover debts.
• Notably, over 44,000 teachers are currently servicing their loans, contrasting with higher defaults among professionals in the private sector.

Kenyan banks are poised to increase lending in the coming weeks, despite challenges like low consumer purchasing power and high government borrowing, as indicated by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) Market Perceptions Survey from May 2025.

• The CBK reduced the base lending rate by 25 basis points to 9.75%, promoting more borrowing.
• Key figures include CBK Governor Kamau Thugge, who affirmed the resilience and strong liquidity of the banking sector.
• Improved liquidity, stable macroeconomic conditions, and declining interest rates are driving demand for credit, especially among businesses in agriculture, manufacturing, and construction.

The Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) has announced a temporary closure of its Nairobi Regional Distribution Centre for four days to conduct its annual stocktake.

• Closure dates are from Tuesday, July 1, 2025, to Friday, July 4, 2025, with operations resuming on Monday, July 7, 2025.
• Key organization involved: KEMSA, responsible for public health logistics including procurement and distribution of medical supplies.
• Only emergency cases will be attended to during the closure, with full operations paused, highlighting current supply challenges.