Kenyans can anticipate continued access to more affordable loans as the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) announced a further reduction in borrowing rates. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) cut the Central Bank Rate (CBR), the benchmark for commercial bank lending, by 25 basis points.

• The CBK reduced the CBR to 9.25% from 9.50% during its meeting on October 7, 2025.
• This decision is expected to boost demand for cheaper loans and mortgages, directly influencing commercial banks' lending rates.
• Kenya's overall inflation stood at 4.6% in September 2025, remaining below the midpoint target of 5% ± 2.5%.
• The CBK expects inflation to remain stable due to stable energy prices and exchange rate stability, with improved agricultural production also contributing.
• A revised Risk-Based Credit Pricing (RBCP) model will be fully operational by March 2026 to enhance transparency in loan pricing.

President William Ruto has launched NYOTA (National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement), a World Bank-funded program offering Sh50,000 grants and training to over 820,000 young Kenyans, just two years before the next general election.

• The program targets youth aged 18 to 29 (up to 35 for persons with disabilities) across all 1,450 wards for five years.
• Critics view NYOTA, which coincides with a massive voter registration drive targeting young voters, as a political move to win back Gen Z after recent anti-government protests.
• NYOTA features a USSD code (*254#) and is being rolled out with significant government coordination, involving Principal Secretaries across all 47 counties.

The Kisumu County Government has launched a major housing renewal program to replace old, dilapidated homes with modern high-rise apartments, with the latest project breaking ground in Milimani.

• The Milimani project, a partnership with National Social Security Fund (NSSF), will comprise 162 modern apartments, rising to 9 floors.
• Kisumu City Manager Abala Wanga stated the construction is expected to take 18 months, targeting completion by early 2027.
• Other estates undergoing similar regeneration include Lumumba, Makasembo, and Anderson, with UN Habitat set to start construction in areas like Arina and Shaurimoyo.
• New ownership models are planned for neighborhoods without formal land titles, allowing residents to co-own floors or units in newly developed apartments.