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5 storiesNairobi Central Railway Station is expanding to ease congestion. Kenya Power faces a staff shortage as 2,234 employees retired in five years. CMA approved Africa Logistics Properties' dollar-denominated REIT, a first for NSE.
The Cabinet has approved a new 5 trillion Kenyan Shillings National Infrastructure Fund and a Sovereign Wealth Fund. They also sanctioned a 40.4 billion Kenyan Shillings public-private power grid upgrade and the acquisition of a 3.4 billion Kenyan Shillings counter-drone missile system from Israel, alongside new smart driving licenses. Following recent accidents, the government will implement immediate road safety changes with increased enforcement and mobile courts. The Ministry of Interior warned against security breaches at youth events, while KNEC cautioned schools against publishing fake Grade 10 exam analyses, confirming all KCSE examiners have been paid.
Kenya's Cabinet has approved the establishment of a KSh5 trillion National Infrastructure Fund and a Sovereign Wealth Fund to accelerate economic growth. These funds will utilize creative financing methods beyond traditional taxation to mobilize resources. The Cabinet also approved the implementation of new second-generation smart driving licenses, which will be rolled out via a public-private partnership to modernize transport and improve road safety. In a related development, the Kenyan Government has signed a KSh 40.4 billion Public-Private Partnership (PPP) deal. This agreement aims to upgrade the national power transmission network, boost grid stability, and integrate renewable energy.
The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has issued a warning to schools, cautioning them against publishing "fake" and "misleading" analyses of the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) results. Following the inaugural release of KJSEA outcomes on December 11, KNEC clarified that the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system does not use aggregate scores or school rankings. Separately, KNEC addressed concerns about unpaid coordination fees for KCSE examiners. The council stated that all examiners who have completed their marking duties and left the centres have been paid. This clarification followed protests by over 800 examiners at Mary Hills Girls' High School who were demanding their allowances.
President William Ruto has honored environmentalist Truphena Muthoni following her record 72-hour tree-hugging feat in Nyeri, which was intended to raise awareness for environmental protection and climate change. Muthoni was awarded the Head of State Commendation (HSC) Medal for her dedication to environmental stewardship. The President also appointed her as an Ambassador for Kenya's 15 Billion Tree Planting Campaign. The recognitions were presented at State House on Monday, December 15. In addition to the honors, Muthoni received a fully sponsored holiday and facilitation for an international trip.
The Kenyan Cabinet is set to approve the National Infrastructure Fund (NIF), aiming to mobilize Sh5 trillion. In parallel, the government has initiated the expansion of the Nairobi Central Railway Station as part of the Nairobi Railway City project to create a multimodal transport interchange. In a separate infrastructure deal, the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Limited (KETRACO) has signed a Sh40.4 billion ($311 million) Public-Private Partnership (PPP) agreement to expand and modernize the country's power transmission network with Africa50 and Power Grid Corporation of India. The Cabinet also approved the transfer of smart driving licence issuance from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) to a private investor under a new PPP framework.
Nairobi Central Railway Station is expanding to ease congestion. Kenya Power faces a staff shortage as 2,234 employees retired in five years. CMA approved Africa Logistics Properties' dollar-denominated REIT, a first for NSE.
President Ruto awarded environmentalist Truphena Muthoni for her 72-hour tree hug, now making her an ambassador. Separately, comedian Mulamwah and baby mama Carrol Sonie reunited, sparking reconciliation rumors.
Nyanza's political landscape is shifting as veteran politicians re-emerge, prompting debate over ODM's 2027 presidential candidate, reignited by Raila Odinga's daughter, Winnie. Meanwhile, Cyrus Jirongo's "Savage Politics" YouTube platform kept him politically visible.
Ugandan teams join Kenya's Enterprise Cup rugby. Police lead the Premier League after rivals' draws. Kenyan boxers excelled at World Championships while Pipeline and Postbank won in the KVF season opener. Lionesses named their SVNS 2 squad, and Kenyan youth swimmers are off to Angola.
World Bank says Kenya's high data and electricity costs are due to weak competition. Cyber fraud rises, with banks losing 1.5 billion Kenyan Shillings, as CBK urges caution with bank cards. HealthX offers a 15 shillings daily digital health cover for boda boda riders. Standard Bank provided 17.94 billion Kenyan Shillings to Safaricom Ethiopia for expansion. Huawei launched its DigiTruck digital literacy program in Dagoretti North.
The Cabinet has approved a 5 trillion Kenyan Shillings National Infrastructure Fund and a Sovereign Wealth Fund, alongside a new 40.4 billion Kenyan Shillings public-private partnership to upgrade the power grid. Kenya also acquired a 3.4 billion Kenyan Shillings counter-drone missile system from Israel and approved new generation smart driving licenses. Following recent road accidents, the government is introducing immediate changes for motorists, including increased enforcement and mobile courts. The Ministry of Interior warned against flouting security at public events targeting youth. In education, KNEC warned schools against publishing fake Grade 10 exam analyses and clarified that all KCSE examiners have been paid.
A tragic road accident on the Sondu-Oyugis Road in Homa Bay resulted in ten fatalities after a collision involving a matatu and a lorry. In Nyamira, an accident on Saturday night involving a matatu and a trailer caused the deaths of eight people, with two more victims succumbing to injuries at Nyamira County Teaching and Referral Hospital. Police in Nyamira are hunting for a truck driver who fled the scene of a crash in Ekerenyo. According to the NTSA, at least 17 fatalities occurred in road accidents in the first two weeks of December, prompting the National Council on the Administration of Justice, led by Chief Justice Martha Koome, to express deep concern over the escalating number of accidents. In a separate incident, a farmer in Kajiado County lost 14 camels in a road accident on the Namanga-Nairobi highway.
The family of former Member of Parliament and presidential aspirant Cyrus Jirongo is demanding a swift and thorough investigation into a fatal crash, citing allegations of foul play. His death has reportedly triggered suspicion and an investigation is being urged. The family is seeking answers regarding the mysterious circumstances surrounding the death, which occurred in a road accident early Saturday morning. One report states the fatal crash killed Jirongo's nephew, Francis Jirongo, while other summaries refer to the death of Cyrus Jirongo himself and the family seeking answers for his death.
President Ruto is set to convene a Cabinet meeting to approve a Sh5 trillion National Infrastructure Fund aimed at addressing Kenya's infrastructure development needs. The President has also launched a transformative Sh5 trillion fund to strengthen the country's economic reforms. Meanwhile, the government's affordable housing project is experiencing low uptake, with a report indicating only 292,326 Kenyans had registered on the Boma Yangu platform by June 2025. In relation to this project, residents of Mukuru kwa Njenga are urging the government to disclose specific site locations, stating that the lack of clear information is causing fear and confusion.
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Africa Logistics Properties Holdings Limited (ALPH) has received approval from the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) to launch the ALP Industrial Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), the first US dollar-denominated issuance on the Nairobi Securities Exchange. Similarly, Two Rivers International Finance and Innovation Centre (TRIFIC) plans to launch Kenya's first Green, USD-denominated Income REIT, aiming to raise Sh5 billion. This I-REIT is intended to fund environmentally sustainable commercial towers within its Special Economic Zone. In a separate financial innovation, digital lender Tala partnered with Huma Finance to launch a tokenized consumer lending platform. This initiative uses a $50 million USDC credit facility built on the Solana blockchain to expand financial access in emerging markets.
A review of the Kenyan government's performance over the past year highlights widespread citizen complaints about the challenging economic situation. As citizens anticipate what the coming year will bring, many are voicing concerns about the difficult economy. The articles, part of a series examining expectations for 2026, note that the difficult economic situation has been exacerbated by increased taxes. Public expectations for the coming year are a central theme of the discussion.
