The High Court has upheld the Sh7 fuel levy hike, dismissing a petition that sought to compel the government to refund motorists for the increased road maintenance charge. The court ruled that the government met constitutional standards for public participation before implementing the increase in July 2024.

• The levy increased from Sh18 to Sh25 per litre of petrol and diesel under the Road Maintenance Levy Fund (Imposition of Levy) Order, 2024.
• The case was filed by Haki Yetu Organisation against the Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport, the Kenya Roads Board, the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority, and the Attorney-General.
• The Kenya Roads Board cited a funding deficit of Sh63 billion against an estimated annual requirement of Sh157 billion for road maintenance, justifying the increase.

The Kenyan government denied Koko Networks approval to sell carbon credits internationally due to concerns over potential monopolization of the market, leading to the company's exit from the country. This decision hindered Koko's ability to subsidize its bioethanol cooking fuel, making its business model unsustainable.

• Trade Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui stated that Koko sought to claim Kenya’s entire carbon credit allocation, which would have disadvantaged other local firms.
• The government declined to issue letters of authorization under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, preventing Koko from trading carbon credits.
• Koko Networks operated in Kenya for nearly a decade, providing a cleaner alternative to charcoal and kerosene, and its closure raises concerns about households reverting to polluting fuels.

The Kenya Bankers Association (KBA) has urged the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) to maintain the benchmark lending rate at 9 percent ahead of the upcoming Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting. The KBA believes keeping the rate unchanged will allow for the full transmission of previous cuts and facilitate a smooth transition to risk-based lending.

• KBA recommends holding the benchmark lending rate at 9 percent.
• The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting is scheduled for tomorrow.
• The CBK last reduced the rate by 25 basis points to 9 percent in December.
• Maintaining the rate supports the shift to a risk-based lending framework by February 2026.