Kenya has formally requested financial assistance from the World Bank to mitigate the economic fallout from the recent Iran war, particularly concerning energy imports and rising inflation.

• The request is described as "significant" but no specific figure has been disclosed by Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) Governor Kamau Thugge.
• This request is in addition to ongoing discussions for a budgetary support loan.
• To cushion consumers, President William Ruto signed a law reducing VAT on petroleum products to 8% from 13% for three months.

Top financial leaders and central bankers are expressing significant concern over a new AI model named Mythos, developed by Anthropic, which they believe poses serious security risks to global financial systems.

• Mythos AI model has already exposed multiple security vulnerabilities in critical operating systems, financial systems, and web browsers.
• Key figures include CS Venkatakrishnan (CEO of Barclays) and Andrew Bailey (Governor of the Bank of England), alongside the US Treasury.
• Governments and banks are being granted early access to Mythos to help them proactively identify and fix potential weaknesses before its public release.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has reduced Kenya's projected economic growth for 2026 from 4.9% to 4.5%. This downward revision is primarily driven by concerns over rising inflation and global economic uncertainties.

• The IMF has lowered the 2026 growth forecast to 4.5%.
• Key factors cited include rising inflation, higher fuel costs, and global uncertainties, including the Middle East conflict.
• Despite measures like an 8% VAT cut and a Sh6 billion fuel subsidy, petrol prices in Nairobi have significantly increased.