Digital lender Tala is set to reduce its workforce in Kenya as part of a global operational restructuring and centralization of functions.

• The job cuts are expected to impact less than 10 percent of Tala's Kenya-based employees.
• Tala, a US-based fintech company, has been operating in Kenya for over a decade.
• Despite the layoffs, Tala stated that its operations in Kenya will continue without interruption.

Kenyan consumers are increasingly shifting brand loyalty to find more affordable options due to persistent inflation and economic pressure, a new study reveals. This trend is reshaping the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector.

• Shoppers are prioritizing affordability, availability, and value for money.
• The study was conducted by Worldpanel by Numerator.
• Growth in the FMCG sector is now driven more by attracting new buyers than by repeat purchases, with visibility and availability being key for brands.

Equity Group shareholders have approved the creation of three new insurance subsidiaries, paving the way for expansion in Kenya and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), pending regulatory approvals.

• The lender will establish a microinsurance company in Kenya with a capital base of Sh192 million, and in the DRC, life and general insurance companies with initial capital of $12 million and $13.37 million, respectively.
• Key individuals involved include Equity Group CEO Dr. James Mwangi, whose vision drives the expansion, and shareholders who granted the crucial approvals during the annual meeting.
• Additionally, shareholders approved a final dividend payout of Sh21.7 billion (Sh5.75 per share) for the year ended December 31, 2025.

The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has opened Kenyan government securities to international investors, enabling them to access the domestic debt market through a new link with global securities settlement firm Clearstream.

• International investors can now access Kenya’s domestic debt market, including government bonds, infrastructure bonds, and Treasury bills, through a single omnibus account structure.
• Key entities involved are the Central Bank of Kenya, led by its Governor Kamau Thugge, and Clearstream, part of the Deutsche Börse Group.
• This connection is Clearstream’s 60th domestic market link globally and its second in Africa, following South Africa.