The Supreme Court has upheld tax waivers for Japanese firms and their employees working on development projects in Kenya, dismissing a petition challenging the exemptions.

• The waivers were granted through Legal Notice No. 15 of 2021, exempting firms, consultants, and employees from income tax on projects financed under bilateral agreements.
• The petition was filed by activist Eliud Karanja Matindi.
• The court ruled that Parliament followed the law in approving the legal notice, and that any discrimination claims should have targeted the agreements themselves, not the implementation notice.

Kenya is tightening regulations on its booming betting industry, introducing stricter licensing requirements for a wider range of operators and service providers. This move aims to enhance oversight and combat potential financial crimes within the sector.

• Kenyans wagered a record Sh330.5 billion in the year to June 30, 2026.
• The Kenyan government, through the Gambling Regulatory Authority, is implementing the new rules.
• Existing licensees have a 60-day grace period to comply with the updated requirements, which include detailed financial and technical disclosures.

Kenya, once the undisputed investment gateway of East Africa, is facing growing competition for foreign direct investment due to high operating costs and policy uncertainties, challenging its traditional advantages.

• $1.5 billion: The estimated foreign direct investment attracted by Kenya in 2024, trailing regional rivals like Ethiopia.
• President William Ruto's administration is pursuing export-led industrialization, but faces challenges from high electricity costs (up to Sh24 per kilowatt-hour) and an unpredictable tax regime.
• Regional competitors like Rwanda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Egypt are aggressively attracting investors with lower energy costs, tax incentives, and streamlined regulations.