Demand for housing in Kenya's satellite towns is surging as buyers prioritize affordability, security, and well-planned communities over traditional city-centre living.

• The trend is driving development in areas like Ruiru, Juja, and Mang’u, with developers like Wilstone Homes offering housing units and serviced plots.
• Key factors influencing purchasing decisions include community planning, access to social amenities, and infrastructure, in addition to affordability.
• This shift is occurring within the context of Kenya's ongoing housing deficit, sustaining demand for new residential projects across the Nairobi metropolitan region and other urban centres.

Kenya's fuel import bill surged to a record Sh122.4 billion in May, significantly outpacing previous months and reflecting a notable increase in shipments.

• The May fuel import bill represented a substantial jump from Sh53.08 billion in April and was 169.9% higher than the Sh45.33 billion recorded in May 2023.
• This record spending occurred weeks after several senior energy officials, including the Principal Secretary for Petroleum and the EPRA Director-General, resigned amid allegations of fuel stock data manipulation.
• For the first time, the fuel import bill surpassed that of industrial supplies (chemicals, metals, raw materials), which stood at Sh99.85 billion in May, highlighting a shift in import priorities.

A proposed amendment to Kenya's Microfinance Act could allow borrowers to use a wider range of assets, including cryptocurrencies, social media income, and patents, as collateral for loans.

• The Association of Microfinance Institutions of Kenya (AMFI) is urging lawmakers to expand the definition of acceptable collateral.
• This move aims to increase access to credit, particularly for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
• Data from the Business Registration Service indicates that the Movable Property Security Rights regime has facilitated access to approximately Sh6.5 trillion through registered collateral assets.