News and Analysis
December 11, 2025
Hello and welcome to the Money News Roundup Newsletter, where we are covering why the government is considering closing 2,700 secondary schools. We also cover the stalemate that could delay the release of the KCSE results.
2,700 public secondary schools, nearly 28% of the country’s 9,605 institutions, are facing closures and mergers over low student enrollment.
As reported by the Nation, new data by the Ministry of Education shows that the schools have low enrolment, with fewer than 150 learners each.
The situation has prompted the ministry to consider drastic measures, including mergers or closures, as it seeks to optimise resources while rolling out the resource-intensive Competency-Based Education (CBE) system at the Senior School level.
The Head of the Directorate of Secondary Education, William Sugut, said the ministry will consult stakeholders to assess the viability of these schools and determine whether teachers deployed there are being effectively utilised.
While access to education remains a priority, he noted that sustainability and efficient use of public funds must also be considered.
Education experts argue that the rapid and often unplanned proliferation of small schools has worsened the teacher shortage crisis. Dr Emmanuel Manyasa of Usawa Agenda said some areas have multiple schools with very few learners, yet each requires a full complement of teachers.
The latest considerations by the government come ahead of the enrollment of Senior Secondary Schools (SSS) following the release of the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) results.
The SSS institutions will be located in the current high schools in Kenya.
Also Read: Kenya's Private Schools Boom as Owners Embrace New Financing
As reported by the Business Daily, fewer than 300,000 Kenyans had registered to buy government-affordable houses by June 2025, contradicting official claims of nearly one million enrollees.
Disclosures by the State Department for Housing show only 292,326 people had signed up on the Boma Yangu platform, missing the target of 565,800. This represents about 0.5% of Kenya’s 53.3 million population.
Budget documents also reveal that just 2,075 housing units were completed between July 2022 and June 2025, with court cases and delayed regulations blamed for slow progress.
Over the three years, the State spent Ksh81.4 billion on the programme. The Affordable Housing Programme has a total budget of Ksh627 billion up to 2032, with allocations set to rise 18% to Ksh112.28 billion next year, despite ambitious delivery targets remaining far off.
Fuel Price Update: EPRA has maintained the November fuel prices for the December review. This means that a litre of super petrol will continue retailing at Ksh184.52, while diesel will be sold at Ksh171.47 and Kerosene will retail at Ksh154.78.
A trail of M-Pesa transactions and incriminating text messages has exposed a bribery scheme within the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), where officers colluded with taxpayers to evade taxes.
As reported in the Business Daily, court documents show bribes were disguised as soft loans and merry-go-round contributions.
Investigators cited suspicious M-Pesa transfers totalling Ksh894,863 sent to a former KRA iTax officer between 2018 and 2019.
The officer allegedly facilitated irregular PIN approvals and the issuance of tax compliance certificates, sharing proceeds with colleagues.
Text messages referencing “fuel money” were cited as evidence of kickbacks.
The Employment and Labour Relations Court dismissed claims that the funds were innocent loans and upheld the officer’s dismissal, citing breach of trust. The case comes amid pressure on KRA to curb revenue leaks as debt repayments consume over 65% of tax revenue.
Also Read: What KJSEA Results Mean
More than 800 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examiners at Mary Hill Girls’ High School have suspended marking of the English Paper Two over unpaid coordination allowances.
As reported by Eastleigh Voice, the examiners staged demonstrations on Sunday, December 14, saying they will not resume work until the government pays the Ksh5,000 owed to each of them.
They reported to the centre on November 30, 2025, but say they are yet to receive any payment, despite allowances being due within five days of reporting.
The examiners also claimed that colleagues marking subjects such as Physics and Agriculture abandoned their stations for similar reasons. Although the 2025 KCSE marking exercise is set to end on December 15, some examiners said they completed their tasks without transport refunds or advance payments, forcing many into debt.
In response, KNEC has stated that the outstanding allowances will be paid as it addresses the stalemate that could delay the release of the examination results.
Kenya has emerged as one of the world’s leading crypto markets, driven by widespread use of stablecoins for payments, remittances, and cross-border transactions.
According to Bybit’s 2025 World Crypto Rankings, Kenya ranks fifth globally in crypto transaction volumes, behind Ukraine, the United States, Nigeria, and Vietnam.
As reported by Eastleigh Voice, stablecoins such as USDT and USDC dominate activity due to their price stability and ease of conversion to fiat currencies. The report notes strong peer-to-peer usage, supported by Kenya’s mobile money ecosystem.
Chainalysis data shows the country recorded Ksh426.4 billion ($3.3 billion) in stablecoin transactions in the year to June 2024. While Kenya ranks 51st in institutional readiness due to regulatory gaps, the new Virtual Asset Service Providers Act is expected to boost confidence and position the country as a hub for regulated on-chain payments and crypto payroll.
Also Read: Govt Announces Uniform Fees for All Students in Public Secondary Schools
Chicken emerged as Kenya’s most popular dish in 2025, according to a new Uber Eats report, topping all other foods as diners leaned toward familiar, filling meals that suit busy lifestyles.
As reported by Capital FM, orders across major towns were dominated by chicken-based meals, with fried chicken leading demand, followed by grilled and roasted options.
Pizza and burgers ranked next, remaining favourites among young professionals and families, especially on weekends and in the evenings.
The report also shows rising food-plus-grocery orders, with customers adding essentials like cooking oil, bread, soft drinks, and snacks.
The chicken’s dominance has been attributed to its affordability, cultural acceptance, and versatility across cuisines and price points. Ordering patterns show increased repeat purchases, peak demand during evenings and weekends, and strong popularity for group and family meals.
KCB Kenya has secured Ksh19.5 billion ($150 million) in financing from the African Development Bank Group to expand lending, with a focus on women-led enterprises and green businesses.
Of the amount, Ksh12.9 billion will be treated as subordinated debt, boosting the bank’s tier two capital and supporting loan book growth, particularly for large green projects.
The funds will support renewable energy, infrastructure, and agriculture lending. KCB said rising demand for green projects such as solar installations and sustainable buildings presents growth opportunities.
Last year, the bank disbursed Ksh51.8 billion in green loans, lifting its green portfolio to 21.32% from 15% in 2023. KCB targets allocating 25% of its portfolio to green initiatives by 2031. Part of the funding will also strengthen trade finance, where KCB remains a market leader. Read more.
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