News and Analysis
July 30, 2026
Welcome to the Money News Roundup. In today's edition, we cover the tax dispute between KRA and Kenya Power that could see critical electricity equipment auctioned. We also look at matatu operators' opposition to a proposed law that would give NTSA the power to regulate public service vehicle fares.
More than 1,700 packages of power line equipment, accessories and meter boxes imported for Kenya Power’s Last Mile Connectivity Project risk being auctioned after a tax dispute with the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).
As reported by the Business Daily, KRA issued a notice indicating that the goods, held in seven containers at the Syokimau Inland Container Depot, have overstayed at the depot, having arrived in April 2026. The notice added that the items will be sold if not cleared within 30 days.
Kenya Power, however, claimed that the equipment is tax-exempt because it is being imported for a donor-funded government electrification project and that the National Treasury has already issued the required exemption letter.
The equipment is intended for the sixth phase of the Last Mile Connectivity Project, which aims to expand electricity access.
Households within 600 metres of a transformer can be connected at a subsidised average cost of Ksh15,000.
Matatu operators have opposed a proposed law that would give the NTSA the power to regulate PSV fares, arguing that it is unworkable.
As reported by the Star, the NTSA Amendment Bill, 2023, sponsored by Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa, seeks to allow NTSA to set minimum and maximum fares, establish fare review mechanisms and protect commuters from arbitrary price hikes.
However, the Matatu Owners Association says fare controls cannot work while fuel prices remain unpredictable in a liberalised market.
The lobby argues the government should first stabilise fuel prices and reduce operating costs such as insurance, spare parts and maintenance.
If enacted, PSV operators would be required to publicly display fare tables and timetables, while NTSA would oversee periodic fare reviews to ensure reasonable pricing.
CBK has opened a Ksh150 billion sale of three reopened infrastructure Treasury bonds to finance government infrastructure projects.
As reported by the People Daily, the offer closes on August 12, with settlement scheduled for August 17. The bonds have remaining maturities of 9.3, 12.7 and 16.2 years, offering fixed coupon rates of 11.75%, 12.667% and 12.737%, and are exempt from withholding tax.
Minimum investment starts at Ksh50,000 for non-competitive bids and Ksh2 million for competitive bids.
The bonds will be listed on the NSE, qualify for statutory liquidity requirements, can be used as loan collateral, and will pay interest twice annually until maturity.
Meanwhile, as reported by Bloomberg, Kenya is considering issuing its first yuan-denominated panda bond in China's domestic debt market as it seeks to diversify funding sources and lower borrowing costs.
The planned sale could raise the yuan equivalent of Ksh38 billion($300 million) by the end of 2026 to help finance the 2026/27 budget deficit.
Nairobi County has launched a major crackdown on landowners who have failed to pay land rates for more than three years, appointing six debt recovery firms to recover billions in unpaid dues.
As reported by the Star, the enforcement exercise targets outstanding land rates, penalties and interest, with persistent defaulters facing property attachment, auctions, CRB listing and other measures under the National Rating Act, 2024.
Governor Johnson Sakaja said only about 50,000 of Nairobi's 250,000 registered landowners consistently pay rates, despite the county introducing automated billing and instalment payment options.
The county says the exercise is aimed at boosting revenue, improving tax compliance and ensuring all property owners contribute fairly to funding public services and infrastructure.
Two senior Ugandan government officials have joined the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) Board following the Uganda National Oil Company’s (UNOC) acquisition of a 20.15% stake in the firm.
As reported by Capital Business, the new directors are Uganda’s Treasury Permanent Secretary Ramathan Ggoobi and Energy Ministry Permanent Secretary Irene Pauline Bateebe.
UNOC acquired the stake after KPC’s IPO and listing on the Nairobi Securities Exchange, a transaction that reduced the Kenyan government's ownership to 35% and raised about Ksh100 billion.
KPC also appointed Samson Kipkemboi Burgei, Meshack Otieno Kidenda and CPA Ronald Kenyanya Nyamosi as directors.
CIC Insurance Group has launched CIC Impact, a dedicated microinsurance subsidiary targeting low- and middle-income earners, MSMEs, farmers and cooperatives with affordable insurance products.
As reported by Citizen Digital, the insurer said the new unit will offer simplified cover through digital platforms, SACCOs, employers and mobile channels to expand financial inclusion.
Products will include business insurance, funeral cover, student personal accident insurance, pensions, medical cover, hospital cash benefits, and agriculture and livestock insurance.
CEO Patrick Nyaga said annual premiums will start below Ksh3,000, making insurance more accessible. CIC added that cumulative microinsurance premiums have grown from Ksh131 million in 2020 to Ksh1.2 billion in the first half of 2026.
Global payments firm Visa has appointed former Airtel Money Kenya Managing Director Anne Kinuthia-Otieno as Vice President and Head of East Africa, effective August 4.
As reported by the Kenyan Wall Street, she will oversee Visa’s operations across seven East African markets, leading digital payments growth, partnerships and financial inclusion initiatives.
Anne joins Visa after leaving Airtel Money as the company prepares to list its mobile money business in London later this year.
During her tenure, Airtel Money’s share of active mobile money subscriptions in Kenya grew from 3.1% in 2021 to 10.9% by March 2026. She previously held senior leadership roles at Absa and Barclays Bank.
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