Getting a tax audit notice from the Kenya Revenue Authority can feel like a gut punch, especially for a small business owner already juggling suppliers, payroll, and cash flow. A KRA audit is not automatically a sign that something has gone wrong. In most cases it is a routine compliance check, and how it turns out usually comes down to how organized and informed you are once the notice lands. KRA has been leaning harder on data driven compliance checks in recent years, cross referencing VAT, PAYE, and income tax filings against each other and against third party data from…
Author: Guest Writer
Kenya’s digital economy is no longer an aspiration but a measurable force, and the numbers behind that claim are worth stating plainly. According to the Communications Authority Q3 2025/26 sector statistics, mobile money penetration now stands above 100% of registered accounts, with active subscriptions reaching 53.4 million and an agent network that grew by over 100,000 outlets in a single quarter, from 501,399 to 602,470. GSMA’s 2024 Driving Digital Transformation of the Economy in Kenya report projects that this digital economy will contribute KES 662 billion to GDP by 2028, alongside 300,000 new jobs and KES 150 billion in additional…
The development of digital technology is taking place rapidly in Africa, transforming all sectors and services within every part of the continent. Investment and usage of digital technologies have skyrocketed between 2020 to 2025; mobile phones, a growing cloud infrastructure and more start-ups have propelled growth. Technology expenditure in Africa was estimated at $45B in 2025, increasing from $28B just five years earlier – A compound annual growth rate that parallels global growth. As reported by Data Intelo, this is further confirmed by the expansion of the digital transformation market value projected to reach $1165B in 2025, and anticipated to…
As we marked the 2026 Day of the African Child under the theme, “Ensuring Universal Access to Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene for Every Child in Africa,” I was taken back to my childhood growing up in Kitui. Like many children in rural Kenya or the informal settlements, my early mornings did not begin with books or play, but with long treks in search of water. After school, we walked for kilometers in search of water, carrying jerricans or leading donkeys to fetch unclean water for use at home. One would get back home after dark meaning there would be no…
More than four months after a multi-storey building collapsed in Nairobi’s South C estate, killing and injuring victims trapped beneath tons of concrete and steel, families and residents say they are still waiting for justice, accountability and the truth. What was initially described as a tragic construction accident is increasingly emerging as a possible case of regulatory failure, ignored warnings and alleged negligence stretching across developers, consultants and public agencies. The building, located along Muhoho Avenue near South C Shopping Centre, came crashing down in the early hours of January 2, 2026. The National Construction Authority (NCA) later confirmed that…
Today, the High Court dismissed Bia Tosha’s application to halt the proposed Diageo–Asahi transaction. While the court stated that its full ruling will be posted on Monday—leaving observers waiting with bated breath to review the exact legal reasoning—this latest development brings the foundation of the underlying dispute back into sharp focus. The dispute between Bia Tosha Distributors Limited and East African Breweries Limited has attracted sustained public attention. Much of the commentary has adopted a familiar framing, presenting the matter as a contest between a local distributor and a large corporate entity. That framing is understandable, but it risks obscuring…
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi wrote to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres protesting what he termed as inaccuracies in a UN report regarding sexual abuse allegations against Kenyan personnel deployed in Haiti. In a letter dated April 7, 2026, Mudavadi—who also serves as Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs—raised concerns that the Secretary-General’s report (A/80/644) failed to reflect findings from investigations that cleared Kenyan officers serving under the Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission. According to Mudavadi, allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse reported in August 2025 were promptly investigated through a Board of Inquiry and found to be unsubstantiated.…
Kenya is facing mounting pressure from a convergence of social, economic, environmental, and political challenges, raising concerns about the country’s stability and future. Recent heavy rains and flooding across several regions have emerged as one of the most immediate crises. Among the worst in recent years, the floods have disrupted farming, damaged infrastructure, and cut off transport networks, placing food production at risk. Agriculture remains a key source of livelihood for millions of Kenyans, and fears of food shortages are growing as unusual flooding affects areas not historically prone to such disasters. Counties including Kisii, Kericho, and Nyamira have reported…
Kenya has witnessed an unprecedented surge in laws and regulations over the past year. While many are well-intentioned, the cumulative effect on business, particularly retail, has been disruptive. At the core of this challenge is a persistent belief that tighter regulation is always the most effective response to complex social problems. In an economy being reshaped by technology and innovation, this mindset risks doing more harm than good by relying on outdated regulatory approaches that fail to reflect market realities. The Tobacco Control Act dates to 2007 and is now being amended to address changes in the nicotine market. For…
Where now are the dreamers of freedom? Where are the voices that defied empires, that rose from the dungeons of detention to thunder in the open fields of hope? Where is Raila, son of Jaramogi, the steadfast rider in Kenya’s long twilight? The fire that once danced in the hearts of the weary now flickers like an evening lamp before the storm. The song of justice has grown faint, its echo lost among the hills of deceit. For in Kochi, Kerala, in India, on the fifteenth day of October, he rode away beyond the mists and the mortal shore, and…
“Raila didn’t just make the news — he was the news.” As a student journalist, I was privileged to cover one of Kenya’s most influential and newsworthy figures — Raila Odinga, the enigmatic doyen of Kenyan politics. That experience not only tested my skills in the field but also deepened my understanding of journalism’s vital role in shaping public discourse. Raila — affectionately known as “Baba” by his supporters — was, and still is, a “moving media house” in his own right. Hour by hour, journalists from various outlets are in constant contact with him. His absence, when that day…
The Constitution of Kenya, 2010, was designed to prevent abuse of power by subjecting the presidency to strong checks and balances through an empowered bicameral Parliament, an independent Judiciary, constitutional commissions, devolved governments, a restructured public service, and a vibrant civil society. Articles 131 and 132 clearly define the authority and responsibilities of the Head of State and Government. The President is not only the holder of executive power but also the symbol of national unity and the guarantor of human rights, freedoms, and the rule of law. Disagreeing with the President is legitimate; degrading the Presidency is dangerous. Listening…
In a bold and commendable move, Kenya’s Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Renson Ingonga has taken a firm stand by prosecuting billionaire lawyer Guy Spencer Elms – a case that many thought would quietly disappear like others involving high-profile individuals. By choosing the path of accountability, Ingonga is proving that the law is not reserved for the poor or powerless alone, but applies to all. The charges against Guy Spencer Elms revolve around allegations of forging a will in a multi-million shilling land dispute. By pursuing this case, the DPP has sent a strong message that Kenya’s justice system is…
For the past months, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has been making claims that are shocking to the world. The claims include death threats to his family and the entire Mt Kenya region in the name of persecution. But looking keenly into the claims, one wonders if they are worth responding to. However, they need to be responded to. The latest ones were that people from the Kikuyu community are being targeted and removed from the Kenya Kwanza government. These claims are false. None is being targeted for removal from government because of his or her tribe. If any, the…
A Cabinet Secretary is facing legal action from an estranged partner who is seeking over Sh6 million in refunds for child-related expenses she claims she has solely borne since their child’s birth. The woman, identified in court documents as F.M., has also requested court orders for future maintenance, sole custody, and a name change for the minor. The case, filed at the Milimani Magistrate’s Court, concerns a child born in August 2023 after what both parties describe as a brief romantic relationship. The minor’s paternity was confirmed in December 2024 through a DNA test that F.M. claims she paid for…