Wreckage of a building following conflict in the Middle East. PHOTO| New York Times
Middle East conflicts put tea, coffee Sacco members at risk
Middle East conflicts expose tea and coffee Saccos to financial risks Farmers could face pressure on loan repayments and savings Diaspora members may also be affected by job and income disruptions Saccos serving tea and coffee farmers have been warned of possible financial risks arising from conflicts in the Middle East. Disruptions to crop markets…
KALRO Director General Patrick Ketiem and other stakeholders being given a tour around the KALRO exhibition stands at the Nairobi International Trade Fair. PHOTO| Courtesy
KALRO showcases farm innovations at Nairobi Trade Fair
KALRO showcases research-driven technologies at Nairobi Trade Fair Farmers get a look at innovations across crops and livestock Climate-smart solutions feature among the technologies on display The Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) showcased a range of research driven technologies and innovations aimed at helping farmers improve productivity and adapt to changing agricultural conditions…
Tea farmers plicks te from the tea farms. PHOTO| courtesy
Tea factories declare lower bonuses for 2025/2026 season
Tea factories declare lower bonuses for the 2025/2026 season Farmer payouts vary widely across factories Some factories announce bonuses of less than Ksh 20 per kilo Tea farmers are set to receive a low bonus in the month following the declaration of the much awaited payment for the 2025/2026 year. The payment reflects a reduction…
Sacco guarantor complaints more than quadruple in 2025
Guarantor-related Sacco complaints surge sharply in 2025 Loan and loan issuance complaints also increase during the year Savings and deposit refund cases remain the largest complaint category Complaints involving Sacco loan guarantors more than quadrupled in 2025, emerging as one of the fastest growing areas of concern among members. According to the 2025 Sacco Supervision…
Sacco deductions to skip employers in Treasury payroll plan
Treasury plans to redirect Sacco deductions straight to societies Unremitted payroll deductions rise as more members are affected Most outstanding deductions are linked to Sacco loan repayments Kenya is moving to take billions of shillings in workers’ Sacco deductions out of the hands of employers. The payroll overhaul is designed to stop a growing crisis,…
Smallholder tea earnings slip to Sh919m at auction
Smallholder tea earnings fall despite firm auction prices Githongo factory records the week’s highest tea price Kenya’s tea sales remain ahead of regional competitors in value Githongo factory posted the best price of the week at the Mombasa Tea Auction, selling its tea at Ksh 477.30 ($3.70) a kilo. Even so, smallholder factories as a…
CBK data exposes striking commercial lending disparities
Bank lending rates differ widely despite a lower industry average Borrowers face different costs depending on the bank and loan terms CBK maintains the Central Bank Rate at 8.75 per cent Kenyans shopping for loans have been handed a fresh guide to the cost of borrowing. New Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) figures reveal a…
Sacco deposits remain concentrated in few large societies
Large Saccos continue to hold most of the sector’s deposits Hundreds of smaller societies account for a much smaller share Government-based Saccos hold the largest deposits by membership category Deposits remain heavily concentrated among a small group of large societies, with 46 Saccos controlling nearly 70 per cent of the sector’s total deposits in 2025….
Over half of Saccos now offer internet financial services
More Saccos are moving financial services onto digital platforms Mobile, USSD and digital lending services continue to expand Sacco agency networks also record growth as access widens Saccos are now taking financial services to the internet as the sector expands its digital platforms and reduces reliance on traditional branches. The 2025 Sacco Supervision Annual Report…
Saccos face new rules on deposits and cybersecurity
New measures target deposits, shared services and cyber risks SASRA gains wider powers over financial crime compliance Proposed reforms could reshape liquidity and deposit protection systems Kenya’s Sacco sector is facing significant regulatory changes following new measures on deposit protection, money laundering, shared financial services and cybersecurity. The developments, which are contained in the 2025…
