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Experts call for faster adoption of drones as Egerton University pushes for modern farming

Sacco ReviewDecember 3, 202509 mins

Kenya’s agricultural sector—responsible for about 22 percent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), according to data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics—is at a turning point, with experts urging a shift from traditional farming to technology-driven, precision agriculture. During the Agricultural Drone Pilots Training Programme at Egerton University’s Njoro Main Campus, agricultural scholars…

Tea farmers resists introduction of draconian regulations

Sacco ReviewDecember 2, 2025December 2, 202506 mins

Tea growers in the east of the rift are protesting against a proposal on the standardization of the tea bonus, calling on the stakeholders to enforce plucking of quality green leaf. In their Annual General Meetings, the farmers across the counties said the Tea Board of Kenya (TBK) should ensure all the players are involved…

Varsity rolls out programme to train farmers on latest farming technologies, value addition

Sacco ReviewDecember 2, 202505 mins

Zetech University has rolled out a programme to educate farmers on better farming practices, value addition and marketing strategies to bolster their production which will eventually increase their profits. Speaking during the farmers symposium held in the institution, Vice Chancellor Prof Njenga Munene said that the latest farming technologies, modernization and embracing value addition are…

Kenya Sugar Board CEO Chesire elected chair of International Sugar Organization (ISO)

Sacco ReviewDecember 1, 202505 mins

The Kenya Sugar Board chief executive officer (CEO) Jude Chesire has been elected to chair the International Sugar Organization (ISO) in 2026. In a statement, the Kenya Sugar Board celebrated the development, calling it a significant milestone for both the country and the continent. The board said Chesire’s election signals global confidence in the reforms…

Oparanya calls on lending institutions to accord MSMEs flexible credit terms

Sacco ReviewDecember 1, 202505 mins

The Cooperatives and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Development Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya has called upon lending institutions to accord small businesses flexible terms in order to enable them access credit. Oparanya noted that many small businesses cannot afford credit due to stiff requirements adding that many of them have been forced to imitate…

Kenya’s banking sector shows resilience despite tight lending and rising credit risks, CBK 2024, 2025 report

Sacco ReviewDecember 1, 202507 mins

Kenya’s financial sector remained resilient in 2024 and the first half of 2025, even as lending slowed and credit risks increased, according to the latest Financial Sector Stability Report released by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK). The sector comprised thirty-eight commercial banks, one mortgage finance institution, and fourteen deposit-taking microfinance banks (MFBs), all under…

CS Oparanya monitors impact of NYOTA program training in Kiambu and Nairobi Counties

Sacco ReviewDecember 1, 202503 mins

Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and MSMEs Development, Wycliffe Oparanya has visited NYOTA Business Development Services (BDS) training centers in Kiambu and Nairobi counties to assess the progress, beneficiary engagement, and overall impact of the entrepreneurship training program as it nears completion. In Kiambu County, CS Oparanya visited ACK Kiu River School, which hosted eight training…

Parliamentary inquiry into tea pricing, farmer bonuses reveals farmers’ divisions in Rift Valley

Sacco ReviewNovember 30, 2025November 30, 202506 mins

A parliamentary inquiry into tea pricing and farmer bonuses has exposed deep divisions between East and West Rift Valley producers, with western growers demanding fair representation and a review of the grading system. Farmers raised key concerns like the perceived bias in factory classifications, the dominance of multinationals in the West Rift and the unequal…

Govt directs investigations into KUSCCO housing projects over alleged corruption

Sacco ReviewNovember 30, 202502 mins

The government has launched a formal inquiry into KUSCCO Housing Co-operative Society Limited following member complaints alleging that the society was used to siphon savings from affiliated SACCOs. In a Gazette notice dated October 28, 2025 (No. 17555), the government directs investigators to scrutinise the society’s by-laws, financial records, and the conduct of both current…

Coffee cooperatives reject Government’s direct pay to farmers

Sacco ReviewNovember 29, 202504 mins

The National Coffee Cooperative Union (NACCU) has rejected a government directive seeking to implement a direct-to-farmer payment model under the Direct Settlement System (DSS), arguing that the policy threatens to dismantle long-standing cooperative structures that manage coffee earnings at pulping-station level. NACCU Chairman Felix Mureithi Mwai said the directive issued on November 2024 by Cabinet…