“No harvesting your Nuts,” Gov't orders

🌰 Gov’t bans macadamia harvesting to block poor exports

Macadamia farmers are restricted from harvesting their produce beginning 2nd November until March 1st next year. The gov't has decided that in order to save Kenya's reputation as a major exporter of the nuts, it will need to reign in the quality of produce. It has also directed the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) to oversee the processing of the macadamia nuts. After extending the window for the export of raw macadamia, amidst lamentations from farmers, the ministry of agriculture is not backing down in its aims to restrict exportation to processed macadamia. But farmers say it will affect the sector! How?

🖥️ Kenya Risks Locking Citizens from Services over Internet Costs

The country's internet needs are rising and as gov't and other sectors digitize, many Kenyans will be left behind if the cost of accessing the internet remains high. According to GSMA, the issue of affordability also locked out 57% from broadband access in 2022 compared to the year 2023 where the figure was at 52%. The sector's experts have lamented that the gov't is partly responsible for the high internet costs. As the state pursues more avenues to reap taxes from, like the 20% excise duty instituted in the Finance Act 2022, affordability of the internet is likely to remain an issue. Read here to understand why affordability is a concern.

⛽ Oil Prices Fall amid demand concerns

Kenyans can sigh in relief because it is likely that fuel prices will go down again next month. Slowing demand of oil in the global market, as well as easing tensions in the Middle East have seen the price of the commodity fall. Murban (the oil Kenya uses) declined 1.8% and stood at US$74.29 per barrel at the close of the market. Moreover, supply seems to have steadied with oil inventories rising by 1.6 million barrels last week in the US. How is this going to play out in the Kenyan market…and my pocket

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