Opening Up More Domestic Debt Taps

Howdy!

It's Brian from The Kenyan Wall Street…

Here are some top stories we lined up for you today. The Treasury plans to borrow about two-thirds of its debt from the domestic front. Meanwhile, we highlight how the gov't plans to repair and build roads by securitizing a levy.

Opening Up More Domestic Debt Taps 

By Harry Njuguna

Kenya has unveiled its latest borrowing plan, one that leans heavily on the domestic market, with nearly three-quarters of new debt to be raised through local bonds and privatisation proceeds.

On paper, the strategy looks prudent: stretch maturities, deepen the bond market, and shield the shilling from external shocks. But the reality is that interest payments alone will swallow more than a quarter of revenue, a reminder that the arithmetic of sustainability depends less on spreadsheets than on political will.

The Treasury has promised liability management operations and even a debt-for-food swap, gestures meant to soften the sharp edges of obligation. Yet beneath the talk of strategy and risk reduction lies the same old bind: borrowing to service borrowing, pushing repayment further down the road. What emerges is less a plan than a holding pattern.

Read more here >>>>>

Turning Fuel into Asphalt Dreams

By Fred Obura

The government has turned to securitisation, a tool more often associated with high finance than road repairs. It is a way of converting a predictable fuel levy into immediate cash, a swap of steady streams for urgent needs. The stalled projects, the unpaid contractors, the communities waiting for tarmac — all of them are folded into this new experiment. It promises relief without new debt, though the real test will be whether the model can carry more weight than the politics it must navigate.

Read more here >>>>>

The Expansion of the Safety Net 

By Harry Njuguna

Kenya’s deposit insurance fund swelled last year, a cushion meant to reassure savers that even in the worst moments, their money won’t vanish overnight. Yet the coverage remains lopsided : small accounts are nearly fully protected while larger deposits still carry real risk. Regulators have tried to tighten the system with new trust account rules, promising cleaner books and less room for misuse. But the gap between international standards and local safeguards lingers.

Read more here >>>>>

Edging Closer to Open Skies 

By Fred Obura 

African aviation regulators have rallied behind a new model agreement aimed at breaking long-standing barriers to open skies. The template is expected to harmonize air service rules and accelerate long-delayed market integration across the continent. Industry experts believe it could strengthen growth and competitiveness in Africa’s aviation sector. The move comes as passenger traffic and revenues rebound sharply after years of uneven progress. Still, challenges around implementation and capacity constraints remain firmly in view.

Read more here »»»»»

NSE Gainers & Losers 

The NSE Investment Challenge is a fun, interactive, and educational platform designed to teach you how to invest on the Kenyan Stock market using a real-time trading simulation.

✅ Virtual capital to trade

✅ Live market data

✅ Learn real investing skills

✅ Open to students & young professionals

💰 Cash prizes for the top performers 

Click here to join this amazing opportunity 🎉

For up-to-date market insights and data from the NSE, join our Whatsapp channel here »»»»»

Real Estate 

Find Property Faster and Safer with Verified Agents

By Lulu Kiritu

House-hunting in Kenya often feels more like drudgery than discovery, with endless listings, fake contacts, and unanswered calls. BuyRentKenya’s updated Seeker Profiles aim to flip the process, letting buyers set their preferences upfront while verified agents bring the right options directly to them. Profiles are time-bound, phone-verified, and visible only to vetted professionals, cutting down on wasted effort and security risks. Agents, in turn, gain clearer insight into what clients actually want, making matches more efficient. The result is a leaner, safer property marketplace where quality matters more than quantity. Read more here »»»»»

Also Read 

On your watchlist

Stories you missed 

♦️ Public Finance. Counties are struggling to rein in their wage bills, with personnel costs consuming nearly half of revenues and consistently breaching the 35% cap.

♦️ Economy. Kenya plans to raise more than KSh 230 billion in program loans from the World Bank, African Development Bank (AfDB), and bilateral partners.

♦️ Mobility. Ride hailing platform Bolt has said that its highest-earning drivers in Kenya grossed more than KSh 1.2 million each in the first half of 2025.

♦️ Infrastructure. Ethiopia has inaugurated the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), Africa’s largest hydroelectric project.

Keep up with what’s happening on our X and LinkedIn pages. Stay updated with the latest financial news on our website The Kenyan Wall Street.