The Grid and the Gap : Kenya's Power Imports, Exports...

Kenya's #1 newsletter among business leaders & policy makers

May 23, 2025

Welcome to our weekend’s newsletter edition. We have compiled the most insightful business stories to kickstart your weekend… I am Brian from The Kenyan Wall Street.

THE GRID AND THE GAP : Kenya’s Power Imports, Exports Hit Record Highs in Q1 2025

In a striking turn, Kenya exported a record 10.76 GWh of electricity in March 2025, with Tanzania, after a six-year absence, overtaking Uganda as its top buyer. This diplomatic and infrastructural thaw follows the completion of the Isinya–Singida transmission line and the signing of long-delayed bilateral agreements. Yet Kenya's status as a net importer persists: Q1 electricity imports surged 34.8% year-on-year, driven largely by inflows from Ethiopia. Read about how Kenya is becoming a regional power hub while still heavily reliant on external sources.

STARTUPS : Seven Women Leading Africa’s Learning Revolution

In a bid to reshape the continent’s educational future, Mastercard Foundation’s EdTech Fellowship has named twelve standout startups to its 2025 cohort—seven of them founded by women. These ventures, spanning AI platforms to indigenous language literacy apps, promise to deliver scalable, equity-free solutions to over a million learners by 2030. From game-based math at Elimu Shop to solar-powered offline classrooms at AHAINNOVATE, each startup merges innovation with impact. The fellowship, now in its third round, has already reached nearly half a million students and onboarded over 1,500 schools. As Nissi Madu of iHUB Kenya puts it, this is not just support, it’s an investment in Africa’s educational destiny.

 CAPITAL MARKETS

KCB Group 54th AGM Resolution:

✅ Approved 2024 financials

✅ Declared final dividend, KSh 1.50 (paid today⤵️)

✅ Re-elected key directors including Dr. Kinyua.

✅ Elected William Asiko to the board.

✅ Reappointed PwC as auditors.

✅ Approved 5 corporate governance policies.

NSE Gainers And Losers

Source : NSE

OPINION

AYUK : Africa’s Leapfrogging From Oil & Gas Is Not the Quick Energy Fix the World Thinks It Will Be

Africa’s Leapfrogging From Oil & Gas Is Not the Quick Energy Fix the World Thinks It Will Be

All of sub-Saharan Africa could triple its energy use overnight using only natural gas and still account for only a 1% increase in global emissions

kenyanwallstreet.com/africas-leapfrogging-from-oil-gas-is-not-the-quick-energy-fix-the-world-thinks-it-will-be

 Briefs 

Translocation of 21 Black Rhinos to Cost KSh 14 million

Kenya has started the translocation of 21 critically endangered black rhinos to establish a new breeding population at Segera Conservancy

kenyanwallstreet.com/translocation-of-21-black-rhinos-to-cost-ksh-14-million

Tribunal Overturns Multimillion Tax Assessment on Fuel Broker

Tribunal has overturned a multimillion-shilling tax assessment against fuel broker John Wainaina Kamau, ruling that the KRA had erred

kenyanwallstreet.com/tribunal-overturns-tax-assessment-on-fuel-broker

Trump Administration Blocks Harvard University From Enrolling Foreign Students

Trump has ordered the termination of the Harvard University’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification.

kenyanwallstreet.com/trump-administration-blocks-harvard-university-from-enrolling-foreign-students

Africa’s Construction Sector Confronts Legal Gridlocks as Feasibility Failures, Late Payments, Stall Growth

The 5th Africa Construction Law Conference at the Emara Ole Sereni Hotel kicked off to confront legal challenges facing the construction industry

kenyanwallstreet.com/africas-construction-sector-confronts-legal-gridlocks-as-feasibility-failures-late-payments-stall-growth

On your watchlist 

Ever wondered how that Del Monte pineapple ended up on your plate? In this exclusive behind-the-scenes look, we explore the entire journey of Del Monte’s supply chain — from vast pineapple fields in Kenya to supermarket shelves around the world.

Yesterday's Poll Results 

Do you think the government has the capacity and will to tackle the mess in SACCOs?

🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Yes (23%)

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 No (77%)

❝

All of sub-Saharan Africa could triple its electricity use overnight using only natural gas and still account for only a 1% increase in global emissions, so low is its starting point.

~ NJ Ayuk

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.