The Mirage of Invincibility

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It's Brian from The Kenyan Wall Street.

Inside today's newsletter, we analyze the impact of Iran's deployment of jamming tech that did not spare Starlink. Does this shatter the satellite service's status as ‘beyond gov't reach’?

This and more stories…

Raising the Compensation bar

By Fred Obura

The insurance sector has been rattled by a string of company failures, leaving thousands of policyholders exposed to potential losses. Regulators have doubled the compensation ceiling under the Policyholders Compensation Fund, raising the maximum payout per claim to KSh 500,000. While the move offers a stronger safety net for small policyholders, those with high-value life, medical, or commercial policies remain largely unprotected. The fund’s pre-financed structure and statutory mandate provide a last line of defense, but rising fraud, cyberattacks, and market fragility highlight the system’s limits.

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The Africa Aviation Boom 

By Fred Obura

Africa’s skies are busier than ever, with the continent leading global aviation passenger growth even as overall demand slows worldwide. Kenyan and Ethiopian carriers illustrate a tale of contrasts: Kenya Airways wrestles with grounded Dreamliners and looming losses, while Ethiopian Airlines breaks ground on a new mega-airport poised to handle over 100 million passengers. Improved infrastructure and expanding intra-continental connectivity are fueling optimism, yet financial pressures remind us that growth on paper does not always translate into profit. For a continent on the move, the question remains whether the momentum can be sustained or will stall under structural constraints.

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The Mirage of Invincibility 

By Brian Nzomo

In Africa, the allure of Starlink has long been its promise of escape from throttled connections, bureaucratic interference, and state surveillance. Kenya’s flirtation with the satellite service during the 2024 protests suggested that citizens might sidestep local constraints, only to find that even this celestial lifeline is subject to earthly politics. Across the continent, Starlink treads lightly, complying with regulators in Zimbabwe, Uganda, and South Africa, a reminder that no network is beyond state reach. Iran’s recent deployment of military-grade jammers underscores the fragility of these technological promises, turning what was once seen as invincible into a cautionary tale.

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OPINION : African Football’s Future Hangs on the Choices of Its Fans

By Elisha Kamau

When African football lights up screens across the continent, the real contest is not only on the pitch but in how fans choose to watch. Every legal subscription and pay-per-view stream quietly finances the ecosystem that sustains tournaments, broadcasters, and the thousands of workers behind the spectacle. Piracy, often dismissed as a victimless shortcut, drains revenue from youth development, infrastructure, and national teams, redirecting value away from the sport itself. Broadcast rights are not merely commercial assets but the financial spine of African football.

Read the opinion article here »»»»»

Heads Up

Briefs 

📊 The Capital Markets Authority (CMA) has rolled out a new financial reporting system for submission of Risk Based Capital Adequacy returns by licensed market intermediaries, effective January 9, 2026.

🇺🇲 Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell has said the Justice Department has issued grand jury subpoenas linked to his June Senate testimony on a Fed building renovation.

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