The Tourism Boom

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

December 08, 2025

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In today's newsletter, Sidian Bank and I&M Bank have posted their Q3 results, reflecting a profitable run that most Kenyan banks have continued to set

The Tourism Boom

By Fred Obura

Kenya’s tourism sector is riding a record wave, with international arrivals hitting 2.39 million in 2024. Visa-free entry and a streamlined electronic travel system have removed barriers, making the country more accessible to both global and regional visitors. Holiday and business travelers are leading the surge, while departures also climb as Kenyans embrace renewed mobility. The reforms, particularly for African and Caribbean nationals, signal a strategic push toward regional integration and economic opportunity. In a post-pandemic landscape, Kenya’s open-door policy is transforming the nation into one of Africa’s most welcoming destinations.

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Your Opinion

The Central Bank of Kenya meets tomorrow for the last MPC meeting of the year. The CBK cut the Central Bank Rate to 9.25% in October, the eighth consecutive rate cut, the first such streak in Kenya’s history. What's Your forecast for tomorrow?

Derivatives Shake-Up Ahead of 2026

By Harry Njuguna

The Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) is shaking up how traders hedge risk with the launch of a new banking sector index future. Designed to simplify exposure to Kenya’s largest banks, it replaces the old patchwork of single-stock contracts with a single, streamlined instrument. Alongside this, margins across derivatives are being updated, forcing investors to adjust their positions before 2026 begins. The move signals the NSE’s push toward a more sophisticated and liquid market. For traders, it’s both a challenge and an opportunity to navigate risk with a sharper toolkit.

OPINION : Trump’s 50-Year Mortgage Idea, A Kenyan Analyst Weighs In

By Ken Tobiko Oidamae

President Donald Trump’s pitch for a 50-year mortgage promises cheaper monthly payments, but it risks making homeownership far more expensive over a lifetime. While stretched repayments lower monthly strain, total interest costs explode, doubling the burden for borrowers who may be paying well into old age. For lenders, the ultra-long tenor introduces massive credit, interest-rate, and asset-liability mismatch risks that few institutions can comfortably absorb. For Kenya, where similar debates about long-tenor mortgages are emerging, the real solution likely lies in fixing land, supply, and approval bottlenecks; not in stretching repayment timelines to the breaking point.

Read this article here >>>>>

On your watchlist

AI is no longer the stuff of dreams or a distant dystopian future, nor is it the preserve of a few select industries. AI is here and it is real, and Kenyans are leading the charge, representing about 24% of global usage on ChatGPT, the popular large language model (LLM) that took the world by storm back in 2022.

In this episode of the Just Money Podcast, our host, Just Ivy Africa, sits down with Tony Muiyuro, a Technology and Cybersecurity Executive and Regional Director for East Africa at Syntura, and Michael Michie, a seasoned Thought Leader in AI, Cyber Security, and Data Privacy and Co-Founder of Everse Africa, to delve into the AI revolution.

Visit our new website here to get updated on this story and others…

Capital Markets

Uchumi Tops Gainers Again, NSE Turns Over KSh 575M Midday

Uchumi surged 10% to a new 10-Year high, now up 935% YTD. Turnover hit KSh 575M led by KCB and Safaricom. Foreign sells exceeded buys as NASI fell 0.85%.

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