Author: Victor Olayiwola

The Nairobi Securities Exchange closed Thursday, September 16, 2026, at a market capitalisation of Ksh3.948 trillion — dropping below the Ksh4 trillion psychological mark for the first time since it crossed that line in August. The decline extends a sell-off that has wiped about Ksh337 billion off the record Ksh4.285 trillion valuation reached on September 3, 2026. What makes the reversal notable is its unevenness. A handful of large, liquid counters — Safaricom, Equity Group, KCB Group, Co-operative Bank, and Absa Bank Kenya — account for much of the lost value, underscoring how heavily the NSE’s overall valuation leans on…

Kenyan sugar millers have laid out a series of mounting pressures facing the sector — from cheaper imports squeezing local demand to cane poaching and difficulties accessing subsidised fertiliser — in a set of concerns that point to deeper structural problems in the industry. At South Nyanza Sugar Company (Sony Sugar), Managing Director Jane Pamela said rising imports were weakening demand for locally produced sugar and compressing millers’ prices and margins. She also flagged illegal imports slipping through porous borders, saying cheaper sugar from neighbouring countries was flowing into the domestic market and making it harder for local product to…

Egyptian developer New Plan Developments has laid out an aggressive 2026 roadmap, planning roughly EGP 2.5 billion in construction spending while chasing EGP 6 billion in sales by year-end. Walid Khalil, Chairperson of New Plan Developments, said execution and delivery have become increasingly important yardsticks for judging developers — now weighed alongside sales figures and portfolio growth. Delivery Targets The company’s 2026 delivery goal includes around 2,500 units in the New Capital and 600 units in Port Said, according to Khalil. New Plan Developments holds nine projects across the New Capital, New Cairo, Port Said, and the North Coast, spanning…

Kuwait-based Tatra Group has expanded into Egypt, launching a new brand — T Developments — as it looks to replicate its Gulf track record in one of North Africa’s most active real estate markets. The group’s Kuwait portfolio is valued at more than KWD 35 million, according to the company. Beyond real estate, Tatra operates companies in construction, building maintenance, air conditioning, and plumbing — giving it a broader industrial base to draw on as it moves into Egypt. Sayed Othman, Chairperson of Tatra Developments, described the Egyptian entry as a new phase for the group, with plans to develop…

A trade row over onions has laid bare a deeper tension in West African commerce: free movement of goods looks good on paper, but protectionist instincts and informal barriers often tell a different story. The dispute centred on how Nigerian onions were sold in Ghanaian markets — and at what price. Nigerian traders were setting their own prices, a practice that angered their Ghanaian counterparts, according to David Olujinmi, an economic analyst at SBM Intelligence in Lagos. “They believe the Nigerians are coming in with their products and driving down prices because the onions they sell are offered at a…

An African startup support organisation is taking aim at one of the continent’s most stubborn obstacles: the difficulty entrepreneurs face in finding funding, customers and expertise across fragmented markets. 22 On Sloane launched KUMii, an AI-powered platform, in Cape Town this week. The tool is designed to help African startups and small businesses navigate the continent’s scattered ecosystem of funding, markets, mentorship and business support. The launch coincides with a far larger financial goal. Through Sloane Capital, 22 On Sloane says it is raising R1 billion ($63 million) to invest in startups and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises across Africa.…

The Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum has lined up more than 60 African and global thought leaders from business and politics for the 12th edition of its flagship Conference, Expo and Awards event. This year’s theme, “Beyond Access: Owning Capital, Markets and Power,” sets the tone for two days of dialogue, networking, collaboration and deal-making. The gathering will bring together global thought leaders, industry experts, policymakers, development organisations, investors, women entrepreneurs and ecosystem stakeholders — all focused on accelerating the growth of women-owned and women-led businesses across Africa. AWIEF2026 will explore what it takes to move past mere access…

A new wave of personal AI technology could give African entrepreneurs, professionals and students a low-cost productivity boost — and Nairobi just got a front-row look at it. Frank Odongkara, a developer and member of the OpenClaw community, said the technology offers particular value to Africans seeking affordable ways to get more done. “OpenClaw is an exciting technology leap for African entrepreneurs, professionals, and students. It’s now possible to have an intelligent, personal assistant in your WhatsApp DM that is just yours alone. And it costs next to nothing,” he said. ClawCon Nairobi, hosted by First Circle Capital Partner Agnes…

Africa has no shortage of entrepreneurs crafting exceptional products. The real test often comes after the product is made. Expanding into another African country typically demands new retail infrastructure, distribution partnerships, logistics, local market knowledge and substantial working capital. Those hurdles can keep promising businesses confined to their home markets — even when demand for their goods exists elsewhere. AfroQuality is constructing shared infrastructure to lower those barriers. Rather than each entrepreneur building a fresh route to market country by country, brands can tap into an existing network to test new markets, reach additional customers and grow revenues across borders.…

Mentorship, business guidance, funding, technology and reliable infrastructure can be the difference between a promising idea and a business with real growth potential. That’s the gap John Craig is aiming to close with the launch of The Entrepreneur Edit, a national platform dedicated to supporting and recognising South Africa’s emerging entrepreneurs and the ambition driving their ventures. The initiative rests on the conviction that entrepreneurial support must go beyond merely spotting good ideas. By opening access to mentorship, industry expertise and practical business resources, The Entrepreneur Edit aims to give emerging entrepreneurs a chance to strengthen their businesses and take…