Author: Ableditor

The connection between food and disease is no longer something discussed only in nutrition clinics. It is increasingly part of the wider conversation about how Africa can prevent chronic illnesses before they become expensive and lifelong health problems. Diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and some cancers are influenced by a combination of genetics, lifestyle, environment and diet. WHO says unhealthy diets are a major risk factor for disease and disability and that healthier diets can help protect against conditions including diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer. Africa is confronting this challenge while still carrying a heavy burden of undernutrition. WHO describes…

“Eat healthy” sounds like simple advice until you go shopping. For a Kenyan household trying to balance rent, transport, school fees and other bills, the question is often not whether nutritious food is desirable. It is whether it is affordable. The cost of a healthy diet in Kenya has risen significantly in recent years, according to UN data, putting greater pressure on households already struggling with the cost of living. That helps explain an uncomfortable contradiction. People are increasingly being encouraged to eat more fruits, vegetables, legumes and quality proteins at the same time that many households are struggling to…

For Standard Bank Group chief executive Sim Tshabalala, repeated visits to Nairobi are a reflection of something bigger than the bank’s interest in Kenya. They point to the opportunities emerging across East Africa. Mr Tshabalala recently returned to Nairobi for his second visit in eight months as Standard Bank reviews its position in the region and considers how to deepen its presence. In an interview with The EastAfrican, he described Kenya and East Africa as markets with significant long-term potential. Question: Why is Kenya attracting so much attention? Mr Tshabalala points to several factors. Kenya has been recording relatively strong…

Sidney Wafula began his tenure as chief executive of BAT Kenya at a time when the company is facing pressure from illicit trade, taxation and changes in consumer behaviour. Mr Wafula, who previously served as BAT’s finance director for East and Southern Africa, took over from Crispin Achola after the latter’s departure from the company. His appointment comes as BAT seeks to grow newer nicotine products while protecting its traditional cigarette business from illicit competition. In its latest results, the company reported a five per cent increase in revenue and a three per cent rise in profit after tax despite…

Kenya Airways is attempting another turnaround, but acting chief executive George Kamal knows that the national carrier cannot rely on a single solution to repair its finances. The airline is dealing with high fuel costs, aircraft shortages, delayed maintenance and a shortage of engines and spare parts — challenges that have constrained its ability to deploy aircraft even as passenger demand remains strong. KQ reported a pre-tax loss of Sh15.92 billion in the first half of 2026, compared with Sh12.17 billion in the corresponding period last year. In an interview with Business Daily, Mr Kamal discussed the airline’s plans to…

When Paul Muthaura took over as chief executive of the American Chamber of Commerce Kenya, he inherited an organisation positioned at the intersection of government, investors and businesses. His immediate challenge is straightforward to describe but harder to achieve: turning international interest in Kenya into actual investment. Mr Muthaura argues that the country does not necessarily need to invent a new investment story. Instead, it needs to strengthen the fundamentals that investors already consider important. At the top of his list is predictability. In an interview ahead of the 2026 AmCham Business Summit in Nairobi, Mr Muthaura identified consistency in…

Old Mutual Holdings chief executive Arthur Oginga is taking a tougher position on one of Kenya’s most persistent insurance industry problems — price competition that can leave insurers carrying risks they are not adequately paid to cover. In an interview following the insurer’s half-year results, Mr Oginga defended the company’s decision to walk away from some poorly priced business, arguing that cheaper insurance is not necessarily better for customers if the premiums do not reflect the underlying risk. Old Mutual’s medical business returned to profitability in the first half of 2026 after recording losses in previous periods. The company attributed…

For Agnes Maina, securing finance was not simply about getting money into a business. It was about getting the room to grow. Ms Maina is a co-founder of Bake Bites, a Kenyan bakery that received support through the African Development Bank’s Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa programme. The business had already established itself, but like many small enterprises, expansion required capital. For women entrepreneurs across Africa, this remains a familiar obstacle. A business may have customers and a viable product but still struggle to obtain a loan large enough to finance expansion. Traditional lending requirements can be particularly…

Hellen Dausen was once competing for beauty titles. Today, she is building a business in Tanzania’s growing skincare industry. The former Miss Universe Tanzania 2010 titleholder is the founder of Nuya’s Essence, a natural skincare brand. Her transition from pageantry to entrepreneurship might appear straightforward. Both industries are closely associated with beauty, appearance and personal branding. But building a company has introduced a different set of demands. A successful business requires more than visibility. Products must find customers. Costs must be controlled. Suppliers have to be managed and decisions about growth have to be made with the future of the…

By day, Rebecca Talikaza works as a custodian at Makerere University. Outside her regular duties, she runs a business producing bathing sponges. For Ms Talikaza, entrepreneurship did not begin with a resignation letter. Instead, she chose to build her enterprise alongside her employment. Her business, Beckiz Bathing Sponge, started as a side venture and has gradually developed into an additional source of income. It is a route increasingly familiar to people across East Africa, where salaried workers are turning to small businesses to supplement their incomes and create another source of financial security. But balancing the two requires discipline. There…