Why NTSA Will Deploy 1,000 Digital Cameras and Updated List of Rates Charged by Kenyan Banks

Hello, I’m Janeffer. Welcome to today’s edition of The Business Roundup. In this issue, we bring you the latest business news, including the interest rates banks are charging in February, NTSA’s plan to deploy 1,000 digital cameras, and other top stories.

Major News This Week

On February 25, Central Bank of Kenya Governor Kamau Thugge stated that the capacity for further rate cuts is limited after the central bank reduced its benchmark rate ten times over the past year and a half.

The Central Bank of Kenya has cut its policy rate to 8.75%, down from a 12-year high of 13% in June 2024.

Speaking to Bloomberg, Thugge noted that further easing could support the economy without sparking inflation, assuming the global economic environment remains stable.

CBK Lists Banks with Lowest Interest Rates

Back at home, CBK published commercial banks’ lending and deposit rates for January 2026.

Here is a table of the lending interest rates for January 2026:

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NTSA to Deploy 1,000 Digital Cameras

In other news, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) is set to deploy over 1,000 smart traffic cameras across Kenyan highways and accident-prone zones.

This follows plans to implement a public-private partnership (PPP) for the supply and installation of the cameras, along with other initiatives aimed at improving road safety.

NTSA stated that the supply will include 700 stationary cameras to be deployed at strategic locations to monitor road activity and support the implementation of instant fines.

In addition, the PPP will deliver 300 mobile speed enforcement cameras, as stated in a public notice on February 24.

Hence, the authority notified the public of the transition of the smart driving licence maintenance project from the National Bank of Kenya (NBK) to the Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB).

According to the notice, NTSA, working together with KCB and the Pesa-Print Consortium, will upgrade the driver licensing system by introducing a new Second-Generation Smart Driving Licence (e-DL), including its design, production, and distribution to drivers.

Kenya Hands Museveni Linked Uganda Firm Ksh106 Billion

The government of Uganda sealed a deal to buy a stake in the Kenya Pipeline Company, which will give it two seats on the KPC board. 

Confirming the deal, Uganda’s Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Ruth Ssentamu, signed the deal, sealing the regional energy asset.

“In Nairobi, I signed on behalf of the Ugandan Government to formalize our participation in the IPO of the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC). Through the Uganda National Oil Company, Uganda will secure a strategic stake in this critical regional energy asset,” stated Ssentamu.

The Ugandan government will now have a stake in Kenya Pipeline’s IPO, which is valued at 106.3 billion.

Under the framework, Uganda is entitled to appoint at least two directors to the company’s board, provided it maintains a minimum shareholding of 20.0%. 

Naivas, Quickmart, and Carrefour Change Strategy

Kenya’s retail chains, Naivas, Quickmart, and Carrefour, are changing their expansion strategies, moving away from traditional large-mall locations to target middle-income neighbourhoods.

According to Knight Frank’s H2 2025 report, the shift comes as discount and budget retailers like China Village, China Square, Love Home Mart, and Panda Mart continue to expand.

To increase customer flow, leading chains such as Carrefour and Naivas sharpened their focus on promotions, local sourcing, and value positioning.

According to the report, the mall’s performance increasingly relied on strong anchor tenants, such as Naivas, Quickmart, Carrefour, and Chandarana Food Plus, to draw shoppers, which also benefited the other smaller shops in the mall.

ALSO, BIG THIS WEEK

• Cindy McCain, Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP) since 2023, has resigned, citing health reasons.
• Emirates Airline has now introduced a split-payment booking option for customers in Kenya.
• The government of Kenya is seeking to reduce the import Value-Added Tax (VAT) on green energy equipment, such as solar panels and wind turbines, from 16% to 8%.
• Standard Chartered Bank Kenya Limited announced the appointment of Gladys Wairah as Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director, subject to approval by the Central Bank of Kenya and the Capital Markets Authority.

Currency Trends

The Kenya Shilling remained stable against major international and regional currencies during the week ending February 26, 2026.

It exchanged at Ksh129.02 per U.S. dollar on February 26, the same as on February 20.

Against other major currencies, the shilling traded at:

• Sterling Pound – Ksh174.34
• Euro – Ksh151.94
• South African Rand – 8.12
• Japanese Yen (100 units) – Ksh82.35

Against regional currencies, the shilling exchanged at:

• Ugandan Shilling – Ksh27.84, Tanzanian Shilling – Ksh19.84, Rwandan Franc – Ksh11.29

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