KBC Channel 1

Author: Claire Wanja

  • Three Predictions for Fintech in Africa in 2026

    Three Predictions for Fintech in Africa in 2026

    Africa’s fintech revolution has moved from promise to performance. Over the past decade, the continent has evolved from a mobile money pioneer to a global laboratory for financial innovation.

    Kenya’s mobile money services showed that technology could drive inclusion. Now, the entire continent is building on that foundation.

    As we look toward 2026, the question is no longer whether fintech will thrive in Africa, but how it will evolve. Three trends will redefine the ecosystem: embedded finance, cross-border payments, and smarter, risk-aware growth.

    Financial services will be seamlessly woven into non-financial platforms. Everyday apps, such as ride-hailing, e-commerce, agriculture, logistics, and utilities, will increasingly offer payments, credit, and insurance within their ecosystems.

    The days when users needed separate apps or bank accounts to access financial tools are fading. For instance, a farmer buying seeds online could access microcredit at checkout, while a logistics driver might receive instant payouts and insurance, all within one platform.

    This shift from standalone fintech apps to embedded functionality is already underway, driven by Africa’s mobile-first population and the demand for convenience. For fintechs, success will come from building the infrastructure that powers others – APIs, SDKs, and white-label tools that allow any platform to integrate finance. The winners will be those who become the “rails” behind Africa’s digital economy rather than just another consumer-facing app.

    Regulators and banks must adapt. Finance will increasingly exist outside traditional institutions, raising new questions about oversight and consumer protection. For users, embedded finance promises easier access, fewer barriers, and a more connected experience.

    Africa’s trade story is deeply tied to its payments story. Intra-African commerce has long been constrained by fragmented systems, high fees, and dependence on the US dollar for settlement. That is changing fast.

    Digital platforms, regional integration, and supportive policies will also make cross-border transactions simpler and cheaper. Initiatives like the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) and frameworks under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) are laying the groundwork for faster, frictionless trade.

    Fintechs specialising in “Africa-to-Africa” flows are emerging to meet this opportunity. In East Africa, for example, a Kenyan marketplace is be able to collect payments in Ugandan shillings from a customer in Kampala or Tanzanian shillings from a buyer in Dar es Salaam, and instantly convert them to Kenyan shillings. That flexibility removes one of the biggest barriers to regional commerce: currency friction.

    By simplifying settlements, these innovations help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) expand beyond their home markets and trade across borders with confidence.

    In 2026, we shall likely see regional consolidation, with a few dominant payment rails connecting multiple countries and offering interoperability. For fintechs, this presents a chance to power a new era of digital trade. For regulators, the challenge will be harmonising standards, particularly in Know Your Customer (KYC), anti-money laundering (AML), and data protection.

    The early years of fintech in Africa were defined by explosive growth; more users, more transactions, more apps. The next phase will be about depth, not just scale. Fintechs will evolve into full-service ecosystems offering credit, savings, insurance, and investment tools, with a sharper focus on sustainability and profitability.

    Data and artificial intelligence will play a central role. With limited traditional credit histories, fintechs are turning to alternative data, such as phone usage, and utility payments, to assess risk. As AI becomes more accessible, expect smarter, more inclusive credit models that expand access while managing risk responsibly.

    This evolution will also bring stronger regulation. More African countries are introducing licensing frameworks, enhancing data protection laws, and clarifying the rules around digital assets. These efforts will build trust and ensure long-term stability.

    Africa’s fintech story is entering a new chapter, one defined by embedded access, regional connectivity, and sustainable growth. 2026 will test which business models endure, which partnerships scale, and which technologies truly serve Africa’s diverse markets.

    For fintech leaders, there is need to build for collaboration, design for inclusion, and operate with resilience. For regulators, it is time to harmonise frameworks that allow innovation to thrive responsibly.

    James Booth is the Head of Revenue at Verto

  • Malnutrition fears rise in Mandera as drought crisis deepens

    Malnutrition fears rise in Mandera as drought crisis deepens

    Drought situation in Mandera County continues to worsen, severely affecting thousands of residents, with malnutrition now emerging as the most feared humanitarian threat, especially among children under five and the elderly.

    Reports that the malnutrition burden has reached critical levels, with   69,325 children under the age of five affected across the county.

    The crisis has been triggered by prolonged drought and the failure of two consecutive rainy seasons, including the October–December (OND) and March May (MAM) rains, pushing many families into hunger and worsening food insecurity.

    Reports also  indicates that 56,916 children are suffering from Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM), while 12,410 are battling Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) a life-threatening condition that requires urgent medical and nutritional intervention. Additionally, 16,872 Pregnant and Lactating mothers (PLM) are affected, raising serious concerns about infant nutrition, maternal health, and long-term child development.

    Health experts and humanitarian agencies have warned that continued support for integrated medical outreach programmes is essential to sustain lifesaving interventions and prevent further deterioration of the crisis.

    To respond to the emergency, the Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS), with support from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), has scaled up integrated medical outreach services in the remote and underserved regions of Mandera North and Mandera West.

    The mobile outreach teams are providing malnutrition screening and treatment, curative medical care, child immunization, antenatal care (ANC) services, and community health education.

    As part of ongoing drought mitigation, 450 households received Corn Soya Blend Plus Plus (CSB++) nutrition support, while emergency water trucking services reached communities through 13 targeted water distribution centres.

    In addition, CSB++ food supplements were distributed to 450 drought-affected households, benefiting families around 13 concentrated water distribution points.

    KRCS also delivered emergency Corn Soya Blend Plus Plus (CSB++) supplies to 450 households, and supported communities through emergency water trucking at 13 strategic water distribution hubs, easing pressure in drought-stricken settlements.

    Humanitarian partners remain on high alert, warning that without sustained aid, malnutrition cases could continue to rise, further threatening lives across the county.

  • Mau Mau freedom fighters renew calls for compensation

    Mau Mau freedom fighters renew calls for compensation

    More than six decades after Kenya attained independence, surviving Mau Mau freedom fighters say the scars of colonial brutality remain unhealed, renewing calls for compensation that they argue was never fully settled.

    Members of the Mau Mau Pioneer Cultural Organization are now appealing for renewed negotiations with the British government insisting that thousands of victims of torture and detention during the colonial emergency period were excluded from the 2013 compensation programme.

    The group is also urging the Kenyan government to take a more active role in championing their cause.

    Speaking to members of the press in Murang’a town Tuesday, the organization’s national chairman, Kiragu Waihenya said the compensation issued more than a decade ago benefited only a small fraction of those who suffered during the liberation struggle.

    In 2013, the British government paid about Sh3 billion to roughly 5,000 claimants, who could provide evidence of direct abuse including detention, torture, or sexual violence.

    According to Waihenya the strict requirement for documentation locked out the majority of freedom fighters, many of whom were illiterate at the time of their arrest, or whose records were destroyed or never kept by colonial authorities.

    The process was not inclusive and left out many genuine victims. That is why we are demanding fresh talks on compensation,” Waihenya said, describing the earlier arrangement as unfair and incomplete.

    He painted a grim picture of the current state of many surviving freedom fighters, noting that most are elderly, impoverished and in poor health.

    Some, Waihenya said, have already died without receiving any form of compensation for their sacrifice, leaving their families to continue pursuing justice on their behalf.

    “For many of us, time is no longer on our side. We fought for this country yet some of our members still live in poverty and desperation,” he lamented.

    Beyond financial compensation, the chairman also raised concerns over land ownership arguing that many former fighters continue to live as squatters on land they believed they were fighting to reclaim from colonial rule.

    “We want justice, including access to land. It is painful that some freedom fighters still have no place to call home,” he added.

    The chairman further revealed that the Mau Mau Pioneer Cultural Organization has more than 20,000 registered members comprising surviving fighters and their descendants.

    Waihenya emphasized that unity among Mau Mau groups now numbering over 50 nationwide would be critical in sustaining pressure for compensation. “Our strength lies in coming together. If we speak with one voice, we can pursue this matter to the end,” he said.

    However, the absence of a clear legal framework to guide compensation for Mau Mau fighters remains a major obstacle.

    The Kenyan government has largely maintained that the 2013 settlement concluded the matter and that any further claims should be pursued directly with the British government.

    So far, state recognition of the Mau Mau struggle has largely been symbolic including naming roads, stadia and erecting monuments with no direct financial support extended to the fighters themselves.

    As the remaining veterans grow older, they insist that the question of compensation is not merely about money but about dignity, justice and acknowledging the true cost of Kenya’s freedom.

  • Government rolls out digital track for all medical imports, exports

    Government rolls out digital track for all medical imports, exports

    The government has rolled out an online system to document all imports and export transactions on manufactured health products starting next year.

    Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said the ministry had finalized tracking and authentication of health products and technologies for the common good of the residents.

    The CS said once the system is formalized, it will enhance traceability, accountability and visibility across the pharmaceutical chain, even as the ministry strengthens its regulatory mechanism, amid plans to inspect all business enterprises in Nairobi.

    “Practitioners found to be non-compliant will be referred to the board’s ethic and disciplinary committee for action,” he said, adding that the ministry is currently conducting 100 percent inspections of all licensed wholesalers within the Nairobi region, in preparation for the 2026 licensing cycle.

    At the same time, Duale confirmed that following the appointment of new Board members of the Ethics and Disciplinary Committee (EDC) in November, the entity is expected to be fully operational from January 2026, thus enabling the expeditious handling of pending cases and the referral of additional non- compliant practitioners for appropriate regulatory action.

    “To date, over ten practitioners have been presented before the EDC for disciplinary proceedings,” he said as he warned that informal sale or dispensing of prescription-only medicines without a valid prescription remains unlawful. Any pharmacy, wholesaler, distributor, or individual found offering or dispensing sildenafil without prescription is liable to regulatory and legal sanctions, including seizure of products, suspension or revocation of licenses, and disciplinary or criminal proceedings,” he added.

    Duale said the ministry is at advanced stages of completing scheduling of medicines, which will be made publicly available, with a view to enhancing regulatory clarity, support compliance by practitioners and strengthen enforcement actions.

    The ministry, he added had further authorized the recruitment of additional regulatory staff, a process that is currently underway and is expected to significantly strengthen inspection coverage and enforcement at the retail pharmacy level.

    “We are engaging with key stakeholders and also implementing targeted public education and awareness initiatives, aimed at informing the public on the risks associated with the use of prescription-only medicines, without appropriate medical authorization, as part of our broader public health protection mandate,” said the CS.

    The ministry has also implemented training initiatives for healthcare professionals across multiple cadres and industry stakeholders, focusing on regulatory compliance, patient safety, rational use of medicines and adherence to medicines scheduling.

    Meanwhile, over 5,500 persons have participated in ministry’s facilitated Continuing Medical Education (CME), while over 4,000 healthcare providers have been trained through in-person programmes.

  • Ethiopia, United States sign $1.6B Health Partnership Deal

    Ethiopia, United States sign $1.6B Health Partnership Deal

    The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Government of the United States have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) amounting to $ 1.616 billion. 

    According to the Ministry of Finance, the two governments reaffirmed their strong partnership and cooperation in the health sector, through a five-year grant agreement aimed at improving disease prevention, health system resilience and strengthening public health systems in Ethiopia.

    Under the agreement, the United States Government, commits up to 1.016 billion USD grant financing and 150 million USD additional grant based on performance, to be channeled through the government system for supporting Ethiopia’s national health priorities over the coming years.

    The Government of Ethiopia, in turn, reaffirmed its strong commitment with additional allocation of up to 450 million USD in co-financing, policy leadership, and effective implementation to ensure sustainability, accountability, and measurable impact.

    Both sides highlighted that the MoU builds on decades of productive Ethiopia–U.S. cooperation, grounded in mutual respect, shared responsibility, and a common goal of safeguarding public health and promoting sustainable development.

    According to the Ministry of Finance, the signing of the MoU demonstrates the shared resolve of Ethiopia and the United States to deepen collaboration in the health sector and to work together in addressing current and emerging health challenges for the benefit of the Ethiopian people.

    The MoU was signed by Ahmed Shide, Minister of Finance, Mekdes Daba, Minister of Health, and Ervin Massinga, Ambassador of the United States of America.

  • Pope calls for Christmas Day truce, laments Russia’s rejection

    Pope calls for Christmas Day truce, laments Russia’s rejection

    Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday called for a global truce on Christmas Day, expressing “great sadness” that “apparently Russia rejected a request” for one.

    “I am renewing my request to all people of good will to respect a day of peace — at least on the feast of the birth of our Saviour,” Leo told reporters at his residence in Castel Gandolfo near Rome.

    Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and has repeatedly rejected calls for a ceasefire, saying it would only give a military advantage to Ukraine.

    “Among the things that cause me great sadness is the fact that Russia has apparently rejected a request for a truce,” the pope said.

    Referring to conflicts in general, Leo added: “I hope they will listen and there will be 24 hours of peace in the whole world.”

    Ukraine on Tuesday pulled troops out of a town in the east of the country after fierce battles with Russian forces, as relentless strikes by Moscow killed three civilians and cut power to thousands in freezing winter temperatures.

    There was no sign of an imminent breakthrough after top negotiators from both Russia and Ukraine were in Miami last weekend for separate meetings with US officials seeking a deal to end almost four years of fighting.

    Pope Leo met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier this month.

    Asked whether he would accept Zelensky’s invitation to visit Ukraine, Leo later said, “I hope so,” but cautioned that it was not possible to say when such a trip might take place.

    He also said that seeking peace in Ukraine without European diplomatic involvement was “unrealistic” and warned that US President Donald Trump’s proposed peace plan risked a “huge change” in the transatlantic alliance.

    (FRANCE 24 with AFP)

  • US accused of “greatest extortion known in our history” over Venezuela at UN

    US accused of “greatest extortion known in our history” over Venezuela at UN

    Russia and China on Tuesday criticized the United States for its military and economic pressure on Venezuela, telling the UN Security Council it amounted to “cowboy behavior” and “intimidation.”

    Venezuela, which requested the emergency council meeting with the backing of Moscow and Beijing, accused Washington of “the greatest extortion known in our history.”

    The United States has deployed a major military force in the Caribbean and has recently intercepted oil tankers as part of a naval blockade against Venezuelan vessels it considers to be under sanctions.

    At Tuesday’s meeting, US Ambassador Mike Waltz responded to the criticism by saying, “The United States will do everything in its power to protect our hemisphere, our borders, and the American people.”

    US President Donald Trump accuses Venezuela of using oil, the South American country’s main resource, to finance “narcoterrorism, human trafficking, murders, and kidnappings.”

    Caracas denies any involvement in drug trafficking and maintains that Washington is seeking to overthrow its president, Nicolas Maduro, in order to seize Venezuelan oil reserves, the largest in the world.

    ‘The greatest extortion’

    “The acts by the US side run counter to all key norms of international law,” said Vassily Nebenzia, Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations, calling the US blockade an “act of aggression.”

    “The responsibility of Washington is also evident for the constant catastrophic consequences of such cowboy-like conduct,” he told the council.

    “China opposes all acts of unilateralism and bullying and supports all countries in defending their sovereignty and national dignity,” said the Chinese representative, Sun Lei.

    Venezuelan ambassador Samuel Moncada told the council: “We are in the presence of a power that acts outside of international law, demanding that Venezuelans vacate our country and hand it over.”

    “This is the greatest extortion known in our history,” he added.

    Waltz reiterated Trump’s accusations against the Venezuelan leader, saying, “Nicolas Maduro is a fugitive wanted by American justice and the head of the foreign terrorist organization the ‘Cartel de los Soles.’”

    Experts say there is no evidence of the existence of an organized group with a defined hierarchy that goes by that name.

    The US government has offered a $50 million reward for any information leading to the arrest of Maduro, a staunch ally of Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

    Since September, US forces have launched dozens of air strikes on boats that Washington alleges, without showing evidence, were transporting drugs. More than 100 people have been killed.

    (FRANCE 24 with AFP)

  • Libya’s army chief killed in air crash in Turkey

    Libya’s army chief killed in air crash in Turkey

    The Libyan army chief has been killed in an air crash in Turkey, Libya’s prime minister has said.

    Gen Mohammed Ali Ahmed al-Haddad and four others were on board a Falcon 50 aircraft flying out of the Turkish capital, Ankara, on Tuesday evening.

    In a post on X, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said signal with the business jet was lost at 20:52 local time (17:52 GMT) – about 42 minutes after it took off from Ankara’s airport.

    The Tripoli-bound jet had issued an emergency landing request before contact was lost. The aircraft’s wreckage was later found south-west of Ankara, and an investigation is now under way into what caused the crash.

    In a later post on X, Yerlikaya wrote that police had spotted the debris near the village of Kesikkavak, in the Haymana district.

    He said the “public will be informed of further developments”.

    In Libya, Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, the prime minister of the country’s internationally-recognised Government of National Unity (GNU), said he had received news of the deaths of Gen Haddad and other senior Libyan military officials on board the jet.

    The prime minister called it a “great loss” for the nation, saying Libya had “lost men who served their country with sincerity and dedication”.

    Gen Haddad and his team had been in Turkey for talks aimed at further strengthening military and security co-operation between the two countries.

    Turkey has played an increasingly dominant role in Libya after intervening in 2019 to prevent an army from the east of the country driving out the internationally-recognised government in Tripoli, and has built close political, military and economic ties.

  • WHO warns of dangerous escalation of attacks on health care in Sudan

    WHO warns of dangerous escalation of attacks on health care in Sudan

    Attacks on health care in Sudan are becoming deadlier and more widespread, cutting off access to lifesaving services and placing health workers and humanitarian operations at serious risk, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

    Since the conflict began in April 2023, WHO has verified 201 attacks on health care in Sudan, resulting in 1858 deaths and 490 injuries. In 2025 alone, 65 attacks were verified, causing more than 1620 deaths and 276 injuries. These deaths account for more than 80% of all deaths from attacks on health care verified by WHO in complex humanitarian emergencies globally in 2025.

    “Attacks on health care in Sudan have become increasingly deadlier, further undermining access to care at a time when it is most needed,” said Dr Shible Sahbani, WHO Representative and Head of Mission in Sudan. “Health workers have been providing health services with exceptional courage and dedication under extremely challenging conditions. They need protection, not bombardment or detention.”

    The latest incident occurred on 14 December when nine health workers were killed and 17 injured in an attack on a hospital in Dalanj, a town in South Kordofan state. Dalanj is a key administrative and health hub for surrounding communities, where health workers provide critical referral care.

    Earlier this month, on 4 December, a kindergarten and the Kalogi Rural Hospital in South Kordofan were also hit, with 114 people killed – including at least 60 children – and 35 injured. Health staff were treating casualties when the attack occurred at the hospital, which serves as a key referral health facility for surrounding rural communities. Evacuations of injured patients to Abu Jebaiha Hospital took place amid ongoing fire.

    In Darfur, violence and repeated attacks on health care continue to disrupt access to services. In Nyala, South Darfur, at least 70 health workers were detained, alongside around 5000 civilians, over the past few months according to reports in early December. This incident followed multiple attacks on health facilities in El Fasher in October 2025, including targeted attacks on a maternity hospital that killed more than 460 patients, their families and other civilians, and the abduction of six health workers from El Fasher and surrounding localities in November 2025.

    WHO calls for an immediate halt to attacks on civilians, health workers, health facilities and humanitarian operations in Sudan, and urges all parties to ensure safe, rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access in line with international humanitarian law.

    Peace is long overdue for the people of Sudan.

  • UjuziKilimo launches world’s first smartphone-based soil testing solution

    UjuziKilimo launches world’s first smartphone-based soil testing solution

    In a defining moment for global agri-tech innovation, UjuziKilimo has officially launched SoilPal Pro, the world’s first smartphone-based soil testing solution.

    UjuziKilimo, a local Agri-Intelligence company, has launched the solution based on a Smartphone-connected spectral soil sensor.

    While confirming the launch, UjuziKilimo Chief Executive Officer Brian Bosire said the solution is designed to deliver laboratory-grade soil testing and intelligence to the palm of every farmer. The SoilPal Pro product, Bosire said, has been robustly tested to deliver instant, data-validated insights into soil health, redefining how soil intelligence is accessed and applied worldwide.

    Crucially, SoilPal Pro works globally without local calibration, enabling consistent accuracy across diverse agro-ecological zones and accelerating UjuziKilimo’s global expansion into Europe, the United States, Asia, and South America.

    “SoilPal Pro isn’t just about knowing your soil, it’s about democratizing access to soil intelligence,” said Bosire.

    He added, “For farmers, enterprises, and governments alike, this innovation provides the clarity, speed, and scale required to transform agriculture in the face of rising input costs, climate pressures, and food security demands.”

    SoilPal Pro challenges the outdated assumption that soil testing must be slow, expensive, and centralized. Redefining what farmers, agribusinesses, and governments can expect from soil intelligence. By combining visible- and near-infrared (VNIR) spectroscopy, AI-powered machine learning, and cloud connectivity, SoilPal Pro enables users to test soil on-site and receive actionable insights in seconds. What once required laboratory logistics now happens instantly, transforming soil data into a real-time decision tool.

    Said Bosire, “As a farmer’s son, I’ve seen firsthand the resilience it takes to turn uncertain soils into harvests,” Bosire says. ‘’People growing our food deserve more than resilience; they deserve technology that is powerful, affordable, and tailored to the environments they farm in.’’

    Each test analyzes over 13 critical soil parameters, including nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, pH, organic carbon, moisture, and salinity. Results are processed through UjuziKilimo’s proprietary predictive agronomy engine, delivering precise, localized recommendations directly to the user’s smartphone.

    Weighing just 105 grams, SoilPal Pro is built for rugged, real-world environments. Every test connects to UjuziKilimo’s cloud-based platform, where AI models trained on thousands of soil profiles across diverse agroecological zones continuously learn and adapt to local conditions. This ensures accuracy while enabling large-scale applications.

    This launch also marks the retirement of the original SoilPal 1.0. This program empowered over 100,000 farmers with yield gains of up to 30% in the first season and 200% over three years. Ushering in the SoilPal Pro, a commercially ready, globally scalable device designed to serve diverse geographies and agricultural systems.