Safaricom (NSE: SCOM) has committed KES 22 million to serve as the title sponsor of the 2026 Connected Africa Summit, scheduled for next week in Nairobi, according to a company press release dated April 23, 2026.

The summit brings together policymakers, regulators and private-sector players to discuss Africa’s digital transformation, at a time when governments are ramping up programmes to modernise public services and expand digital access.

Safaricom Chief Executive Officer Peter Ndegwa said the next phase of digitalisation requires solutions that can operate reliably at national scale. “Africa’s digital journey is at a point where it is no longer about what is possible, but what can work at scale. There has been strong progress in digitisation, but the focus now is on making systems work in a consistent and practical way,” Ndegwa said.

He added that public-sector digitisation increasingly depends on implementation partners who can deliver end-to-end systems. “Governments need partners who can deliver integrated, secure, and practical solutions that improve how citizens experience services every day. That means building solutions that are connected, secure, and designed around how people use services,” Ndegwa said.

Safaricom said it has supported the Connected Africa Summit since its inception in 2009, positioning its involvement as part of long-running public-private collaboration on regional ICT priorities. “We have supported the summit since its inception in 2009 and in that journey, we have seen firsthand how collaboration across government, industry, and partners has shaped the region’s digital agenda,” Ndegwa said.

The company linked those collaborations to outcomes such as connectivity build-out and growth in digital infrastructure. “Together, we have contributed to key milestones, from infrastructure expansion to the growth of the digital superhighway. These are not just policy wins. They are foundations for a functioning digital economy,” he said.

The announcement comes as Kenya and several African governments push forward digital public service delivery—covering identity systems, payments, citizen service portals and sector-specific platforms—raising demand for secure connectivity, interoperable systems and resilience in critical infrastructure. For Kenya’s business landscape, the summit is typically a forum where public procurement priorities, technology standards and partnerships are discussed, shaping opportunities for telecoms operators, fintechs, systems integrators and cloud and cybersecurity providers.

In the press release’s background section, Safaricom said it serves more than 60 million customers across Kenya and Ethiopia and reported annual revenues of close to KES 388 billion as at March 2025. The company also cited an estimated total economic value of KES 1.1 trillion (US$8.5 billion) for the 12 months through March 2025, and said its network coverage spans more than 99% of Kenya’s population across 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G in aggregate.

Safaricom further said M-PESA generated over KES 161 billion in revenue in FY25 and cited an adult financial inclusion rate of 84.8% in 2024, up from 26.7% in 2006, attributing the figures to its mobile money platform’s role in enabling transactions, savings and credit through mobile phones.

Looking ahead, the title sponsorship places Safaricom at the centre of a high-profile policy and industry meeting that may influence regional priorities on digital infrastructure, government services and cybersecurity. The company did not provide additional breakdowns of how the KES 22 million will be spent, but said the funds are intended to support the success of the conference.

Pwani Oil Products Limited, through its Detrex Soap brand, has partnered with the charitable organisation Keeping Girls in School (KGS) to expand access to menstrual hygiene products and education for women inmates in Kenyan prisons. The campaign, launched at Lang’ata Women’s Prison in Nairobi, began in March and will run through to September 2026, with organisers saying at least 1,000 women will receive support.

According to the press release dated April 22, 2026, the programme will distribute “dignity kits” containing sanitary pads, underwear, soap and basic hygiene supplies, including Detrex bathing soap, to women inmates across several facilities. Organisers said the intervention is intended to address persistent shortages of personal care items in prisons, which can leave incarcerated women dependent on irregular donations or family support.

The initiative comes against a broader strain on Kenya’s correctional system. Kenya’s prison population stands at around 58,000 inmates, with women accounting for roughly 13%, according to data cited in the release from the National Council on the Administration of Justice. Based on those figures, the female prison population is estimated at about 8,000.

Overcrowding has also been flagged as a factor that affects sanitation and access to basic supplies. Kenya’s prisons operate at about 161% of official capacity, according to data cited from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, putting pressure on sanitation infrastructure. The press release added that health advocates link inadequate access to soap and menstrual products to elevated risks of reproductive tract infections, urinary tract infections and skin diseases, as well as anxiety, stigma and loss of dignity among inmates.

“We believe access to basic hygiene is fundamental to health and dignity for every Kenyan, including those in correctional facilities. Through Detrex, we are proud to support such practical interventions that restore dignity while advancing public health outcomes in underserved communities,” said Polycarp Nyawuana, RRT Manager Nairobi at Pwani Oil, during the campaign’s launch at Lang’ata Women’s Prison.

KGS said the campaign will combine product distribution with education sessions focused on menstrual health, hygiene practices and reducing stigma around menstruation inside prison communities.

“Menstrual health and hygiene is an urgent but often overlooked need, especially within correctional facilities, where a majority of the women population is underprivileged. It is encouraging to see corporates like Pwani Oil, taking bold steps to bridge the needs gap,” said Wamuyu Kuira, Executive Director at KGS.

While the campaign is framed by the partners as a public health intervention, it also signals continued corporate participation in social programmes amid constrained public resources. The press release said the initiative is supported by Pwani Oil as part of its environmental, social and governance commitments and community outreach programmes.

For Kenya’s business landscape, the partnership illustrates how consumer goods manufacturers are increasingly aligning brand-led programmes with measurable social outcomes, particularly in health and sanitation. It also highlights a growing focus on underserved populations, including incarcerated people, as stakeholders in public health policy outcomes that can affect national healthcare burdens.

Looking ahead, the partners said the campaign will run until September 2026, with distribution of kits and delivery of menstrual health education sessions across targeted prison facilities. The scale-up beyond the 1,000 intended beneficiaries, and whether similar models are adopted by other private sector players, is likely to be shaped by results from the ongoing rollout and the availability of complementary support within the prison health system.

Payments platform PayKit has launched in Kenya, positioning its services around high-volume payments, reconciliation and multi-currency capabilities for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and digital platforms. The company said on April 22, 2026 in Nairobi that it processed about KES 30 million in transaction value during a pilot phase over the last 2.5 months and is targeting 50–60 million transactions by the end of the year.

The launch comes as Kenya’s digital payments market continues to deepen, driven largely by mobile money. PayKit cited data from the Communications Authority of Kenya showing mobile money penetration exceeds 98% of the adult population, with more than 51 million active accounts and annual transaction volumes above KES 8.6 trillion.

PayKit’s strategy is aimed at businesses that increasingly require tools to manage disbursements, settlement and back-office processes as transaction volumes rise and more firms trade across borders. The company argues that many payment providers still concentrate on consumer wallets or basic collections, leaving operational gaps for businesses dealing with complex financial flows.

The focus on MSMEs is significant in Kenya’s business landscape. PayKit referenced Kenya National Bureau of Statistics data indicating the country has about 7.4 million MSMEs—around 98% of all business entities—contributing about 30% to 40% of GDP and employing more than 14.9 million people.

“Digital payments in Kenya have largely solved access. The next challenge is scale and efficiency because businesses today need need to send, reconcile, settle and manage funds across multiple channels and currencies in real time, in addition to receiving payments,” said Beatrice Okeyo, PayKit’s CEO.

According to the press release, PayKit’s product set includes high-volume disbursements for supplier and payroll payments, faster settlement to support cash flow, and “intelligent reconciliation” to reduce manual matching of payments to transactions. The firm also said it offers multi-currency support, which it framed as increasingly important as Kenyan businesses expand across borders and as new payment corridors emerge.

PayKit said it is regulated by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK). It was founded in 2023 and has been developing and refining its technology since then, while setting up operations and securing approvals to operate in the country, according to the company.

In its growth plan, the firm said it aims to onboard about 15,000 merchants by year-end and reach 500,000 mobile app downloads, supported by a merchant portal and a mobile application.

“There is a clear need for more advanced payment infrastructure because many businesses in Kenya, and indeed most of Africa, continue to face challenges such as limited interoperability and high operational overheads. In many sectors, cash and manual processes still play a significant role, highlighting the gap between access to digital payments and the ability to use them efficiently at scale. This is the gap that PayKit sufficiently bridges,” Okeyo said.

Regionally, PayKit said it is evaluating expansion within 18 to 24 months, with Rwanda identified as a priority market. The company attributed its interest to what it described as an enabling regulatory environment that allows payment service providers to operate more seamlessly without needing to register afresh in the country.

For Kenya’s fintech and payments sector, PayKit’s entry adds to competition among payment service providers seeking SME volumes beyond basic collections, as businesses demand interoperability, automation and improved controls. The company’s ability to meet its transaction, merchant and adoption targets is likely to depend on integration depth with existing payment rails, pricing, and operational reliability at scale—areas that have increasingly differentiated providers in a crowded market.

PayKit said its next milestones include scaling transaction volumes through its portal and app, expanding its merchant base, and progressing regulatory and market evaluations for entry into other East African markets.

Google has selected four Kenyan startups—Comana, Duck, ReportsAI and VunaPay—to join the 10th cohort of the Google for Startups Accelerator Africa, the company said in a press release dated April 21, 2026 in Nairobi.

According to Google, the Kenyan firms were picked from nearly 2,600 applications as part of a final pan-African group of 15 companies, implying an acceptance rate of less than 1%.

The selected Kenyan startups apply artificial intelligence across supply chains, data reporting and financial services. Comana builds technology aimed at helping governments and market associations digitise informal food markets. Duck operates a real-time data intelligence platform designed to give consumer brands shop-floor visibility to help prevent stockouts. ReportsAI provides an “AI-first” platform that it says helps impact organisations convert raw data into compliance-ready reporting. VunaPay builds fintech and data infrastructure for cooperatives, with a focus on instant payments and financial services for smallholder farmers.

The announcement comes as Kenya’s startup sector continues to position itself as a hub for fintech, logistics and enterprise software in East Africa, while investors increasingly scrutinise pathways to revenue and scalability. Google said the wider African venture ecosystem raised $3.9 billion (about KES 507.0 billion) in 2025, underscoring ongoing capital availability despite tougher global fundraising conditions. The company argued that deep-tech and AI-focused startups still require access to technical infrastructure, cloud capabilities and mentorship to scale.

Hafsah Jumare, CEO of Nairobi-based Comana, said the accelerator would support the company’s efforts to expand its market data product to more locations. “Most food trade across Africa happens in traditional markets, but these markets remain largely invisible and unsupported. With MarketView, we’re building infrastructure to make them visible, using AI to interpret real-time data so businesses and governments can actually see what’s happening and act on it,” Jumare said. “Through the accelerator, we’re focused on scaling this across more markets and strengthening the underlying data systems and integrations that make this intelligence usable at scale.”

Google said the programme will run from April 13 to June 19, 2026 in a hybrid format, offering mentorship and technical workshops focused on AI and machine learning.

Folarin Aiyegbusi, Head of Startup Ecosystem, Africa, said Google’s intent is to support founders with technical resources and networks as they scale. “We are absolutely thrilled to welcome these exceptional founders into Class 10,” Aiyegbusi said. “Our role is to serve as a supportive partner, providing these developers and founders with the technical infrastructure, mentorship, and global network they need to scale their solutions and amplify their real-world impact.”

For Kenya, participation by four firms signals continued alignment between local startup activity and enterprise and public-sector demand, particularly in digitising informal markets, improving retail availability, strengthening reporting and compliance, and expanding cooperative-based financial services. These areas remain central to productivity and resilience in the Kenyan economy, where informal trade and smallholder agriculture employ large segments of the workforce.

Google said that since the accelerator launched in 2018, it has supported 106 startups across 17 African countries, which the company says have collectively raised more than $263 million (about KES 34.1 billion) and created more than 2,800 jobs.

The next milestone for the cohort will be completion of the programme in June 2026, after which participating startups typically pursue follow-on fundraising, partnerships, and expanded commercial deployments based on product and technical improvements developed during the accelerator.

LG Electronics engaged consumers in Nairobi through a two-week shopper campaign held during the Carrefour Brand Festival, culminating in a live draw event at Two Rivers Mall on April 21, 2026.

According to the company’s press release, the festival brought together 45 consumer brands offering promotional pricing and customer rewards. LG used the platform to showcase its home appliances and electronics while running a prize draw for shoppers who made qualifying purchases at selected Carrefour stores.

To participate, customers were required to purchase select LG products worth at least KES 14,000. Qualifying shoppers were entered into a draw to win LG appliances including microwaves, refrigerators, washing machines and smart televisions, the company said.

The activation highlights the increasing role of large-format supermarkets and mall-based retail in Kenya’s distribution of consumer electronics and durable goods, where brands are seeking to drive foot traffic and conversions through in-store demonstrations, bundled offers and reward mechanics.

LG positioned the campaign as part of its retail partnership approach. The company said the initiative was intended to strengthen direct consumer engagement through established shopping platforms and to support the growth of Kenya’s modern retail segment.

“We are proud to be part of initiatives that bring our products closer to customers,” said Irene Mwangi, Regional Manager of LG East Africa’s Go-to-Market team, speaking during the award ceremony.

Mwangi added that, “This campaign demonstrated how strong partnerships can translate into real value for consumers while strengthening the retail ecosystem that supports technology access across the region. As LG, we remain committed to delivering innovation that responds to the needs of today’s connected homes.”

For Kenya’s retail and consumer goods market, such campaigns can influence short-term sales volumes in categories such as televisions and large appliances, which are often sensitive to price incentives and financing availability. They also underscore the competitive push among electronics brands to secure visibility in high-traffic retail destinations, as shoppers increasingly compare products in-store before purchasing.

LG did not disclose the number of participating shoppers, the value of prizes awarded, or sales performance from the campaign. Future milestones would include similar co-branded promotions and in-store activations as brands and retailers continue to compete for consumer spending in Kenya’s mall and supermarket ecosystem.

KCB Bank Kenya has launched an under-18 savings and financial literacy proposition aimed at building a savings culture among children, the lender said in a statement issued in Nairobi.

According to KCB, the initiative is designed as a financial literacy and wellness programme that will “equip parents with practical tools to guide their children on financial literacy from an early age,” with the goal of supporting responsible money habits over time.

The bank said the proposition introduces two account segments targeting different age groups. “The Cub Account is designed for children and anchored on parent-led savings, early financial habits, and future planning for children aged 0 to 12 years,” KCB said. It added that “The Leo Account is tailored for teens, 13 to 17 years, focusing on financial independence, smart money management, and lifestyle relevance as they transition into young adulthood.”

KCB linked the programme to broader concerns about financial knowledge gaps, saying the initiative aims to ensure children can access money management education early. The bank said building these skills at a young age is important for improving future financial decision-making and long-term household stability.

The launch comes as Kenyan banks and other financial institutions increasingly compete to deepen customer relationships through youth and family banking propositions, including digital onboarding and savings products linked to financial education. For lenders, under-18 products can help build long-term customer pipelines while supporting national goals around financial inclusion and consumer financial capability.

KCB said parents and guardians can enrol by opening an account for their children through the new KCB Mobile App or by visiting any KCB branch countrywide.

In Kenya’s retail banking market, such propositions may also influence deposit mobilisation trends, especially among families looking to ring-fence funds for school-related expenses and longer-term goals. However, take-up will likely depend on product features, ease of onboarding, and how effectively financial literacy content is delivered to parents and children.

KCB did not disclose target customer numbers, deposit targets, or timelines for rolling out additional features under the programme. The bank is expected to provide further details as implementation progresses and as customer onboarding scales through its mobile and branch channels.

Jubilee Life Insurance Company Limited has launched the Faida Elimu Insurance Plan, a new education-focused insurance and savings product, as it targets rising school fee costs and the risk of learning disruption for Kenyan children, the company said on April 20, 2026 in Nairobi.

The insurer positioned the plan as a combination of long-term savings and insurance protection intended to cushion households against sudden income shocks that can interrupt schooling. Jubilee Life said the product is aimed at parents and guardians planning for private and specialised education, where costs are typically higher.

The launch comes as households continue to face budget pressure from education expenses. Jubilee Life cited the Kenya’s Inequality Crisis report by Oxfam, which says about 36% of Kenya’s population is under the age of 15 and that more than 14 million pupils are enrolled in primary and secondary schools. The same report indicates households spend up to 14% of their income on school fees, according to Jubilee Life’s statement.

Jubilee Life linked the product to Kenya’s Vision 2030 human capital ambitions, arguing that more predictable funding for school transitions can reduce the likelihood of dropouts driven by financial distress. Education financing has become a growing area of interest for insurers, asset managers and lenders as families seek structured ways to plan for termly fees while also managing risk from death or loss of income.

Asman Mugambi, CEO and Principal Officer at Jubilee Life Insurance Company Limited, said the firm was aiming to respond to both financial and non-financial stress faced by families. “As a company, we are called to think beyond products and intentionally design practical solutions that relieve both the psychological and financial burdens among Kenyan families,” Mugambi said. “Every parent wants their child to go further than they ever did, without anything limiting that dream. Predictability and dignity ensure that a child’s education journey continues even when life takes unexpected turns.”

According to Jubilee Life, the Faida Elimu Insurance Plan allows monthly contributions starting from KES 5,000 and also provides for a one-off deposit option starting from KES 100,000. The plan includes an investment-linked component combined with life risk cover, and a mandatory last-expense cover of KES 100,000. Jubilee Life said the life cover can go up to KES 1 million.

For Kenya’s insurance market, the product underscores continued interest in investment-linked policies that blend savings discipline with protection benefits, particularly as consumers look for targeted solutions tied to life goals such as education. The education segment also presents a long-duration savings opportunity for insurers, although policy performance and customer outcomes will depend on product costs, investment returns and disclosure standards, as well as households’ ability to sustain contributions through income volatility.

Jubilee Life’s parent, Jubilee Holdings Limited, is listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange, and the group operates across several regional markets. The company said it has more than 1.9 million customers across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and Mauritius.

Going forward, market watchers will track uptake levels for education-linked insurance and whether similar products expand distribution through bancassurance, agents and digital channels as insurers compete for long-term savings flows.

Murang’a County Referral Hospital hosted a fistula screening and treatment camp that mobilised 449 women and girls for screening, counselling, physiotherapy and corrective surgery, according to a press release dated April 18, 2026. The camp was a collaboration between the M-Pesa Foundation, the Ministry of Health and the Murang’a County Government, supported by clinical partners including the Flying Doctors and Amref Health Africa.

The organisers said the intervention comes against what they described as a national burden of about 120,000 women living with untreated obstetric fistula, citing shortages of trained fistula surgeons, delayed access to emergency obstetric care and complications during childbirth as key barriers to reducing the caseload.

Obstetric fistula is a childbirth injury commonly linked to prolonged or obstructed labour and can result in chronic incontinence and other complications. Beyond the health impact, the condition can lead to stigma and economic exclusion—factors that often affect household incomes and productivity, and increase demand for public health services.

Christine Muthengi, a vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) nurse and trainer, said some patients at the Murang’a camp had lived with the condition for decades, with cases dating back to 1991. She linked long-term untreated cases to social outcomes that include abandonment and isolation.

“Obstetric fistula is a devastating childbirth injury that causes chronic incontinence, deep physical trauma and social isolation, from constant leakage to resultant foul smell, Women and girls are forced into hiding for years, to save them from shame,” Ms Muthengi said.

Ms Muthengi added that stigma remains a major obstacle to treatment, saying many patients conceal their condition and delay seeking medical care. The press release also pointed to gaps such as misdiagnosis and delays in accessing emergency obstetric services as contributing risk factors.

Despite Murang’a County reporting a 96% skilled birth attendance rate and a teenage pregnancy rate of 7%, the statement said underlying challenges—such as poverty and early and unintended pregnancies among adolescents—can still increase the risk of obstetric fistula.

The M-Pesa Foundation said it invested KES 8.1 million in the Murang’a initiative, which it described as part of a wider KES 213 million commitment towards fistula interventions. According to the Foundation, that funding has enabled more than 1,500 women in “high-burden counties” to access treatment.

Patricia Ithau, trustee at M-Pesa Foundation, said the programme aims to reduce delays to care and restore health outcomes for affected patients. “No woman should have to suffer in silence. Fistula surgery may seem like a simple procedure, but the transformation it brings to a woman’s dignity, health and future is profound,” Ms Ithau said.

For Kenya’s health sector, initiatives that bundle screening, surgical camps and post-operative support can help counties manage backlogs, but they also highlight structural constraints in specialist capacity and referral systems. If scaled and paired with stronger emergency obstetric care, such programmes could reduce long-term costs associated with chronic complications and social support needs, particularly in public facilities.

The partners did not provide a timeline for the next camp in the statement, but positioned the Murang’a intervention as part of longer-term efforts to build capacity to manage fistula cases and increase access to treatment in counties with high demand.

MTV Staying Alive Foundation has rebranded as Shuga Global and launched its first project under the new identity, the Mashariki Offscript Podcast, following the conclusion of a partnership with Paramount at the end of March 2026.

The organisation announced the change on April 16 at a launch event held at KOFISI Square in Nairobi, which it said was attended by development partners, cast and crew, media and members of the creative community. The podcast, hosted by Shuga Mashariki cast member Makena Kahuha and media personality Muchina Maloba, became available for streaming on Spotify and YouTube, alongside other digital platforms, according to the press release dated April 17, 2026.

The rebrand comes as Shuga Global positions itself for new partnerships and a broader slate of content. In its statement, the organisation said the transition followed the end of the Paramount partnership in March 2026 and was agreed through a “mutual transition” aligned to its future direction.

For Kenya’s creative and digital media economy, the announcement is significant because it signals continued investment in locally produced audio and screen content with national distribution ambitions. The organisation said the Mashariki Offscript Podcast will release weekly episodes and will be accompanied by “regional and national radio distribution” intended to reach more young people across Kenya.

Wame Jallow, Executive Director of Shuga Global, said the name change reflects an organisational shift while maintaining the Shuga franchise’s approach to youth-focused storytelling. “Rebranding as Shuga Global signals an exciting new era for our organization as we continue to evolve,” Jallow said. “Young people increasingly face complex interconnected issues, and we will continue to innovate and look forward to working with new partners and supporters to grow our impact on young people’s lives and their communities.”

Mitchelle Kimathi, Country Manager, Kenya, Shuga Global, said the podcast was designed to capture and amplify conversations already taking place among young people. “Offscript Podcast came from a simple belief, that the conversations young Kenyans are already having deserve to be heard,” Kimathi said. “We went to where young people are, to their campuses and living spaces to converse with them and we listened keenly.”

According to the statement, the podcast was recorded over a month across three universities: the University of Nairobi, Egerton University in Njoro (Nakuru) and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology in Siaya. It described the format as “community-style radio” centred on campus-based conversations about pressures affecting young people’s lives and livelihoods.

The organisation also pointed to its audience performance in Kenya as evidence of continued demand for local youth-focused storytelling. It said MTV Shuga Mashariki, which returned in 2025 after more than a decade away, accumulated about 5.3 million views in its first season. It added that Season 2, which premiered on Citizen TV in February 2026, had surpassed 8.3 million YouTube views at the time of the announcement.

Shuga Global further cited Season 1’s collaboration with the Sema Na Me support chatbot, saying it extended the show’s reach into direct youth support and highlighted issues including mental health, gender-based and intimate partner violence, and livelihoods. The statement did not disclose chatbot usage figures.

Looking ahead, Shuga Global said it is developing “Shuga Mashariki Shorts,” an anthology film series targeted for release in June 2026, with additional details to be provided later.

MTV Staying Alive Foundation has rebranded to Shuga Global, marking the end of a partnership with Paramount that concluded at the end of March 2026, the organisation said in a media statement dated 17 April 2026. The rebrand was announced at a launch event held on 16 April 2026 at KOFISI Square in Nairobi, attended by development partners, cast and crew, media and members of Kenya’s creative community.

According to the statement, the rebrand is intended to expand the organisation’s reach, partnerships and the range of stories it produces under the Shuga franchise, which has been active in Kenya since 2009. The organisation said the transition followed a “mutual” process tied to a shared vision for its future after the Paramount partnership ended.

Shuga Global’s first release under the new identity is the Mashariki Offscript Podcast, a 10-episode series hosted by Shuga Mashariki cast member Makena Kahuha alongside media personality Muchina Maloba. The podcast launched on 17 April and is available on Spotify, YouTube via Shuga Global and other digital platforms, the organisation said.

“Rebranding as Shuga Global signals an exciting new era for our organization as we continue to evolve,” said Wame Jallow, Executive Director of Shuga Global, in the statement. Jallow added that the organisation would “continue to innovate” and work with new partners, while acknowledging Paramount, MTV and other stakeholders who have supported its work.

Mitchelle Kimathi, Country Manager, Kenya, Shuga Global, said the podcast was designed to capture youth conversations in spaces where young people live and study. “Offscript Podcast came from a simple belief, that the conversations young Kenyans are already having deserve to be heard,” Kimathi said, adding that the recordings were based on on-campus engagement and listening sessions.

The organisation said the podcast was recorded over a month across three universities: the University of Nairobi, Egerton University in Njoro (Nakuru) and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology in Siaya. Episodes are expected to drop weekly and will be accompanied by regional and national radio distribution “to reach more young people across Kenya,” according to the statement.

For Kenya’s media and creative economy, the shift signals an effort to deepen multi-platform distribution beyond television into audio and radio formats—channels that remain significant for mass reach and local-language consumption. The move also reflects growing competition for youth audiences across streaming, social media and on-demand formats, particularly for content that blends entertainment with social messaging.

Shuga Global cited viewership metrics for its Kenyan TV franchise as an indicator of audience demand. It said MTV Shuga Mashariki accumulated about 5.3 million views in its first season, while Season 2—premiered on Citizen TV in February 2026—had surpassed 8.3 million YouTube views at the time of the release. The organisation also referenced the Sema Na Me support chatbot collaboration in Season 1 as an example of extending storytelling into direct youth support, linking discussions to issues such as mental health, gender-based and intimate partner violence, livelihoods and relationships.

Looking ahead, Shuga Global said it is developing Shuga Mashariki Shorts, an anthology film series expected for release in June 2026, with further details to be announced. The organisation said the broader Shuga franchise broadcasts across 40 African countries, positioning the new identity to continue regional distribution while expanding partnerships and formats.