Africa Logistics Properties Holdings Limited (ALPH) has named the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) and the MOBILIST programme as strategic cornerstone investors in its ALP Industrial Real Estate Investment Trust (ALP REIT), which listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) on Wednesday, March 11, 2026.

In a statement issued in Nairobi, ALPH said the UK government committed USD 24 million (KES 3.14 billion) to the listing through PIDG and MOBILIST, with PIDG committing USD 15 million (about KES 1.97 billion) and MOBILIST investing USD 9 million (about KES 1.18 billion). The company said the announcement was made during a bell-ringing ceremony marking the official listing.

ALPH said the ALP REIT was approved by the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) and is the first industrial REIT in East Africa as well as the first USD-denominated security to list and trade on the NSE. The company said it raised USD 29.55 million (about KES 3.87 billion) through the REIT, while the total listing was valued at USD 39.95 million (about KES 5.23 billion). It added that the figure excludes USD 5 million (about KES 655 million) of PIDG’s overall commitment, which it said will be invested as the REIT scales.

The transaction adds a new listed product to Kenya’s capital markets at a time when regulators and market players have been seeking to broaden investment options beyond equities and government securities. ALPH said the anchor investments helped it attract additional investors, including local and regional institutional investors.

Raghav Gandhi, Chief Executive Officer of ALPH, linked the listing to broader capital markets development and industrial investment. “This milestone underscores Kenya’s growing capital markets maturity and the increasing attractiveness of industrial real estate as a sustainable investment class. The participation of PIDG and MOBILIST demonstrates strong international confidence in Kenya,” Gandhi said.

PIDG said it is investing through its project development solution, InfraCo. Claire Jarratt, PIDG Head of Investment Management for InfraCo, said PIDG had previously supported the use of REIT structures in Nairobi and is extending that approach to industrial property. “Having anchored the establishment of REITs for affordable housing in Nairobi, PIDG is familiar with the REIT structure, and we know that it works to mobilise vital new sources of capital for economic development,” Jarratt said.

Ross Ferguson, Programme Lead for MOBILIST within the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO), said the approach aims to support new types of listed products. “In Kenya, creating listed products that domestic pension funds can invest in is essential to reducing their over-reliance on government debt and directing long-term capital to the businesses that drive growth,” Ferguson said.

NSE Chief Executive Officer Frank Mwiti said the listing brings a new asset class to the exchange. “The debut of the dollar-denominated Industrial I-REIT is a historic milestone for our market,” Mwiti said, adding that the product offers investors access to the industrial logistics sector.

ALPH said it has developed two industrial parks in Kenya since 2016: ALP North in Tatu City with 50,000 square metres and ALP West in Tilisi with 20,000 square metres. The company said the facilities include large-format warehouses and are built to IFC EDGE Advanced green building standards.

Looking ahead, ALPH said it is developing ALP West Kivu, a 10,500-square-metre project it expects to complete in Q3 2026. Market observers will watch how trading and investor participation evolves for the dollar-denominated REIT on the NSE, as well as whether the listing encourages additional real estate and infrastructure-linked products to come to Kenya’s public markets.

The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has urged Kenya’s industrial and manufacturing firms to adopt energy efficiency measures to reduce operating costs and free up electricity for wider distribution, following the rollout of new energy management rules.

In a press release dated March 11, 2026, EPRA said the push targets industries that are among the country’s largest energy consumers and aims to lower energy used per unit of output while maintaining or increasing production. The regulator’s call was made in Nairobi during a meeting attended by chief executives and leaders from the industry and manufacturing sectors.

The agency cited data from its Energy and Petroleum Statistics report for June to December 2025, which shows the industrial category consumed 2,924.48 GWh of electricity, up 4.18% from 2,807.10 GWh in the same period of 2024. EPRA said this consumption accounted for 49.25% of Kenya’s total electricity use over the period.

Against this backdrop, EPRA said the Energy (Energy Management) Regulations, 2025, set “clear expectations for energy management across commercial, industrial and institutional facilities” that consume more than 180,000 kWh of electrical and thermal energy annually. EPRA said the regulations are intended to promote efficient and sustainable energy consumption as demand grows.

Alex Wachira, Principal Secretary in the State Department of Energy, told the meeting that investments in energy efficiency could release capacity across the system without building new generation plants. “By so doing, industries will free up power, thereby creating what is referred to as virtual power plants’,” Wachira said, according to the press release. He added that the saved electricity could be distributed to more factories, homes and commercial centres “without having to invest in new power plants.”

EPRA Director General Daniel Kiptoo Bargoria outlined compliance expectations for qualifying facilities, including periodic audits and internal governance structures. “Among other things, the Regulations require that facilities conduct comprehensive energy audits once every four years, implement the recommendations and realise at least 50% of the projected savings, appoint a licensed energy manager and establish an internal energy management committee,” Kiptoo Bargoria said. He said the measures are designed to strengthen corporate governance practices linked to competitiveness and resilience.

Beyond industrial facilities, EPRA said it is also implementing the Energy (Appliances’ Energy Performance and Labelling) Regulations to ensure that appliances manufactured locally or imported into Kenya meet Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS). EPRA said the measures target products such as refrigerators, air conditioners, lighting appliances and motors, which are significant contributors to electricity demand in homes and commercial facilities.

The developments matter for Kenya’s business environment as electricity costs remain a major input for manufacturing and heavy industry, while the grid continues to balance demand growth from households, services and industrial expansion. By directing large consumers to reduce wastage and improve management systems, EPRA’s approach could lower peak demand pressure and improve reliability for firms that depend on stable power.

For manufacturers and other high-consuming facilities, the regulations could also drive increased spending on energy audits, monitoring systems and efficiency upgrades, as well as the use of licensed energy managers. In the near term, industry players may need to review compliance timelines, audit cycles and the feasibility of meeting the requirement to realise at least half of projected savings from audit recommendations, as stated by EPRA.

EPRA said the regulations apply to facilities above the 180,000 kWh annual threshold and will guide energy management practices across commercial, industrial and institutional users. Further implementation details are expected to shape how quickly firms adopt audits, governance structures and appliance standards enforcement across supply chains.

HER2+ breast cancer cost seven African economies more than KES 1.3 trillion (USD 10 billion) in lost productivity between 2017 and 2023, according to research presented at the 2026 Roche Africa Press Day held in Nairobi on March 4-5.

The findings, unveiled by healthcare company Roche and attributed to a study by the WifOR Institute, cover Algeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa and Tunisia. Roche said the analysis focused on the economic impact of HER2+ breast cancer, an aggressive subtype the research estimates is responsible for up to 20% of breast cancer cases on the continent.

The event brought together journalists from nine African countries alongside policymakers, economists, health experts and development finance leaders. Discussions centred on the theme “Health is Wealth” and the role of women’s health investment in strengthening health systems and driving economic growth, according to the organisers.

In a keynote address, Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Medical Services at the Ministry of Health, Dr Ouma Oluga, called on the media to shape public understanding of health reform. “When a health story is being told, what is most important to portray? Is it what is killing people? Is it the solutions that should stop what is killing people? Or is it the in-between—the administrative, resource, and policy actions that link the two?” Dr Oluga said.

Roche said the WifOR Institute research found that nearly 90% of the productivity losses came from women in their prime working years. The analysis also estimated that every KES 130 (USD 1) invested in innovative breast cancer treatments can generate up to KES 1,607 (USD 12.40) in economic returns, primarily by restoring women’s productivity and enabling longer healthy working lives.

Maturin Tchoumi, Pharma International Area Head for Roche Africa, said the data supports treating health spending as an economic policy lever. “Breast cancer is a rising threat to African societies and economies. The evidence clearly shows that investing in women’s health is not a cost or a social expense, but a powerful economic driver that underpins productivity, resilience, equity, and sustainable growth across the continent,” Tchoumi said.

Beyond productivity, speakers also pointed to structural challenges in cancer care access. Roche said a key theme was closing screening and early diagnosis gaps that contribute to around 77% of African women being diagnosed at later stages of breast cancer, citing a statistic referenced in the press materials.

H.E. Dorothy Nyong’o, First Lady of Kisumu County, Chair of the Africa Cancer Foundation and a member of the Africa Breast Cancer Council, highlighted Kenya’s EMPOWER initiative for breast and cervical cancer. According to Roche, the programme digitises the patient journey through 76 physical and virtual clinics to speed up diagnosis and treatment. Since 2019, EMPOWER has reached over 235,000 women and enabled 3,225 to receive treatment, and has been adopted by the National Cancer Institute of Kenya as a nationally integrated platform, Roche said.

“Tackling breast cancer is not just a moral issue; it’s a strategic choice. Kenya’s EMPOWER initiative highlights how partnership and digital innovation can create a step-change in women’s healthcare. It offers a blueprint to other African countries for public-private collaboration that drives systemic, equitable, and lasting change,” Nyong’o said.

For Kenya’s business landscape, the analysis reinforces the link between non-communicable disease outcomes and labour force participation, particularly for women who make up a significant share of the formal and informal workforce. The claims also add momentum to policy conversations around financing diagnostics, expanding early screening, and integrating cancer services into primary healthcare—areas that can influence healthcare spending priorities, insurance coverage, and workforce productivity.

Roche said other initiatives discussed at the Nairobi meeting included pilot Women’s Integrated Care Services in Kenya and Côte d’Ivoire, efforts to build sustainable diagnostic and laboratory networks for pandemic preparedness, and increased emphasis on African-led science such as genomics and local research.

Roche and participating stakeholders did not announce specific funding commitments at the event in the materials provided, but the company positioned the research as an input for future public-private partnership models and health system investment decisions.

African Mining Week 2026 will be held in Cape Town, South Africa, on October 14–16, bringing together policymakers, industry leaders and investors to assess how recent mining law reforms across Africa are influencing investment decisions and downstream processing plans, according to a statement distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power on March 11, 2026.

The conference comes as several mineral-producing and frontier markets revise mining codes, introduce new bills and adjust licensing rules in an effort to attract capital, diversify mineral output and capture more value through beneficiation. Energy Capital & Power said modernised legal and regulatory frameworks are aimed at providing clearer rules and improving transparency, factors that can affect financing, exploration activity and project development timelines.

In Liberia, the government is preparing to introduce a new Mining Code “within the next three months” and plans to create a National Mining Company to increase state participation in major projects, Energy Capital & Power said. The publication reported that nearly 80% of Liberia remains geologically unexplored.

“Liberia’s geology is exceptionally rich,” said Matenokay Tingban, Minister of Mines and Energy, in an interview with Energy Capital & Power in January. “We are seeking geomapping and exploration partners. Access to geoscientific data will allow us to negotiate stronger investment deals and develop downstream infrastructure.”

Energy Capital & Power added that iron ore currently dominates Liberia’s output, with the country “targeting 30 million tons per year by 2026,” while the planned framework is expected to support diversification into other resources and encourage partnerships for exploration and downstream processing.

Namibia is finalising a new Minerals Bill to replace its 2002 legislation, with reforms intended to support local beneficiation, broader participation and investment competitiveness, the statement said. Isabella Chirchir, Mining Commissioner at Namibia’s Ministry of Industry and Mines, said the reforms aim “to attract capital to diversify production beyond diamonds and uranium toward strategic metals such as lithium and rare earths,” according to Energy Capital & Power.

In Central Africa, the Republic of Congo approved a draft mining code in November 2025 that introduces competitive bidding, formal permitting for small-scale miners and provisions to support in-country processing, Energy Capital & Power said. The measures are intended to improve transparency and strengthen domestic value chains for both traditional and strategic minerals.

Beyond these markets, Energy Capital & Power said Ivory Coast is revising its mining code to cover a broader range of minerals—naming chromium, coltan, lithium, copper, cobalt and iron ore—alongside its “existing base of 19 operating mines.” Somalia is also overhauling mining regulations to open up frontier resources including uranium, lithium, cobalt, gold and diamonds, it added.

Energy Capital & Power cited recent policy changes in Mali and Burkina Faso as examples of how regulatory shifts can coincide with production growth and new project pipelines. It said Mali introduced a new Mining Code in 2023 and “continues as Africa’s second-largest gold producer” while advancing lithium projects and a gold refinery with international partners Barrick and B2Gold. It also said Burkina Faso adopted a revised code in 2024 and increased gold production from “roughly 57–60 tons to 94 tons in 2025.”

For Kenya and East Africa, the push for clearer mining rules and licensing procedures in multiple African jurisdictions may intensify competition for exploration and development capital, particularly for minerals linked to battery supply chains such as lithium and rare earths. Regulatory changes in neighbouring and comparable markets can also influence investor expectations around permitting timelines, state participation and beneficiation requirements—factors that typically shape project economics and financing structures.

African Mining Week 2026 is expected to focus on how these legislative changes translate into project execution—from early-stage exploration to processing and refining—at a time when governments are seeking to expand local value addition and improve revenues from mineral extraction.

Rwandan rally driver Queen Kalimpinya is preparing to make her debut at the Safari Rally Kenya, marking her first international competition after building her career in Rwanda’s national championship circuit. The entry comes through the KCB Racing Team, which she said has enabled her to take on the event, described in the statement as one of the most demanding fixtures on the rally calendar.

Kalimpinya, who is based in Kigali, is the defending champion in the Rwanda National Rally Championship, according to the statement. Her participation adds to the growing number of East African drivers using the Safari Rally platform to expand regional motorsport visibility and attract sponsorship, mechanics and logistics work linked to rally operations in Kenya.

The Safari Rally has become a significant event for Kenya’s hospitality, transport and automotive services sectors, drawing teams that require local supply chains and technical support across rally routes and service parks. Participation by regional drivers also strengthens cross-border sporting ties within the East African Community, where motorsport is increasingly viewed as both an entertainment product and a commercial activity tied to brand partnerships.

Kalimpinya’s route into rallying began after earlier public exposure in Rwanda’s beauty pageant scene, where she placed 3rd Runner-Up at the Miss Rwanda pageant in 2017, the statement said. She later shifted into motorsport, initially competing as a co-driver before moving into the driver’s seat.

In remarks included in the statement, Kalimpinya described her entry into the sport as gradual before becoming a serious pursuit. “At first, it was simply about trying something new and having fun,” she said. “But the more I learned about the sport and experienced the adrenaline of rallying, the more determined I became to pursue it seriously.”

She also attributed her Safari Rally opportunity to external backing, citing the cost of competing. “When I received the call, I honestly couldn’t believe it,” Kalimpinya said. “Competing in the Safari Rally and other international events has always been a dream. Motorsport requires significant financial resources, and opportunities like this don’t come easily. Thanks to KCB Racing Team, that dream is beginning to take shape.”

For the Safari Rally, Kalimpinya will be partnered with co-driver Olivier Ngabo, whom the statement described as a professional mechanic and mechanical engineering specialist with experience in transportation and car hire services. Ngabo was part of the 2025 Rwanda National Rally Championship-winning crew and won Best Co-Driver of the Year in 2019, according to the statement. The pair have worked together for three years.

They will also compete with an upgraded car, moving from a Subaru GC8 to a Subaru Impreza WRX STI GVB. Kalimpinya said the car has been tested across different terrains to prepare for the rally stages. “The car feels great, and the team has worked extremely hard on the preparation,” she said. “We believe it is ready for the challenge ahead.”

In terms of targets, Kalimpinya said her focus as a first-time entrant is to finish the rally without major issues while remaining competitive, with trophies positioned as an additional ambition.

For Kenya’s motorsport industry, her participation underscores the role of team sponsorships and structured support programmes in enabling regional talent to enter high-cost events. It also highlights a continued shift toward professionalisation—where driver-co-driver stability, engineering capability and vehicle preparation are critical to performance and safety outcomes.

Next steps will include final logistics and compliance preparations ahead of the Safari Rally start, with Kalimpinya and Ngabo expected to compete under the KCB Racing Team banner as they seek to complete the event and evaluate opportunities for further international rallies, as suggested in her remarks.

The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC), a member of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, has signed a five-year framework agreement with the Islamic Republic of Mauritania valued at US$1.0 billion (about KES 129.0 billion) to support the country’s trade finance and economic development priorities over the 2026–2030 period.

The agreement was signed on March 10, 2026 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, during an official visit by Mauritania’s Minister of Economic Affairs and Development and IsDB Governor, H.E. Dr. Abdallah O. Souleymane O. Cheikh-Sidia, to the IsDB Group headquarters, according to a statement from ITFC distributed by APO Group.

ITFC said the agreement was signed at its headquarters by H.E. Dr. Abdallah O. Souleymane O. Cheikh-Sidia and Eng. Adeeb Yousuf Al Aama, Chief Executive Officer of ITFC. The signing was witnessed by H.E. Mohamed Lemine Dhehby, Governor of the Central Bank of Mauritania and IsDB Alternate Governor for Mauritania, alongside representatives from ITFC and members of the Mauritanian delegation.

Under the framework, ITFC said it will mobilise financing and technical support for priority sectors of the Mauritanian economy, with a focus on energy, banking and private sector development. The planned support includes financing for the import of energy commodities, trade finance facilities and confirmation lines for letters of credit to local banks, and support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

ITFC added that the package will also include technical assistance programmes aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity and promoting trade facilitation in strategic sectors.

“Speaking during the occasion, H.E. Dr. Abdallah O. Souleymane O. Cheikh-Sidia, Minister of Economic Affairs and Development of Mauritania, highlighted that the agreement will help mobilize critical financial resources to support national development priorities and foster sustainable economic growth,” ITFC said in the release.

Eng. Adeeb Al Aama, CEO of ITFC, said the agreement “demonstrates ITFC’s continued commitment to supporting its member countries through trade-driven development and will help strengthen key sectors of Mauritania’s economy while expanding opportunities for trade and investment,” according to the statement.

The deal adds to a growing role for development finance institutions in structuring trade-linked funding to address import needs—particularly for energy—while supporting local financial systems via instruments such as confirmation lines for letters of credit. For banks, these arrangements can help manage counterparty risk and improve access to international suppliers, especially in markets where foreign exchange constraints and balance of payments pressures can disrupt trade flows.

For East Africa, including Kenya, the announcement underscores a broader trend within the IsDB ecosystem: channeling large, multi-year trade finance frameworks into member countries, often tied to energy imports, bank liquidity for trade, and SME support. Such programmes can influence regional competition for concessional and trade-linked funding, while shaping trade corridors as member states expand import capacity and strengthen local banking relationships with international counterparties.

ITFC said Mauritania has been a partner since the institution’s inception in 2008, with cumulative approvals exceeding US$1.2 billion (about KES 154.8 billion) for projects supporting key sectors. The corporation’s next steps under the new framework are expected to involve rolling out specific financing lines and technical assistance programmes aligned with the priority sectors identified in the agreement.

Africa’s hotel development pipeline has climbed to a record 123,846 rooms across 675 hotels and resorts, with East Africa posting some of the highest shares of rooms under construction, according to the 2026 Hotel Chain Development Pipelines in Africa report by W Hospitality Group released on March 10, 2026 in Cape Town.

The report shows year-on-year pipeline growth of 18.6%, or 12.2% on a same-store basis, and indicates that hotel development is increasingly concentrated in a small number of markets. W Hospitality Group said the top 10 countries now account for 79% of total pipeline rooms and more than 75% of new signings.

Kenya ranked fourth by pipeline rooms, with 6,190 rooms across 35 hotels. Ethiopia ranked fifth with 5,964 rooms across 34 hotels, while Tanzania ranked eighth with 4,159 rooms across 29 hotels, underlining East Africa’s continued relevance to Africa’s hotel investment map.

The largest pipeline remains in North Africa. Egypt led the continent with 45,984 rooms across 185 properties—more than one-third of the entire pipeline and more than four times Morocco’s 10,606 rooms. W Hospitality Group said Egypt and Morocco together account for more than 45% of total pipeline rooms, supported by new signings. The report said Egypt recorded 39 new deals last year and anticipates 33 openings in 2026.

“The data clearly show that Africa’s hotel development story is being driven by a handful of high-performing markets, with Egypt firmly at the forefront in both signings and projected openings,” said Trevor Ward, Managing Director of W Hospitality Group, in comments cited in the release.

While North Africa leads in total volume, the report said execution momentum is strongest in East Africa. Kenya has 4,922 rooms under construction out of a 6,190-room pipeline, representing 79.5%, while Ethiopia has 4,768 rooms under construction (79.9%). Tanzania follows with 3,222 rooms under construction (77.5%). By comparison, W Hospitality Group reported lower under-construction shares in some markets, including Nigeria at 39.2% and Cape Verde at 8.6%.

“What stands out this year is the strength of East Africa in terms of projects moving forward. Kenya, Ethiopia and Tanzania show some of the highest construction ratios on the continent, which suggests that this is where we are likely to see new supply coming through in the short to medium term,” Ward said.

For Kenya, the high proportion of projects under construction signals that a meaningful share of planned rooms is more likely to reach completion compared with markets where projects are still at early stages. In business terms, that can translate into increased competition in Nairobi and key leisure corridors, while also creating opportunities for construction, fit-out, professional services, and hotel staffing as projects move toward opening.

The report also points to concentration among international operators. It said Marriott International leads Africa’s pipeline by rooms with 31,782, followed by Hilton and Accor, and added that the five largest global chains—Marriott, Hilton, Accor, IHG and Radisson Hotel Group—account for around 80% of all pipeline hotels and rooms on the continent.

Looking ahead, W Hospitality Group said more than 65,000 rooms are forecast to open in 2026 and 2027, including 31,768 rooms in 2026 and 33,381 rooms in 2027. However, it cautioned that historical actualisation rates suggest deliveries may fall short of projections, highlighting a gap between announced pipelines and completed projects.

Further analysis of signings, construction progress and anticipated openings will be presented at the Future Hospitality Summit Africa, scheduled for March 31 to April 1 in Nairobi, according to the release distributed by APO Group on behalf of Future Hospitality Summit Africa.

Nairobi Jiu-Jitsu Academy (NJA) has opened a new combat sports training facility at New Muthaiga Mall, Thigiri Ridge, Nairobi, with the academy saying the site is the largest martial arts training ground in East Africa. The academy announced the opening in a press release dated 3 March 2026, following a three-day launch programme that began on Friday, 27 February.

According to NJA, the new facility occupies 650 square metres on the mall’s second floor and includes what it described as Kenya’s only octagon cage for MMA training, a strength and conditioning area, four types of heavy bags for striking training and a 150-square-metre open mat area.

The opening drew a guest list that included two international MMA figures: Renato “Babalu” Sobral, a former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight World Champion and UFC title challenger, and Professor Ricardo Testai of Kings MMA in California, whom NJA identified as a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) head coach and a grappling coach who has worked with UFC athletes including Fabrício Werdum, Marvin Vettori and Kelvin Gastelum.

“The Nairobi Jiu-Jitsu Academy (NJA) has officially opened doors to its new, state-of-the-art training facility on the second floor on New Muthaiga Mall, Thigiri Ridge, Nairobi,” the academy said in the statement.

NJA said both Sobral and Testai led workshops for children and adults during the opening weekend. The academy added that athletes from Kenya, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo attended, alongside families, fans and media, for programming that included MMA and BJJ seminars, an introduction to strength and conditioning, and a belt promotion ceremony.

For Kenya’s urban retail landscape, the opening is another example of malls attracting service-led tenants that rely on recurring subscriptions and community footfall rather than traditional retail sales. Westlands and its environs have increasingly positioned themselves as hubs for gyms, wellness operators and specialised sports training, catering to Nairobi’s growing middle-income consumer base and a more competitive fitness market.

NJA said it will offer Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu programmes for children and adults, and MMA training for both amateur participants and fighters. The academy also said it is introducing structured Strength & Conditioning programmes and a new “MMA Fitness” programme, which it described as a contactless MMA-based training option.

“The expansion represents NJA’s long-term vision: to develop disciplined athletes, empower our community, and contribute to the continued rise of Kenya and East Africa on the global combat sports stage,” the academy said.

The academy linked the decision to expand to what it called “growing demand from children, hobbyists, aspiring professionals and competitive athletes alike,” and said the additional space is intended to maintain coaching standards while providing a “safe, inclusive training environment.”

In the regional sports business context, investment in larger, specialised facilities could support the formalisation of combat sports through more structured training pipelines, higher-quality coaching and more consistent event preparation. If sustained, this can influence adjacent markets such as sportswear retail, physiotherapy and sports tourism linked to seminars and visiting coaches, particularly as Nairobi positions itself as a regional events and services hub.

NJA said it will continue rolling out its strength and conditioning offering alongside its martial arts programmes. The academy did not disclose capital expenditure or pricing details for the new facility.

Kenyan musicians Calvo Mistari and Naiboi have released a new single, “The Prize,” alongside an official dance video, in a joint project issued on March 2, 2026. The track is being released under their publishing imprint, Room 308, and is the fourth single from their forthcoming album titled “308,” according to a statement shared by their representatives.

In the press release, the duo positioned the new release as part of a continuing collaboration that has produced earlier songs including “Rudisha,” “All My Dreams” and “Zama.” The artists also referenced their 2021 track “Situation” as an earlier joint release.

The release comes at a time when Kenyan artists are increasingly formalising rights management and distribution through labels and publishing structures, as streaming-led consumption continues to reshape revenue flows in the region’s music industry. While the statement did not disclose commercial terms, it highlights how artist-led imprints are being used to organise releases and support catalogue development in Kenya’s urban music market.

Calvo Mistari said the team sought to balance message and rhythm in the new record. “We wanted to make a song where the message will resonate and the vibe could still be in a groove for such a beat. Dillie and the team did well,” he said.

Naiboi said the release was timed to fit a romantic theme. “Something different for the season of Love. The instrumentalists played with heart on this record. Good music is always from us,” he said.

According to the statement, the official dance video has been released and was conceptualised by Calvo Mistari and directed by Prvk. The choreography was led by Chao of dance group The Lunas, with the visual described as performance-led and movement-driven.

The single was produced by Dillie, with live instrumentation credited to lead guitarist Benjamin Kabaseke and bass guitarist Sedar Malaki. The statement also credits Syd125 and Amileena for background vocals.

Dillie said the team is working toward an album direction that blends local and international influences. “We’re working on an album that’s going to sonically sound Kenyan and global, as that’s the direction Calvo Mistari & Naiboi are taking their sound,” he said.

For Kenya’s creative economy, high-visibility collaborations and video-led releases remain an important lever for attention in a competitive digital market, particularly as artists seek to sustain output between major project cycles. The “308” album rollout—now four singles in—signals a structured release strategy that can support streaming traction and booking demand, although no performance metrics were provided in the statement.

The artists also shared personal context around their current phase, with the statement saying Calvo Mistari is “rebuilding his life and career” after completing his studies, while Naiboi is “rediscovering adulthood.” The duo’s representatives directed media to press images and video assets distributed with the release, and said media inquiries in Kenya can be sent to press@anyiko-pr.com.

Next, attention is expected to shift to additional releases in the lead-up to the full “308” album, as the duo continues to publish through Room 308 and expand the project’s visual and performance components.

Unilever and Google Cloud on February 18, 2026 announced a five-year partnership aimed at accelerating Unilever’s use of artificial intelligence by moving key data and enterprise applications onto Google Cloud, in a deal the companies said will reshape how the consumer goods group conducts marketing, brand discovery and internal workflows.

The companies said the partnership will see Unilever migrate its integrated data and cloud platform to Google Cloud to create an “enterprise-wide, AI-first digital backbone” and support “agentic workflows”—systems designed to execute complex tasks across business processes. The announcement was issued in a media release distributed in Kenya.

Unilever said the collaboration will use Google Cloud technologies including Vertex AI, its enterprise AI platform, to build new capabilities in brand discovery, measurement and AI-augmented marketing for brands such as Dove, Vaseline and Hellmann’s. According to the media release, the initiative responds to consumer journeys shifting “toward more conversational and agentic experiences,” including conversational shopping.

The partnership matters for Kenya’s business landscape because it signals continued acceleration of cloud migration and enterprise AI adoption among multinational fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies operating in the region. While the media release did not provide country-level investment figures or deployment timelines for East Africa, the decision to route core data platforms to a hyperscale cloud provider is likely to influence how suppliers, agencies and retail partners integrate data, measure campaigns and manage demand forecasting across African markets where Unilever sells its products.

“Technology has moved to the core of value creation at Unilever,” said Willem Uijen, Chief Supply Chain and Operations Officer at Unilever. “As brands are increasingly discovered and chosen in environments shaped by AI, we must lead this shift. This collaboration with Google Cloud sets a new level in how technology can power commerce and growth in the fast-moving consumer goods industry, ensuring Unilever is agile, fit for the future, and equipped to unlock value at every level of the company.”

Tara Brady, President, EMEA at Google Cloud, said the partnership will include deployment of Google’s AI models, including Gemini, alongside modernization work. “In partnering with Unilever as it boldly reimagines its business processes, we are not just modernizing legacy systems; we are deploying our advanced models, such as Gemini, to create a system of intelligence that reasons, learns, and acts,” Brady said. “This will set a new standard for agility and consumer engagement in the CPG sector.”

According to the media release, the collaboration will be structured around three pillars: agentic commerce and marketing intelligence; an integrated data and cloud foundation; and advanced AI. Under the integrated foundation pillar, Unilever will “transition key enterprise applications and data platforms to Google Cloud,” creating what the companies described as a connected environment for scalable AI deployment across the value chain.

For the Kenyan and wider East African market, the move highlights a growing expectation that marketing performance, consumer insights and demand planning will increasingly be driven by centralized, cloud-based data architectures and AI tooling. As global consumer goods groups standardize data platforms, regional teams and local partners may face pressure to improve data quality, interoperability and compliance, while also developing skills in AI-enabled marketing measurement and automation.

Unilever reported sales of €50.5 billion in 2025, equivalent to about KES 7.1 trillion (€50.5 billion) at an assumed exchange rate of KES 140 per euro. The company said it operates in more than 190 countries with 96,000 employees, and that its products are used by 3.7 billion people daily, according to the media release.

Next steps and milestones, including the pace of application migrations and rollout of agentic workflows, were not detailed in the statement. However, the companies indicated the partnership is designed to fast-track adoption of AI across Unilever’s operations and marketing as consumer discovery and shopping continue shifting toward AI-mediated channels.