CFAO Mobility Kenya has launched a school road safety education programme in Nairobi to equip learners with practical knowledge through training and learning materials.

The organisations announced the programme on 14 Sep 2026 in partnership with the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) and other agencies.

CFAO Mobility Kenya Managing Director Arvinder Reel said the programme aims to influence behaviour early.

Reel said “education is one of the most effective ways of creating lasting behavioural change”.

Other partners include the Kenya Police Service Traffic Department, the Kenya Scouts Association (KSA) and First Step Road Safety Initiatives.

The partners said learners will use “structured” and “competency-based” learning materials to gain practical road safety knowledge.

The programme will also support participation in the annual Scouts Road Safety Badge competitions.

According to the statement, the first phase includes Upper Hill School and Bidii Primary School.

Utawala Academy, Highway Secondary School and Ruaraka Academy are also among the schools named for training.

The initiative targets Kenya Scouts leaders in schools who will receive training and road safety materials to support activities within their institutions.

The organisers said training will also cover teachers, Scout patrons, school transport personnel and other stakeholders involved in learner safety.

The programme matters to Kenya because road safety affects healthcare costs, productivity losses, insurance claims and school transport safety.

NTSA data cited in the statement shows Kenya recorded 4,458 road crashes in 2025.

This represented a 3.4 per cent increase from the 4,311 crashes reported in 2024.

NTSA also estimates that more than 4,000 people die in road crashes in Kenya each year.

Reel said “Road safety is a shared responsibility” and the programme would equip school communities to champion road safety among learners.

He said the programme would give Scouts leaders and teachers knowledge and tools for that work.

Reel said engaging young people early could nurture responsible road users and extend a culture of safety beyond schools into families and communities.

First Step Road Safety Initiatives Chief Executive Officer George A. Ayienda said the programme reflects cooperation among stakeholders to reduce crashes.

“Promoting road safety is essential to building a culture of responsible road use.”

Ayienda said reducing road-related accidents requires collective effort and cooperation across different sectors.

He said stakeholders must strengthen road safety awareness, encourage responsible behaviour and help save lives on the roads.

The organisers said NTSA, the Kenya Police Service Traffic Department and KSA would support implementation alongside other agencies.

They said this support would combine technical expertise, enforcement perspectives and practical guidance for road safety education in schools.

The initiative reflects a growing role for private sector organisations in public safety efforts affecting mobility and transport.

School road safety education can influence longer-term compliance and safer conduct among future drivers, passengers and pedestrians.

Such education may support broader efforts to reduce crash-related disruptions and costs.

The partners did not disclose the programme’s budget or the number of educators and learners expected to participate in the first phase.

The partners said the programme would expand beyond Nairobi to the rest of Kenya but did not disclose national rollout timelines.

LG Electronics has taken its WashTower laundry appliance to Nairobi’s streets through a series of public showcases at key commuter hubs, in a move the company said was aimed at giving consumers hands-on exposure to the product outside conventional retail spaces.

According to a company press release dated September 14, 2026, the activations were held at the Sarit Centre Ring Road Roundabout, Kenyatta National Hospital Roundabout and St. Austin’s Roundabout. LG said the installations drew the attention of motorists, commuters and pedestrians, and enabled “thousands of people” to see the all-in-one washer-and-dryer unit up close.

The company said the showcases focused on the WashTower’s vertical configuration, integrated washer and dryer and a central control panel designed to place both washer and dryer controls within easy reach. LG also said the appliance is powered by its AI Direct Drive technology, which it said detects fabric weight and softness to optimise washing performance and reduce unnecessary wear on clothes.

The street activations come as appliance makers increasingly rely on experiential marketing to differentiate products in an urban market where space constraints and convenience are major purchase drivers. In Nairobi, rising apartment living and smaller utility areas have pushed demand for compact home solutions, particularly among middle-income households in dense neighbourhoods and new residential developments.

LG positioned the WashTower’s compact footprint as a response to these housing trends. “Modern living spaces, especially in urban areas tend to be compact and it therefore makes sense to reduce the footprint of domestic appliances and equipment. We want our customers to enjoy the full benefits of our products, regardless of the size of space they have,” said Donghun Lee, President of LG East Africa, in the press release.

Jane Kariuki, Head of Marketing at LG Electronics East Africa, said the company chose public locations to increase consumer access to product information and demonstrations. “We brought the LG WashTower into public spaces to give Kenyans the opportunity to experience its thoughtful design and smart features firsthand. This is one way in which we are making innovative technologies more accessible and helping consumers make informed purchasing decisions,” Kariuki said.

LG said members of the public engaged with company representatives during the activation to learn about AI-powered laundry capabilities and features intended to improve efficiency and garment care.

For Kenya’s consumer electronics and home appliances market, the campaign highlights the continued push by international brands to expand visibility and influence purchasing decisions in high-traffic urban zones, where footfall can substitute for the limited reach of showroom-only marketing. The emphasis on space-saving design also reflects a broader shift toward compact appliances as city living becomes more common across Nairobi and other fast-growing towns.

LG did not disclose the cost of the activation, the number of units showcased, or sales targets tied to the campaign. The company also did not announce any changes to distribution, pricing or retail partnerships in Kenya.

LG said the public showcases form part of its ongoing efforts to enable consumers to experience home technologies beyond retail environments. Further activations or retail roll-outs were not detailed in the statement.

Indomitable Soldiers and Awendo Football Academy reached the Safaricom Chapa Dimba Nyanza boys’ final in Kisumu after 1-0 semi-final victories, Safaricom said.

Safaricom said the semi-finals took place on 12 Sep 2026 at the Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium in Mamboleo in Kisumu.

Indomitable Soldiers head coach Nicholas Owende said “Beating the defending champions is not easy.”

Owende said “We stuck to our game plan and we are happy that for the first time we have made it to the final.”

Owende said “We know it won’t be an easy game, but we are determined to lift this trophy and take it back to Siaya.”

Safaricom said Siaya’s Indomitable Soldiers are students of Wagai Mixed Secondary School and eliminated regional and national defending champions Obunga FC 1-0.

Nelson Warambo scored in the 28th minute, according to the press release.

Migori’s Awendo Football Academy edged Kendu Muslim 1-0 to reach the final for the second consecutive year, Safaricom said.

Safaricom said Kevin Mukaramoja scored the winner after receiving a cross from Shaban Quimba.

Plateau Queens will face Homa Bay’s Hedso Queens in the girls’ regional final, according to the press release.

Safaricom said Plateau Queens are two-time regional and national champions seeking a third regional title after beating Nyamira’s Masosa Starlets 8-0.

Emily Adhiambo scored a hat-trick and Beryl Awuor scored twice, according to the press release.

Melda Akinyi, Joan Agola and Elizabeth Alpine added one goal each according to Safaricom.

Hedso Queens defeated Kisii’s Otendo Comprehensive Starlets 4-0 to secure their place in the final, Safaricom said.

Safaricom said Khadija Furaha scored twice and Michele Achieng and Saumu Chizi also scored.

For Kenya, the tournament links corporate-backed youth football with education and welfare support through cash awards and a tertiary scholarship.

Safaricom positions Chapa Dimba as part of its wider community initiatives, according to the press release.

Safaricom said winners in the boys’ and girls’ categories will each receive Ksh250,000 and qualify for the national finals.

Runners-up will each receive Ksh150,000, the company said.

The best goalkeeper and top scorer in both categories will each receive Ksh30,000, Safaricom said.

The most valuable player will receive the Golden Ball award and Ksh30,000, according to Safaricom.

The company said the award also includes a fully funded tertiary education scholarship under the Safaricom Citizens of the Future Programme.

Safaricom said it held clinics for coaches and players at the venue covering football, mental health, data privacy and personal branding.

The clinics combine football training with life skills as part of the youth competition.

The national finals could provide further exposure to academies and scouts within Kenya’s football development system.

Safaricom said an exhibition match between its staff and Kisumu-based media will precede the regional finals.

The winning exhibition team will receive Ksh40,000, according to the company.

Eight teams have qualified for the Safaricom Chapa Dimba Nyanza Regional semifinals following inter-county playoffs held on September 11, 2026 across four venues in Kisumu County, according to a statement from Safaricom. The semifinals will be played on September 12 at Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium in Mamboleo, Kisumu County.

The qualified teams are defending champions Obunga FC, Kendu Muslim, Awendo Football Academy, Indomitable Soldiers, Plateau Queens, Masosa Starlets, Hedso Queens and Otendo Comprehensive Starlets, the statement said.

The tournament results set up a weekend of matches that will culminate in Sunday’s finals, with the organisers indicating prize money of KES 250,000 for champions and KES 150,000 for runners-up, alongside other individual prizes including smartphones.

Results from the inter-county playoffs

In the boys’ category, Pool A matches at Kasagam School Playground saw Kisumu-based Obunga FC finish top with four points. Obunga beat Nyaguku FC 2–1, then drew 2–2 with Kendu Muslim of Homa Bay. Kendu Muslim and Nyaguku FC drew 1–1, eliminating Nyaguku.

In Pool B at Railways Ground, Awendo Football Academy secured top spot. Awendo drew 0–0 with Siaya’s Indomitable Soldiers in the opening match, then beat Sameta High School of Kisii 1–0. Earlier, Indomitable Soldiers and Sameta had drawn 2–2, a result that contributed to Sameta’s exit.

In the girls’ category, Pool A matches at Kisumu Boys High School saw Plateau Queens qualify after beating Nyamira Starlets-Bondo 1–0 and Otendo Comprehensive Starlets 2–0. Otendo then beat Nyamira Starlets-Bondo 1–0, eliminating Nyamira.

Pool B fixtures at Kisumu Day saw Hedso Queens of Homa Bay advance after beating Masosa Starlets of Nyamira County 4–2 and Oyugi Ogango Girls 4–1. The match between Oyugi Ogango and Masosa ended 1–1, which, according to the statement, resulted in both Hedso Queens and Masosa Starlets progressing to the semifinals.

Coaches’ reactions

Isaac Odhiambo, Assistant Coach of Indomitable Soldiers, said the team expects a stronger showing after reaching the last four. “First, I am happy to have reached this far. It wasn’t easy considering how competitive the region is in terms of football… this year we are determined to get to the finals and take home the regional trophy,” Odhiambo said.

He added the team will address mistakes after drawing both matches. “My boys really displayed a good game, though we drew both our matches… tomorrow, we hope to give our best and rectify the mistakes,” Odhiambo said.

Moses Atego, Assistant Coach of Plateau Queens, said the defending champions are taking a cautious approach. “We are taking it one game at a time. Every team here is a champion from their respective counties… we are determined to defend our title,” Atego said.

Why it matters

Safaricom’s continued backing of youth football through Chapa Dimba positions the tournament as a regular pipeline for talent identification while drawing activity to host counties through matchday logistics, local venues and associated services. For Safaricom, the programme also remains part of its wider brand and community engagement strategy in Kenya’s sports ecosystem.

Next matches

The girls’ semifinals will feature Plateau Queens vs Masosa Starlets, followed by Hedso Queens vs Otendo Comprehensive Starlets. In the boys’ semifinals, Awendo Football Academy will play Kendu Muslim before Obunga FC face Indomitable Soldiers, with winners advancing to Sunday’s finals, according to the statement.

KCB Bank Kenya has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Kenya’s public universities to support financing for campus sustainability projects, in a move the lender said is aimed at easing budget pressure and infrastructure gaps in the higher education sector.

The agreement, announced in a press release, outlines a financing collaboration focused on helping universities transition to “cleaner, more efficient and climate-resilient campuses,” according to KCB. The bank did not disclose the value of the financing envelope or the number of universities covered under the MoU.

Under the partnership, KCB said it will support investments including solar energy, energy efficiency upgrades, clean cooking technologies, waste management, biogas systems, solar water heating and rainwater harvesting. The interventions are intended to help institutions lower operating costs, improve resource efficiency and strengthen resilience, the bank said.

The MoU comes as public universities face rising operating expenses, constrained budgets and longstanding infrastructure deficits, pressures that have increasingly pushed institutions to seek alternative revenue and cost-saving measures. In Kenya, higher education institutions are major consumers of electricity and water and often operate large estates—making energy and utility costs a significant component of recurrent expenditure.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, KCB Bank Kenya Managing Director Annastacia Kimtai said universities are operating in a difficult financial environment and will need to improve financial efficiency while seeking additional income sources.

“Access to appropriate financing remains one of the barriers to the clean-energy transition for learning institutions, and KCB is prepared to use its financial expertise and partnerships to help address that gap,” Ms. Kimtai said. She added: “Universities that invest in renewable energy, energy efficiency and responsible water management can reduce long-term operating costs while demonstrating the kind of environmental leadership that our country needs as part of a broader partnership aimed at strengthening the financial and operational resilience of higher learning institutions.”

KCB said the agreement with public universities follows a separate MoU it recently signed with the State Department for Higher Education and Research. According to the bank, that earlier partnership focused on practical interventions to reduce universities’ environmental footprint, improve resource efficiency and lower operating costs, while supporting healthier learning environments for students, staff and surrounding communities.

For Kenya’s banking sector, the deal highlights growing demand for green and sustainability-linked financing beyond corporate and infrastructure clients, extending into public institutions with large utility loads and predictable operational needs. If implemented at scale, campus solar and efficiency projects could also create new business for energy service providers, project developers and equipment suppliers, while offering lenders opportunities to build portfolios aligned to climate and sustainability priorities.

Next steps will depend on project identification, feasibility assessments and financing structures agreed between the bank and individual universities. KCB did not provide timelines for project rollout or specify whether financing will be offered through new products or existing lending facilities.

M-KOPA said in Nairobi on 7 Sep 2026 that it has financed over 10,000 electric motorbikes in Kenya and is adding electric tuk-tuks amid rider demand.

The expansion matters to Kenya’s transport businesses because vehicle financing and operating costs affect access to income-generating assets.

The company said its pay-as-you-go model spreads vehicle payments over time and reduces riders’ and operators’ upfront capital needs.

“Reaching 10,000 financed electric motorbikes reflects growing demand from riders looking to lower operating costs and improve their earnings,” M-KOPA General Manager for Mobility Brian Njao said.

Njao said the same financing approach would help electric tuk-tuk operators access cleaner vehicles with lower costs without a large upfront payment.

M-KOPA customer data puts average rider savings at Ksh530 daily through lower energy and maintenance costs and access to battery-swapping infrastructure.

Across more than 10,000 financed motorcycles the company estimates total daily savings of about Ksh5.3 million.

It estimates annual savings of approximately Ksh1 billion assuming regular daily use.

The milestone signals growing adoption of electric two-wheelers among riders seeking lower operating costs than petrol motorcycles.

Tuk-tuks serve last-mile transport and small business logistics in urban and peri-urban areas.

M-KOPA cited Kenya Tuk Tuk Operators Network estimates of more than 250,000 registered tuk-tuks and 750,000 active drivers.

The network also estimates that the sector has 250,000 owners and investors.

The operator network said access to affordable finance remains a key challenge for people seeking to acquire or upgrade vehicles.

The expansion reflects a broader shift towards asset-backed credit models for informal and semi-formal earners in transport.

Commercial electric vehicles in boda boda and tuk-tuk operations are increasingly assessed through total ownership costs rather than purchase prices alone.

These costs include energy, maintenance and downtime.

Financing structures and access to charging or battery-swapping networks are likely to influence adoption.

M-KOPA linked its expansion to Kenya’s National Electric Mobility Policy.

The company said the policy provides a framework for investment and private-sector participation in electric mobility.

M-KOPA said incentives include zero-rated VAT on electric buses, bicycles, motorcycles and lithium-ion batteries.

It said electric bicycles, motorcycles and lithium-ion batteries also attract zero excise duty.

The company said it finances electric motorcycles from manufacturers including Ampersand, Roam and Spiro.

M-KOPA said it has partnered with Bolt to expand access through financing and rider incentives.

The company said customers receive M-KOPA Cares with flexible repayments, insurance, GPS tracking, security features and warranty protection.

The market faces a test of how quickly electric vehicle financing can expand beyond motorcycles into higher-capacity commercial vehicles such as tuk-tuks.

M-KOPA said its next mobility phase will focus on expanding customer access, partnerships and financing across Kenya’s electric transport market.

Twelve football teams from across the Nyanza region have qualified for the Safaricom Chapa Dimba Nyanza Regional Finals set for Saturday, September 12 and Sunday, September 13 at Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium, Mamboleo, in Kisumu, after winning their respective county competitions over the weekend.

According to a Safaricom statement dated September 6, 2026, county champions took home KES 75,000 each, while runners-up received KES 30,000, alongside additional individual prizes.

The qualifiers include Obunga FC and Plateau Queens from Kisumu County, Awendo Academy from Migori County, and Sameta High School from Kisii County.

The regional finals are part of Safaricom’s Chapa Dimba tournament series, which has become a recurring platform for youth football talent identification and competition across Kenya’s counties. The event also draws local spectators and requires logistics and venue operations that typically benefit host towns through accommodation, transport and small-scale trade around match venues.

In Kisumu County, Obunga FC defended their county title by beating Julu Nyambugu 4-1 on penalties after a 0-0 draw in regular time. Evans Oketch, head coach of Obunga FC, said the team expects a tougher contest at the regional stage.

“It was not an easy game. Our opponents were tough and pushed us to penalties. I thank my players and the fans for their support in helping us retain the county title,” Oketch said. “The experience I have gained through Chapa Dimba and our visit to Spain last year helped us stay focused and get the job done. There will be pressure at the regionals as defending champions, but we are ready to fight for the regional crown.”

In the girls’ category in Kisumu, Plateau Queens (Nyakach Girls) retained their county crown for a third consecutive time after defeating Victoria Soccer Academy 4-0. Joan Ogola scored in the 13th minute, while Emily Adhiambo scored a hat-trick, Safaricom said.

“I am really excited to retain this title for the third time. We dominated the game and made sure that we won,” said Chrispine Odindo, head coach of Plateau Queens. “For the regionals, we are going for nothing but the trophy.”

Other county results highlighted in the statement include Siaya County, where Indomitable Soldiers beat Real Talent Academy 10-9 on penalties after a 1-1 draw to win the boys’ title, while Nyamira Starlets beat Lwak Starlets 6-5 on penalties to win the girls’ title.

In Migori County, Awendo Academy beat Korwa Secondary School 1-0 to retain the boys’ title for a second time, while Oyugi Ogango Girls won the girls’ category after edging Mukuyu Queens 3-2.

In Nyamira County, Nyaguku FC retained the boys’ county title after beating Global Junior 4-1 on penalties following a 0-0 draw. Masosa Starlets won the girls’ category after a 1-0 win over the season four champions, Safaricom said.

In Kisii County, Sameta High School beat The Mighty FC 1-0 to claim the boys’ title, while Otendo Comprehensive Starlets won the girls’ trophy after a 2-0 win against Omogwa Comprehensive.

In Homa Bay County, Kendu Muslim won the boys’ title after beating Kokwanyo Youth Soccer Academy 4-3 on penalties following a goalless draw, while Hedso Queens (Saye Secondary School) won the girls’ title by beating Kachar Queens of Rangwe 3-2 on penalties.

Safaricom said the Nyanza Regional Finals will begin with an inter-county playoff, followed by coaches’ and players’ clinics, before proceeding to the semi-finals and finals at the Kisumu venue.

For Safaricom, the tournament sits alongside its wider brand and community initiatives and keeps the firm visible in regional markets beyond Nairobi, while offering structured competition for youth teams drawn from schools and community clubs. The regional finals are expected to determine which teams advance to subsequent stages of the Chapa Dimba competition.

Zoho Corporation announced Catalyst development tools in Nairobi on 7 Sep 2026 to help AI coding assistants build and deploy applications from developers’ coding environments.

Zoho Kenya Country Head Veerakumar Natarajan said reliability and deployment remain key bottlenecks even as code generation accelerates.

“In a very short period of time, AI coding assistants have transformed how quickly applications can be created, but moving that code into production reliably remains a challenge,” Natarajan said.

“Developers still spend significant time managing infrastructure and bringing together separate cloud services.”

“With Catalyst, we are reducing that friction by providing an agent-ready, serverless full-stack platform that helps developers build, deploy and scale intelligent applications with greater control and less operational overhead.”

The company said Catalyst by Zoho is its platform-as-a-service (PaaS) product and the update makes it free for students building non-commercial applications.

Zoho said students require neither a subscription nor a credit card.

According to Zoho, the update introduces “Agent Skills” and a non-interactive command-line interface (CLI) alongside support for the Model Context Protocol (MCP).

Zoho said these capabilities connect AI tools such as Anthropic’s Claude Code and OpenAI’s Codex to Catalyst’s deployment and infrastructure services.

The company said developers can perform database creation and schema changes from VS Code and other AI-enabled IDEs.

The announcement matters to Kenya as software firms and system integrators increasingly adopt AI-assisted coding alongside startups to speed development cycles.

These businesses still face operational and governance hurdles when moving prototypes into production environments.

Tools that reduce the need to combine cloud services can help teams balance skills gaps and cost controls alongside compliance requirements.

Those requirements are particularly relevant to regulated sectors such as finance and telecoms.

Zoho said it retains human oversight by separating development and production environments and requiring manual promotion of code to production.

The company said Catalyst includes scoped collaborator controls and audit trails for application, platform and MCP tool-call logs.

Zoho said versioning and reversibility support post-launch changes.

The company said it has made its AI skills available as an open-source repository.

Zoho said it is also open-sourcing Catalyst’s software development kit (SDK), CLI and its lightweight JavaScript framework Slyte.

Zoho said Catalyst offers a monthly free tier and Ksh22,500 in free credits over six months for users wanting to explore the platform further.

The company said Catalyst uses a pay-as-you-go model that charges for features per unit of usage.

Zoho said users can access budget alerts and spending ceilings through the Catalyst console.

The company said an optional subscription plan is available for teams seeking more predictable costs.

Free student access could lower barriers to experimenting with full-stack deployment and governance practices beyond basic coding in Kenya.

The practical impact will depend on adoption by universities, coding bootcamps and employers.

It will also depend on how well the tools integrate into existing workflows built around major cloud providers.

Zoho said Catalyst is available for immediate use.

The company has not disclosed local uptake targets or expected timelines for broader rollout among Kenyan institutions.

NBO Film Festival has announced its seventh edition across four Nairobi venues from 15 to 25 Oct 2026 with an expanded competition programme.

The festival announced the dates in a press release dated 2 Sep 2026.

NBO Film Festival Artistic Director Mbithi Masya said the theme aims to centre local audiences in African cinema’s growth.

“Cinema for us means creating a space where audiences can discover, celebrate and engage with the stories being made across Africa and beyond,” Masya said.

“We want this festival to be part of Nairobi’s public life and a place where people come together to experience cinema, exchange ideas, recognise excellence and imagine what comes next.”

Screenings will take place at Prestige Plaza, Unseen Cinema, Kaloleni Social Hall and Alliance Française Nairobi.

The organisers said the festival will combine public screenings with community programmes, “City Dialogues” and filmmaker conversations as part of Nairobi’s broader cultural calendar.

The festival said its theme “Cinema for Us” calls for African audiences to access and experience African films locally.

The announcement comes as Kenya’s film and creative economy continues to broaden.

Festivals and industry platforms increasingly serve as routes for distribution, networking and project development.

The format matters to Kenya because it can bring visitors to host venues and give local filmmakers additional routes to audiences.

It can also connect Nairobi filmmakers with potential partners including regional and international industry players.

The festival said it will expand its competitive slate to three juried competitions.

It will retain the Fiction Feature Film Competition and add the Nick Wambugu Prize for Documentary and a Short Film Fiction competition.

The festival said it will announce competition jury chairs on 4 Sep and competition selections on 7 Sep.

The festival will also present its first filmmaker retrospective dedicated to Senegalese filmmaker Alain Gomis.

Gomis is expected to attend both audience and industry events.

The organisers said EUNIC (European Union National Institutes for Culture) supports the retrospective.

The full retrospective line-up is scheduled for release on 9 Sep.

The festival will announce its opening film and major Special Presentations on 10 Sep.

The festival said its expanded industry programme aims to connect filmmakers and professionals through the NBO Project Showcase, creative labs and professional exchanges.

Such platforms can influence deal-making and co-production pipelines in East Africa by giving projects visibility earlier in development.

They can also widen access to mentors, financiers and commissioning editors.

The organisers have not disclosed ticket prices, sponsorship figures or projected attendance in the press release.

The organisers said the festival trailer and ticket sales will launch on 12 Sep.

The complete programme and screening schedule are expected on 14 Sep ahead of the October event.

Kenyan artists Calvo Mistari and Naiboi on September 2, 2026 released two singles—“Nataka Nikujue” featuring Nessa DeDiva and “Give Me Your Love” featuring Nessa DeDiva and Sydney 125—under their publishing imprint Room 308, as they build momentum toward a forthcoming joint album titled 308.

In a media statement dated September 2, 2026, the duo said producer Jegede handled production for both songs, with Musyoka credited for mixing and mastering. The release package also includes official video links for both tracks, according to the statement.

The move adds to a growing trend of Kenyan musicians building in-house publishing and release structures to manage rights and distribution as streaming becomes central to music consumption. While the statement did not disclose the commercial terms of Room 308 or distribution arrangements, it frames the imprint as the vehicle through which the duo will roll out additional material from the album.

Calvo Mistari and Naiboi positioned the two singles thematically around dating and new connections. “Nataka Nikujue” focuses on “the excitement of meeting someone new and making a connection,” while “Give Me Your Love” “explores love, attraction and the confidence to put yourself out there,” the statement said.

Speaking on the release, the duo said the tracks are intended to reflect the early stages of romantic connection. ““Nataka Nikujue” and “Give Me Your Love” captures the spark of meeting someone new and wanting to truly connect. It’s about bringing back the essence of dating: real connection, attraction and the courage to make the first move. Both songs have a vibe you can dance to and enjoy,” Calvo Mistari and Naiboi said in the statement.

The statement also detailed how Nessa DeDiva came to feature on both songs. “Nessa DeDiva came in the studio to initially work on ‘Give Me Your Love’ but after hearing ‘Nataka Nikujue’ track she felt her vocals would be a great fit for the track. She joined the session and added her touch to the song,” the statement said, describing the collaboration as a spontaneous studio decision.

The duo has been releasing singles together in recent years, citing earlier songs including “Rudisha”, “All My Dreams”, “Zama”, “The Prize” and “Baddest” as part of the run-up to the album. They first teamed up on the 2021 track “Situation,” according to the statement.

For Kenya’s music business, the release under a dedicated publishing imprint highlights how established acts are increasingly packaging music projects with clearer ownership structures—an approach that can influence royalty collection, licensing opportunities and cross-border monetisation, especially as artists seek audiences beyond the domestic market. Calvo Mistari and Naiboi said they are splitting time between Kenya and the US while exploring “new ventures and opportunities,” though they did not provide specifics.

Next steps are expected to include additional singles and collaborations ahead of the full album release. The statement said the project will include more collaborations as the duo prepares to “unveil more music” from 308.