KCB FC will return to SportPesa League action this weekend with an afternoon fixture against Ulinzi Stars at the Kasarani Annex, as the Nairobi-based side seeks to build on recent results and climb the table, according to a statement issued by the club.

The match comes after KCB FC beat lower-division side Chebaiywa FC 3-0 in the FKF Cup and followed an earlier 1-0 league win over BIDCO United. KCB FC said the results have lifted the team to sixth place in the current league campaign with 40 points after 27 rounds.

The fixture adds to a busy period for clubs competing across the league and cup calendar, an area that has grown in commercial significance for Kenya’s corporate sponsors and broadcasters. KCB Group-backed sports properties remain part of a broader trend in which leading Kenyan companies use team and event sponsorships to maintain brand visibility and community engagement, particularly as matchday audiences continue to fragment across in-stadium attendance and digital viewing.

Speaking ahead of the game during an open training session at the KCB Leadership Centre, Head Coach Robert ‘Lion’ Matano said the club expects to carry its recent performance into the league match. “We have had a good run in our current fixtures, I am confident that the boys are ready to secure maximum points in this important duel. During the past week, we have trained exceptionally well, and the mood in the camp is amazing,” Matano said.

However, the team will head into the encounter without three players, the club said. Forward Mathews ‘Messi’ Angal, full-back Gideon Were and winger Patrick Odhiambo have been ruled out after picking up injuries.

Team captain Nashon Alembi said the squad’s immediate objective is to keep pushing up the standings in the final stretch of the season. “The boys are high in spirits, winning thrice in a row in all competitions. We believe that with the plethora of talent at our disposal, we can beat any team. Our focus is to keep moving up the Premier League table. We know that we have seven matches left to play this season, so we will keep fighting until the end,” Alembi said.

In terms of selection, Matano is expected to make minimal changes to the side that started against Chebaiywa in the FKF Cup, the club said. Congolese goalkeeper Arnold Matumele is set to start, with Siraj Mohammed, Amatton Samunya, Fadhili Masoud and Victor Okello listed as the likely core of the defence.

KCB FC said veteran midfielder Humphrey Mieni is expected to start alongside Ronald Makati and Kelvin Etemesi, while Francis Kahiro is slated to lead the attack with wingers Bonface Omondi and December Kisaka.

The match also underlines the commercial ecosystem surrounding Kenyan football, where corporate-backed clubs can sustain deeper squads and stronger support structures. KCB Bank said its sports sponsorship footprint spans its core team assets—KCB Women Volleyball Club, KCB Football Club and KCB Rugby Football Club—alongside support for chess, athletics and golf. The bank said it has invested “millions of shillings” in sports sponsorships over the years, though it did not disclose specific figures.

With seven league matches remaining, the outcome against Ulinzi Stars will shape KCB FC’s push for a higher finish and, potentially, stronger positioning for future sponsorship and fan engagement opportunities tied to performance, matchday visibility and cup progression.

Blankets & Wine has announced its first 2026 edition will be held on Sunday, 7 June 2026 at Laureate Gardens, Moi International Sports Centre, Nairobi, unveiling a lineup led by Kenyan acts Labdi, Mordecai (Dexx), Mejja, Serro, Mutoriah and Watendawili, alongside Nigerian singer Fave.

In a press release dated 16 April 2026, the festival said the June event will be followed by two further editions on 6 September and 20 December 2026 as it begins its 2026 season.

The announcement also introduced “Your Taste Lives Here” as the festival’s 2026 campaign and “year-long cultural platform,” which organisers said will run across the three editions. According to the statement, the platform was launched on 14 April 2026 in Nairobi at Hit Labzz during the festival’s inaugural Storytellers Lab, which brought together media and the festival’s creative teams.

The June programme includes the festival’s electronic and alternative music offering on the Onja Onja Stage, with South Africa’s Goldmax scheduled to perform alongside Kenyan DJs Hiribae, DJ IV, LA Dave, Suraj and Sir M, the organisers said.

Blankets & Wine is produced by GoodTimes Africa and was founded in Nairobi in 2008 by Muthoni Ndonga. The organisers said the event is now in its 17th year. In Kenya’s events and creative economy, the festival’s continued run is closely watched by promoters, venues and brand sponsors as a barometer of consumer spending on live entertainment and the ability of large outdoor events to pull audiences across multiple dates in a year.

Muthoni Ndonga, Founder & Creative Director, said the event’s planning extends beyond music programming. “Every edition of Blankets & Wine begins with a question: what does it mean to gather well in this moment? 17 years of asking that question has taught us that the answer is never just about the lineup. It’s about the entire ecosystem — the music, the food, the energy, the people who show up and what they bring with them,” she said.

The festival also confirmed the return of the Onja Onja Market in 2026, describing it as a curated hub for “Made-in-Kenya” products spanning food, fashion and creative enterprise.

Michelle Njeri, Brand Manager, linked the market concept to the new platform. “The Onja Onja Market is where ‘Your Taste Lives Here’ becomes something you can touch, taste and take home. Every vendor is curated with the same intentionality as the lineup — these are the brands and makers who represent where Kenyan creativity is right now,” she said.

Ndonga added that the Onja Onja Stage is being positioned more distinctly within the festival’s offering. “Onja Onja has always been the home of the vibes at the festival. This evolution is about going deeper, giving the stage its own identity and the freedom to push the sound forward,” she said.

For Kenya’s wider entertainment and hospitality ecosystem, the three-date calendar has implications for suppliers and service providers tied to live events, including staging and production, security, ticketing, food and beverage vendors, and transport. The addition of a flexible ticket plan—described by the festival as “Lipa Pole Pole,” allowing payments in instalments—also reflects an approach increasingly used by event organisers to manage affordability constraints while maintaining attendance targets, though the organisers did not disclose ticket prices or uptake figures.

Blankets & Wine said tickets for the June 2026 edition are on sale via its website. The organisers did not provide financial projections, expected attendance, or sponsorship details in the statement, but said the 2026 platform will roll out across the June, September and December editions.

CFAO Mobility Kenya has delivered 12 Sinotruk H2 trucks to Grain Industries Limited in Kenya, expanding a fleet arrangement the companies say is intended to strengthen last-mile distribution for the manufacturer’s products. The handover took place on April 14, 2026, according to a press statement issued by CFAO Mobility Kenya.

Grain Industries said the new trucks were awarded to top-performing distributors as part of its distribution and logistics strategy. The recipients listed in the statement were Sifa Distributors, Khetia Drapers Limited, Aditya Wholesalers Ltd, Maguna Andu Wholesalers, Kanini Haraka Enterprises Limited, Pramukh Cash & Carry Limited, Sam West Distributors Limited, Mahadev Drapers Limited, Mt Kenya Wholeseller Traders Ltd, Gilani`S Distributors Ltd, Ouru Super Stores and Kailashnath Enterprises.

The transaction adds to a growing trend among Kenyan manufacturers and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) supply chains to invest in dedicated transport capacity and distributor enablement as firms seek to reduce delivery lead times, widen reach beyond major towns, and improve product availability in upcountry retail markets.

In its statement, CFAO Mobility Kenya said the handover reflected its role in supporting business continuity and efficiency by strengthening Grain Industries’ logistics capacity through “tailored transport solutions.” The company did not disclose the value of the trucks; as a result, the total investment could not be independently converted into Kenyan shillings.

Arvinder Reel, Managing Director at CFAO Mobility Kenya, said the company’s involvement goes beyond vehicle supply. “CFAO Mobility Kenya goes beyond vehicle supply to actively support client-led value chain strategies by delivering reliable transport solutions that enhance efficiency, uptime, and distribution reach to their customers,” Reel said. He added that “the partnership with Grain Industries Limited will ensure that they expand sustainably within their respective competitive markets.”

Grain Industries Limited, which markets the Ajab brand, produces wheat flour products including All Purpose Home Baking, Chapati and Mandazi variants, as well as maize flour, according to the statement. The company positioned the additional trucks as a way to support distributors to reach end consumers more efficiently.

Sharuq Sokwalla, Managing Director at Grain Industries Limited, said the deal builds on an earlier fleet relationship. “Grain Industries Limited have previously benefited from a long-standing partnership with CFAO Mobility, having been supported with a fleet of Hino trucks. This collaboration has now expanded to include Sinotruk H2 trucks, which are expected to be efficient, durable, and operational reliability needed to empower our distributors to reach the end consumers,” Sokwalla said.

For Kenya’s commercial vehicle market, the delivery signals continued competition among truck brands and assemblers seeking footholds in fleet procurement tied to FMCG and manufacturing distribution. Fleet decisions in this segment are often driven by financing terms, after-sales service coverage, parts availability and vehicle uptime—factors that can affect distributor productivity and total cost of ownership.

CFAO Mobility Kenya said it operates a network of 40 branches, dealerships and authorised service centres across the country, providing after-sales support across its portfolio, including Sinotruk (HOWO), Hino and other brands.

Looking ahead, industry watchers will likely track whether Grain Industries expands its distributor fleet programme further, and whether other manufacturers replicate similar incentive-led vehicle handovers to strengthen last-mile delivery performance amid competitive retail and wholesale distribution conditions.

Spotify has named Nigerian-British artist DEELA as its EQUAL Africa artist of the month, adding her to the platform’s rolling spotlight for women artists across the continent, according to a statement distributed on behalf of Spotify by Irvine Partners.

The selection positions DEELA for increased algorithmic and editorial exposure on Spotify’s Africa-facing properties at a time when music streaming is a key route to discovery, monetisation and cross-border audiences for artists in Kenya and the wider region.

Spotify said DEELA has built momentum through releases spanning rap, hip-hop and Afro-influenced sounds. The company highlighted her 2025 album Wicked and pointed to tracks including “Slide” and “Why Always Me?” as part of the work underpinning the latest recognition.

The statement also outlined DEELA’s background, saying she was born in Lagos and raised between Nigeria and the UK, drawing on influences from both Lagos’ music culture and underground scenes in the United Kingdom. Spotify referenced earlier tracks including “FIT,” “Anyways” and “Watchu Mean” as examples of her prior work.

Phiona Okumu, Spotify’s Head of Music for Sub-Saharan Africa, said the platform’s EQUAL programme aims to elevate women creators within Africa’s music ecosystem. “DEELA’s music reflects the creativity and drive shaping Africa’s current music scene,” Okumu said. “As part of Spotify’s EQUAL programme, she represents how African women are advancing visibility, driving opportunities, and building global connections through their art.”

In an interview segment included in the release, DEELA described her motivation for making music and how she approaches industry spaces. “It was when I realised that I have this unshakable joy while I’m creating music and get into a flow state very easily,” she said, referring to the point she decided music was her direction. She added: “I love that people associate my music with confidence and fierceness because that’s exactly why I do it.”

Asked how she navigates the industry as a woman, DEELA said: “I always put myself out there. The best people you meet are outside, and it's important to always talk positively about yourself in these rooms. It feels daunting taking up space, but that’s the best way to navigate the music industry as a woman.”

Spotify’s EQUAL initiative is part of a broader shift in how platforms shape music discovery and consumption, with playlists and editorial programming increasingly influencing what listeners in Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and diaspora markets hear. For East African labels, distributors and artist managers, such platform-led campaigns can translate into measurable uplifts in streams, follower growth and booking interest, although the company did not provide figures for the impact of this month’s spotlight.

The announcement comes as Spotify reports scale across its global business. In the same statement, the company said it has 751 million monthly active users and 290 million premium subscribers across 184 markets. Spotify also said its catalogue includes more than 100 million tracks and more than 7 million podcast titles.

Looking ahead, DEELA’s EQUAL Africa placement is expected to increase her visibility on Spotify’s discovery surfaces and related editorial properties over the month. Spotify did not disclose the next EQUAL Africa selection date in the statement.

Air France will increase capacity on its Nairobi–Paris route by 12% from May 15, 2026, as part of its 2026 summer schedule, the airline said in a press release dated April 9, 2026 in Nairobi. The carrier will deploy a larger Boeing 777-200 aircraft on the route, replacing what it described as its regular Airbus A350 operation, in a move it said is aimed at strengthening connectivity between East Africa and Europe.

According to Air France, the adjustment comes as the airline expands its global summer network to “close to 170 destinations across 73 countries,” with long-haul capacity rising by 2% compared with 2025. The airline said the additional capacity is being allocated to selected cities including Nairobi, alongside Asian destinations such as Tokyo, Singapore and Bangkok, as carriers recalibrate schedules to reflect changing travel demand and disruptions affecting some Middle East routings.

The airline positioned the Nairobi–Paris service as a key long-haul link for the region, connecting Kenya to its hub at Paris Charles de Gaulle. Air France said the “approximately nine-hour flight” provides onward connections to “more than 300 destinations” via the Air France-KLM and SkyTeam networks, including routes serving North America where business and diaspora travel demand is concentrated.

“Air France’s is enhancing its capacity on the Nairobi–Paris route by introducing the Boeing 777-200 as from May 15, resulting in a 12% increase in available seats compared to its regular Boeing A350,” the airline said in the statement. It added that the changes are expected to support demand across “business, diplomatic and tourism segments.”

The announcement adds to a competitive landscape at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), where Kenya’s role as a regional aviation and business hub has drawn sustained interest from international airlines. Nairobi’s concentration of diplomatic missions and multinational regional headquarters supports premium travel volumes, while the country’s tourism sector depends heavily on reliable air links to Europe and connecting traffic to North America and Asia.

In the release, Air France linked its wider network adjustments to broader changes in global aviation patterns. It cited “continued instability in parts of the Middle East” as a factor forcing airlines to reconfigure routes and redeploy aircraft, with some capacity redirected toward Asia and Africa where demand “remains resilient.” For Kenya, such shifts can influence seat availability, pricing, and the stability of connections for exporters, corporate travel programmes, and inbound tourism supply chains.

The airline also outlined product and service initiatives it said are being rolled out across its fleet as competition intensifies on long-haul routes. Air France said it is expanding the rollout of its La Première first-class suites, including on African routes, and introducing free ultra-high-speed Wi-Fi across its fleet, with full deployment “targeted by the end of the year.”

From a market perspective, incremental capacity increases on the Nairobi–Europe corridor can improve scheduling options for corporates, development organisations, and conference travel while supporting onward connectivity for Kenyan firms with operations in Europe and North America. Additional seats may also help tourism operators manage peak-season demand, although the impact on fares will depend on broader supply dynamics, load factors and competitor capacity.

Air France said flight schedules for the 2026 summer season are now available through its booking channels.

Britam Connect, the micro-insurance arm of Britam Holdings, has partnered with Montezuma Funeral Home to introduce the Heshima Farewell Plan, a last-expense policy aimed at helping Kenyan families meet burial and related costs. The product was launched in Nairobi on April 8, 2026, at Britam Towers, and has been approved by the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA), according to the companies.

The companies said the plan is designed to respond to rising funeral expenses across Kenya. In major urban centres including Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu, funerals can cost more than KES 300,000, Britam Connect said, citing costs such as transportation, mortuary fees, coffins, ceremonies and catering.

Unlike conventional funeral covers that mainly provide a cash payout, the partnership with Montezuma Funeral Home is structured to offer an end-to-end service option. Britam Connect said the packages may include mortuary service payments, a hearse and transportation to destinations across the country, a casket, wreaths and casket flowers, portrait preparation, obituary support, funeral programmes, a chapel service and a limousine hearse, depending on the selected plan.

Speaking at the launch, Evah Kimani, CEO and Principal Officer of Britam Connect, said the product is intended to reduce the financial pressure associated with bereavement. “The burden of funeral expenses continues to challenge many families in Kenya. With the Heshima Farewell Plan, we aim to ease this burden and encourage people to plan for the unexpected, so families can focus on grieving without financial stress,” Kimani said.

The rollout comes as industry players attempt to deepen insurance penetration in everyday risk categories. Britam Connect referenced findings by the Association of Kenya Insurers (AKI) which indicate that the average funeral budget for a middle-class Kenyan family ranges between KES 50,000 and KES 300,000, underscoring demand for products that can help households manage sudden expenses.

Under the pricing shared by Britam Connect, the Basic Cover provides benefits of KES 100,000 at an annual premium of KES 1,000. The Standard Cover provides KES 150,000 for KES 1,400 per year. The Executive Cover provides KES 300,000 at an annual premium of KES 1,700, while the Premium Cover provides KES 500,000 for KES 1,850 annually.

Montezuma Funeral Home said the partnership is intended to support families beyond the financing aspect. “We see firsthand the emotional and financial strain families go through when they lose a loved one. This partnership with Britam Connect allows us to support families more holistically, ensuring they can give their loved ones a respectful send-off without the added burden of unexpected costs,” said Josh Karuga, Operations Manager at Montezuma Funeral Home.

Britam Connect said eligibility includes applicants and spouses aged 18 to 70, with renewable coverage up to age 80. Children from one month to 18 years, and students up to 25 years with proof of enrolment, can be included. Parents and parents-in-law can join up to age 80, with coverage extending to age 85. Waiting periods range from one to six months depending on the cause of death, the company said.

For Kenya’s insurance market, the product highlights a push by underwriters and service providers to bundle insurance with delivery partners in order to improve customer experience and reduce disputes around claims usage. Britam Connect also positioned the launch as part of its expansion in funeral insurance, following an earlier partnership with Francis Funeral Home in Busia focused on Western Kenya.

Next, market attention is likely to focus on distribution and uptake, with Britam Connect acknowledging that funeral insurance adoption remains relatively low and that many households still rely on welfare groups, community fundraising and loans to cover funeral costs.

Britam Connect, the micro-insurance arm of Britam Holdings, has partnered with Montezuma Funeral Home to launch the Heshima Farewell Plan, a last-expense policy aimed at helping Kenyan families manage funeral costs. The product was unveiled on April 8, 2026 at Britam Towers in Nairobi, with Britam saying it is responding to increasing burial-related expenses across the country.

According to the press release, funeral costs in major urban centres including Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu can exceed KES 300,000, with additional pressure in rural areas driven by transport, mortuary fees, coffins, ceremonies and catering. Britam Connect positioned the new cover as an option for households that often rely on welfare groups, community contributions or borrowing to meet such expenses.

The Heshima Farewell Plan has been approved by the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA), Britam said, and provides support for burial and related costs arising from natural or accidental death. Unlike products that only pay out cash, the partnership with Montezuma Funeral Home is structured to offer managed funeral services, with packages that may include mortuary fee payments, hearse and countrywide transportation, a casket, wreaths and flowers, portrait preparation, obituary support, funeral programmes, chapel service and limousine hearse services, depending on the selected option.

“The burden of funeral expenses continues to challenge many families in Kenya. With the Heshima Farewell Plan, we aim to ease this burden and encourage people to plan for the unexpected, so families can focus on grieving without financial stress,” said Evah Kimani, CEO and Principal Officer of Britam Connect, speaking at the launch.

Britam Connect cited research by the Association of Kenya Insurers (AKI) indicating that the average funeral budget for a middle-class Kenyan family ranges between KES 50,000 and KES 300,000. The company said the pricing and benefit structure is intended to accommodate different income levels.

Under the product terms provided in the statement, the Basic Cover offers KES 100,000 in benefits at an annual premium of KES 1,000, while the Standard Cover offers KES 150,000 for KES 1,400 per year. The Executive Cover provides KES 300,000 at an annual premium of KES 1,700, and the Premium Cover offers KES 500,000 for KES 1,850 annually.

Josh Karuga, Operations Manager at Montezuma Funeral Home, said the partnership is aimed at easing both the emotional and financial strain associated with bereavement. “We see firsthand the emotional and financial strain families go through when they lose a loved one. This partnership with Britam Connect allows us to support families more holistically, ensuring they can give their loved ones a respectful send-off without the added burden of unexpected costs,” he said.

Eligibility details shared by Britam Connect indicate applicants and spouses aged 18 to 70 can join, with renewable cover up to age 80. Children from one month to 18 years, and students up to 25 years with proof of enrolment, can be included. Parents and parents-in-law can join up to age 80, with cover extending to age 85. Waiting periods range from one to six months depending on cause of death, Britam said.

For Kenya’s insurance market, the launch underscores insurers’ increased focus on microinsurance products designed around specific, high-frequency household risks, including funeral expenses. The tie-up model with a service provider also signals an approach that blends underwriting with service delivery, potentially differentiating funeral cover products beyond price alone.

Britam Connect said the launch builds on its earlier entry into funeral insurance partnerships, including a previous arrangement with Francis Funeral Home in Busia targeting Western Kenya communities. The company did not provide sales targets or rollout timelines beyond the product launch, but said it expects the plan to contribute to greater awareness and adoption of funeral insurance.

LG Electronics East Africa and its main distribution partner Opalnet concluded the #TrekToLove campaign with an obstacle course grand finale at Karura Forest in Nairobi on April 7, 2026, awarding participants with prizes including home appliances and a hotel stay.

According to the companies’ press release, the campaign—launched in March—invited participants to submit videos showing activities they enjoy doing together, including cooking, dance-based fitness routines and travel moments. From the submissions, a select group was invited to Nairobi to compete in a team-based obstacle course designed to test “communication, trust and collaboration,” the statement said.

The release named three winning teams. Mohammed Omar and Serreti Nannes won the grand prize, which included a night’s stay at a hotel and an LG bottom freezer refrigerator. Sharon Nduati and Nick Nduati were first runners-up and received an LG QNED TV, while Monique Abok and Winnie Opiyo were second runners-up and received an LG 8kg washing machine, the companies said.

The event adds to a growing use of experiential consumer marketing in Kenya’s competitive consumer electronics and home appliances market, where brands and distributors increasingly use campaigns and public activations to drive engagement and differentiate products in an environment shaped by price sensitivity, expanding retail channels and shifting household consumption patterns.

LG Electronics East Africa Head of Marketing Jane Kariuki said the campaign was designed to focus on relationships and shared experiences. “#TrekToLove was about celebrating real connections in a way that feels fresh, fun and relatable. We wanted to create something that reflects how people connect, grow and share experiences together, and seeing that come to life has been amazing,” Kariuki said in the statement.

Kariuki added that the company aimed to align the campaign with changing lifestyles. “We also wanted to create something that reflects modern lifestyles, where shared experiences are at the heart of connection,” she said, adding that LG seeks to support everyday moments with “solutions that make life smoother and more enjoyable.”

Opalnet Managing Director Rakesh Singh said the initiative provided a platform for participants to share personal stories and connect. “Over the past few weeks, we have seen how powerful it can be when brands create platforms that allow individuals to express themselves and connect in meaningful ways,” Singh said. “The stories shared by participants have been inspiring, and they remind us that at the heart of everything we do are human connections.”

For Kenya’s consumer goods and electronics ecosystem, such brand activations increasingly serve as a bridge between marketing and distribution, with distributors like Opalnet playing a visible role in end-customer engagement beyond traditional retail and after-sales support. The collaboration also reflects how manufacturers and local partners are co-investing in campaigns to stimulate demand for appliances and televisions that compete across both premium and mass-market segments.

No monetary values were disclosed in the press release for the prizes or the campaign budget, limiting an assessment of the activation’s commercial scale. The companies did not provide participant numbers or regional breakdowns of entries, describing the response as positive and featuring “stories of friendship, community and shared experiences from across the region.”

LG and Opalnet said the campaign also highlighted LG’s focus on home solutions that support shared living experiences. Future milestones or follow-up activations were not announced in the statement.

Book Bunk and Hay Festival Global on Thursday, April 2, 2026 announced the return of Nairobi Litfest 2026, set to run from May 8 to May 10 across three public libraries—McMillan Memorial Library, Kaloleni Library and Eastlands Library—with selected sessions held online.

According to the organisers’ press release, the festival—now in its fifth edition—will feature “over 25 sessions” and bring together “more than 45 thinkers, writers, poets, artists and educators from across Africa and the globe.” The 2026 theme is “speculative cartography and South-to-South connections,” which the organisers said will frame discussions about boundaries, alternative futures and cross-disciplinary ideas.

The announcement reinforces the growing role of cultural and creative events in Nairobi’s urban economy, particularly those anchored in public infrastructure such as libraries. Nairobi Litfest’s venue choices also align with Book Bunk’s library restoration work in partnership with Nairobi City County, which positions libraries as civic spaces for education, programming and community participation.

Book Bunk Co-Founder and Nairobi Litfest Co-Director Wanjiru Koinange said the festival’s continuity is tied to collaboration among stakeholders. “Nairobi Litfest is a festival built by many hands and sustained by a shared belief in the power of sharing ideas,” Ms Koinange said. “Each successful edition is a result of our guests, audiences and partners showing up for each other, for their communities and for storytelling.”

Hay Festival Global CEO Julie Finch said the organisation would continue co-hosting the Nairobi event. “We are delighted to partner with Book Bunk as co-hosts of this year’s Nairobi Litfest,” Ms Finch said, adding that the partnership would continue to engage audiences in Nairobi and globally.

Book Bunk Co-Founder and Nairobi Litfest Co-Director Angela Wachuka said the 2026 edition will remain anchored in public libraries and will emphasise Global South perspectives. “Five editions in, Nairobi Litfest has become a place where the most urgent conversations about literature, art and ideas find a home inside public libraries that belong to everyone,” Ms Wachuka said. She added that the programme asks “what becomes possible when we look beyond inherited maps and turn toward one another across the Global South.”

The press release stated that Book Bunk and Hay Festival Global have partnered to co-present Nairobi Litfest since 2024. Over the past two editions, the organisers said the partnership brought together “more than 120 writers and artists across 75 events,” reaching “an audience of over 3,000 both in person and online.”

For 2026, organisers said the programme will include masterclasses, panel discussions, performances and a dedicated children’s festival. Named contributors include writers and thinkers such as Alain Mabanckou (Congo), Yvonne Owuor (Kenya), Nanjala Nyabola (Kenya), and others listed in the press release, alongside sessions touching on topics including speculative futures, political thought, ecological crisis and the intersections of literature, technology and activism.

Hay Festival Global International Director Cristina Fuentes La Roche said the collaboration in Kenya remains a strategic priority for the organisation. “Nairobi Litfest celebrates the best of local and global literature,” Ms Fuentes La Roche said, adding that the collaboration between the teams “continues an exciting new chapter for us in Kenya and around the world.”

In the Kenyan and East African context, the festival’s scale and international line-up underscore Nairobi’s position as a regional hub for cultural convenings, with potential spillovers for hospitality, venues, publishing, and the wider creative economy. Its emphasis on public libraries also signals a model where cultural programming is linked to the rehabilitation and utilisation of civic assets, which can influence future public-private collaborations in education and cultural infrastructure.

Organisers said the full programme is available on the festival website. They also listed support partners for the 2026 collaboration, including The British Council as part of the UK/Kenya Season 2025, Open Society Foundations and Hawthornden Foundation, with venues provided through Book Bunk’s partnership with Nairobi City County. Additional programming partnerships named in the press release include Amnesty International Kenya, The Caine Prize for African Writing, Acción Cultural Española (AC/E), the Ramón Llull Institut and Indus Conclave.

I&M Foundation has committed an additional KES 2 million to support fence management and ranger welfare at Ngong Sanctuary Forest in Nairobi, as part of its Project Imarisha initiative, the foundation said in a press release dated April 2, 2026.

According to the statement, the funding will facilitate the purchase of 14 scout uniforms and provide one year of salary support for the sanctuary’s rangers, a move the foundation said will strengthen protection of the forest and its biodiversity.

The announcement was made during a handover ceremony held under Project Imarisha, an I&M Foundation programme focused on environmental sustainability, education and community upliftment. The Ngong Sanctuary Forest initiative is among a growing number of private-sector backed conservation projects in Kenya that blend ecological restoration with community-based stewardship models.

In the release, Dipna Shah, Sustainability Lead at I&M Foundation, said the support is intended to ensure continuity as the project reaches a final handover milestone.

“As we reach this final handover milestone, our focus is on ensuring sufficient, sustained support to help this forest transition successfully into its next chapter. While infrastructure and fences are important, the true heartbeat of this forest is its people. By providing uniforms and salary support, we are ensuring that these scouts can perform their duties with dignity and security, laying a strong foundation for the long-term stewardship of this sanctuary,” Shah said.

The foundation said Project Imarisha has, to date, supported the installation of 14.2 kilometres of fencing at the sanctuary, including five kilometres of electrified perimeter fencing, as well as the development of 35 kilometres of nature trails. It also cited support for construction of rangers’ housing and an ablution block.

“Through Project Imarisha, we are committed to safeguarding Kenya’s natural heritage while empowering the communities that protect it. Our support to Ngong Sanctuary Forest reflects our belief that conservation and community well-being go hand in hand,” Shah added.

The statement said the 14 scouts are largely drawn from surrounding communities and serve as frontline personnel responsible for biodiversity protection and visitor safety. The latest support, it added, is designed to help the sanctuary shift from a restoration phase to a long-term maintenance and stewardship phase.

For Kenya’s business landscape, the project underscores how financial institutions and corporate foundations are increasingly deploying social investment programmes into conservation-linked infrastructure and jobs—an area with potential spillovers into domestic tourism, local enterprise activity around forest-based recreation, and climate resilience outcomes. Ngong Sanctuary Forest sits within the Nairobi metropolitan area, where demand for accessible green spaces has risen alongside urbanisation.

Looking ahead, I&M Foundation said Project Imarisha is concluding its primary infrastructure phase, with the sanctuary expected to focus on ongoing maintenance, conservation, environmental education and nature-based recreation. The foundation did not provide additional timelines or budget details beyond the KES 2 million contribution.

In the release, I&M Foundation said it is funded through an annual endowment from I&M Bank Kenya equivalent to 2% of the bank’s profit before tax, and it delivers social investment programmes across four thematic areas.