KCB Group Plc says it disbursed KSh48.8 billion in green financing in 2025 to support projects in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, green buildings, clean transportation, water management and climate-smart investments. The lender also screened KSh587.9 billion worth of transactions under its Environmental and Social Due Diligence framework across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda, according to its 2025 Sustainability Report.

KCB said KSh9.9 billion of the green financing was independently verified as climate-eligible using the Climate Assessment for Financial Institutions (CAFI) tool. The bank added that the screening and lending activity helped it surpass a strategic target of allocating 25% of total lending to green projects, reaching 25.84% in 2025, up from 21.6% in 2024.

The disclosures are contained in the 2025 KCB Group Sustainability Report themed Transitioning Economies, which KCB said was published alongside its 2025 Integrated Report.

For Kenya’s banking sector, the figures add to a growing focus on sustainable finance and climate-risk management, driven by investor expectations, shifting regulation, and demand for capital to fund clean energy and climate adaptation projects. KCB’s footprint in multiple East African markets also means its screening framework can influence risk assessment practices for cross-border lending and large transaction volumes.

Paul Russo, KCB Group Chief Executive Officer, said the lender is aligning financing decisions and business strategy to support climate resilience and sustainable enterprise growth across its markets. “KCB seeks to be a bigger player in shaping a robust and sustainable financial ecosystem throughout East Africa by continuously developing tailored green financing solutions for MSMEs, households, and corporates in order to support the adoption of sustainable practices across key sectors,” Russo said.

KCB also reported progress on operational sustainability and social impact initiatives. It said it exceeded its 2025 tree-planting target of 1.5 million, planting more than 3.5 million trees in 2025 through more than 200 regionwide events in collaboration with 1,778 schools and other partners.

In the education sector, KCB said it supported 266 schools to adopt cleaner cooking systems under its Learning Institutions Customer Value Proposition, backed by KSh782.5 million in financing, aimed at reducing reliance on traditional biomass fuels.

On branch operations, KCB said solar installations were operational in 16 branches across the group, including Maasai Mara, Wajir, Mandera, Watamu, Lamu, Loitoktok, Kakuma and Namanga, as well as the Karen Leadership Centre. The lender said it plans to expand solar power to 30 additional branches in 2026.

KCB attributed a 2% reduction in resource use for fuel and electricity to these efforts, contributing to an overall 13% reduction in emissions across the group.

Through KCB Foundation programmes, the group said over 265,300 jobs were supported, while 16,549 youth benefited from workforce readiness and skills development initiatives. It also said 38,635 youth-led businesses received business development support under the 2Jiajiri Young Africa Works programme, and that it has supported a total of 67,090 businesses.

On inclusive finance, KCB said it disbursed KSh149 billion to women-led businesses through its Female-Led and Made Enterprise (FLME) programme, as part of a five-year commitment to unlock KSh250 billion in financing for women entrepreneurs and enterprises. The group also said 20,299 refugees gained access to formal banking services and that it disbursed KSh71.4 million in loans to refugee entrepreneurs, leveraging UNHCR identification documentation.

KCB said the 2025 sustainability report is its third to undergo a limited assurance review and was prepared in reference to IFRS S1 and S2 Standards, as part of what it described as early voluntary adoption ahead of a mandatory deadline set for the 2027 reporting period.

Looking ahead, the lender’s planned rollout of solar to additional branches and continued expansion of green lending will be watched as banks across Kenya and the region face pressure to demonstrate measurable progress on climate risk, sustainable finance allocation and disclosure standards.

Rwandan singer Bruce Melodie has released a new single, POM POM, featuring Tanzanian artist Diamond Platnumz and Nigerian artist Joel Brown, according to a press release issued on January 8, 2026. The release, distributed by 1:55 AM Entertainment, is accompanied by an official music video filmed in Kigali, Rwanda, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

The three-artist collaboration brings together Afro-pop, Bongo Flava and Afrobeats influences, with lyrics delivered in Kinyarwanda, Swahili and English, the statement said. The track was produced by Ghanaian producer C-Tea Beat.

The release is part of a growing pattern of cross-border collaborations within Africa’s commercial music industry, where streaming distribution and regional fanbases increasingly shape how artists and labels plan releases. For Kenya, where music consumption is increasingly driven by digital platforms and live performance circuits linked to East African tour routes, multi-country projects such as POM POM can influence playlist visibility, licensing demand and event bookings across the region.

Bruce Melodie said the collaboration was intended to highlight cultural and geographic diversity through a shared sound. “This collaboration celebrates Africa in all its colors — three voices, three countries, one anthem. ‘POM POM’ is more than a song; it’s a movement, a reminder that music connects us no matter where we come from,” Bruce Melodie said in the press release.

The music video was directed by Rwanda’s Fayzo Pro for the Kigali scenes and Uganda’s Sasha Vybz for the Dar es Salaam scenes, the statement said. It described the visual approach as combining Rwandan heritage motifs with Tanzanian urban landscapes.

According to the release, POM POM marks the first collaboration between Bruce Melodie, Diamond Platnumz and Joel Brown. The statement attributed the partnership to “mutual respect and admiration” among the artists and said C-Tea Beat was responsible for aligning the artists’ styles in the final production.

For Kenyan music and entertainment businesses—ranging from promoters and venues to digital marketers and licensing agencies—the continued consolidation of regional star power into single releases can intensify competition for audience attention while also creating more opportunities for multi-market activations. Cross-border tracks often enable organisers to structure joint appearances and sponsorship packages across Nairobi, Kampala, Kigali and Dar es Salaam, particularly when releases are supported by music videos and coordinated online campaigns.

Industry stakeholders will also watch how such releases perform on streaming services and social platforms, as metrics increasingly determine booking leverage and brand partnerships in East Africa’s entertainment economy. The press release said the single is available on major streaming platforms and that media inquiries for Africa can be directed to Anyiko PR.

Next steps are expected to include broader promotional activities tied to the single, including potential media appearances and live performance opportunities across the region, as the artists and their representatives seek to extend the release’s reach beyond its launch window.