Kayole Starlets have signed three players from the Safaricom Chapa Dimba All-Stars team to strengthen their squad for the second leg of the Kenya Women’s Premier League, according to a press release dated March 20, 2026.

The Nairobi-based side said it has recruited goalkeeper Sonia Wambui, striker Calta Nasambu and Naomi Nanjala Masinde, adding that all three have already joined the team.

The signings come as Kayole Starlets, currently seventh on the league table, seek to push for a top-three finish in the remaining matches, the club said.

The club said the trio previously featured for Barcelona Ladies SC from Laikipia, a team that competes in the National Super League (NSL), reflecting the continued movement of talent from second-tier competition into the top flight of women’s football in Kenya.

Kayole Starlets also linked the players’ progression to Safaricom’s Chapa Dimba grassroots football programme. According to the statement, Wambui, Nasambu and Masinde were part of the Safaricom Chapa Dimba All-Stars squad that travelled to Huesca, Spain, for a bootcamp in September last year. The club added that the players featured for Barcelona Ladies SC during Season Four of the tournament, representing the Central Region at the national finals held in Kisumu.

Naomi Wanjala said she viewed the move as a step up after playing in the NSL. “I am excited to join Kayole Starlets. It has always been my ambition to play in the Kenya Premier League after competing in the National Super League. Joining mid-season gives me an opportunity to contribute to the team’s success in the remaining matches. Safaricom Chapa Dimba has played a significant role in my football journey. It is through this platform that I am here today, playing for Kayole Starlets,” Naomi Wanjala said in the press release.

Sonia Wambui also credited the tournament for creating a pathway to top-flight football. “Honestly, Chapa Dimba goes beyond a normal football tournament, it means a lot to young talents in this country. I want to thank Kayole Starlets for believing in me, and I promise to give my best. It has always been my dream to play in the Premier League and showcase my talent not just locally, but globally. This is a great platform and opportunity for me,” Wambui said.

The club said the three additions join Eunice ‘Bobi’ Nabwoba and Praxedes Shivikhwa, who also featured in Season Four of Chapa Dimba. According to the statement, Nabwoba previously played for Amus College in Uganda before joining Kayole Starlets.

Coach Joshua Sakwa said Kayole Starlets has increasingly relied on players developed through grassroots tournaments. “I believe tournaments like Safaricom Chapa Dimba offer invaluable lessons when it comes to supporting, nurturing and showcasing grassroots talent. The tournament plays a crucial role in spotting, developing, and showcasing young players. Currently, we have around five players who were part of the Chapa Dimba tournament in our squad. They are quality players, and we are confident they will help us push for a strong finish this season,” Joshua Sakwa, Kayole Starlets coach, said during a training session at Calvary Sports Grounds in Nairobi, according to the press release.

The development is significant for Kenya’s wider sports business ecosystem, where corporate-backed youth programmes are a key pipeline for clubs seeking affordable talent amid tight budgets and limited commercial revenues in women’s football. Safaricom Chapa Dimba targets youth aged 16 to 20, according to the statement, and is positioned as a national platform for identifying and developing talent.

Safaricom Chapa Dimba said more than 30 players from the most recent season have joined clubs competing in the NSL and the Kenya Premier League. The statement listed examples including Emily Morang’a (Kenya Police), Duncan Omala (Nairobi United), Derick Okech (Shabana FC), Austine Odongo (Shabana FC), Stanley Waswa (Ulinzi Stars), Hamis Nyale (Ulinzi Stars), Bryton Otieno (Gor Mahia), Brian Aroko (Tusker Youth), Neddy Kithinji (3K FC), Lorrine Illavonga (Ulinzi Starlets), Mercy Akoth (Vihiga Queens) and Swaumu Masungo (Kibera Soccer Women), among others.

Looking ahead, Kayole Starlets’ ability to translate the mid-season reinforcements into improved results will be tested in the remaining fixtures as the club targets a climb from seventh place into the top three, with the new signings expected to integrate immediately.

LG Electronics East Africa has reinforced its retail partnership with Carrefour Kenya through a two-week consumer campaign conducted during the Carrefour Brand Festival, culminating in a live prize draw at Two Rivers Mall in Nairobi on March 19, 2025.

According to LG, the campaign was run in selected Carrefour outlets and required customers to purchase selected LG products worth at least KES 14,000 to qualify for entry into a draw. Prizes included LG appliances such as microwaves, refrigerators, washing machines and smart televisions.

The company said the initiative took place during the Carrefour Brand Festival, an event it said brought together 45 consumer brands offering promotional pricing and customer rewards. LG described itself as one of the headline partners at the festival, using the period to showcase its home appliances and electronics while strengthening its commercial relationship with Carrefour, which it termed an important retail distributor in the region.

The campaign also underscores the role of large-format retailers in Kenya’s formal consumer goods and electronics market, where brands increasingly rely on organised retail outlets to reach urban shoppers and run measurable, store-based promotions. For electronics and home appliances, retail-led campaigns can support demand by combining point-of-sale visibility with consumer financing options and bundled promotions, although LG did not disclose sales volumes or the total value of prizes issued.

Speaking during the award ceremony, Irene Mwangi, Regional Manager in LG East Africa’s Go-to-Market team, linked the promotion to Carrefour’s growth in Kenya and LG’s plans to continue working with the retailer across the region.

“We are proud to celebrate this milestone with Carrefour, a partner that has played an important role in bringing our products closer to customers,” Mwangi said, according to the press release.

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

In Kenya, partnerships between multinational electronics brands and large retailers such as Carrefour have become a key route to market, particularly as retailers expand their store networks in major urban centres. LG said Carrefour’s footprint over the past decade has made it a significant channel for reaching a growing base of urban consumers, positioning joint campaigns as commercially relevant for both companies.

Going forward, similar promotions are likely to remain a feature of the appliances and consumer electronics segment, as brands compete for shopper attention in an environment of price sensitivity and higher household cost pressures. LG did not announce the timing of a follow-up campaign, but said it intends to deepen collaboration with Carrefour across East Africa.

Kenyan pop collective Matata has released a new single, ‘Nyongi’, featuring Tanzanian artist Marioo, as the first offering from its upcoming EP titled ‘ERA (East Rise Again)’, according to a press release dated 19 March 2026. The track was produced by Kenyan producer Wodomolo and was recorded in Nairobi.

Matata said the EP is planned as a six-track project scheduled for release in June. The group also announced that another single, ‘Kanairo’, is set for release in May 2026, ahead of the broader EP rollout later in the year.

The cross-border collaboration underscores a growing pattern of East African artists working across markets as streaming platforms increase the regional and international reach of music made in Nairobi, Dar es Salaam and other hubs. For Kenya’s music business, such partnerships can expand audience pools, strengthen touring and brand opportunities across the region, and increase the export potential of Kenyan music through shared fan bases.

In the release, Matata described the recording session as a Nairobi studio collaboration that brought together Sheng and Bongo Flava influences. “Something special happened when we teamed up with Marioo. We stepped into the studio in Nairobi and came out with a song that feels bigger than the room it was made in,” Matata said. “It’s Sheng meeting Bongo Flava, Nairobi meeting Dar es Salaam — different places, but the same energy. For us, this isn’t just a collaboration; it’s a moment.”

Marioo, in a separate quote, said the track was built around shared musical elements and performance energy. “Working on ‘Nyongi’ with Matata was an incredible experience. Their energy and unique sound brought something special to the record,” Marioo said. “This song celebrates rhythm, movement and the powerful East African connection in music and I’m excited for fans to experience it and see the energy Matata will bring when performing it live.”

Matata framed ‘ERA (East Rise Again)’ as a regional project expected to include artists from across East Africa. While full collaborator details were not disclosed in the statement, the group positioned the EP as part of a broader push toward a shared regional sound and larger audiences beyond the region.

Streaming performance remains a key commercial metric for East African acts seeking sponsorship, booking and distribution opportunities. Matata said it has surpassed 45 million streams and attracted more than one million listeners across 182 countries, attributing the growth to a rising international following built over the past year.

For Kenyan industry stakeholders—labels, promoters, and brand partners—the release points to continued momentum in cross-border collaborations that can help de-risk market concentration by extending reach into Tanzania and wider diaspora audiences. Such releases also increase the likelihood of multi-city tours and festival bookings, which remain an important revenue stream alongside digital distribution.

Matata said the next milestone is the May 2026 release of ‘Kanairo’, ahead of the June EP release, with additional rollout activity expected later in the year.

Insurance industry stakeholders are urging insurers and intermediaries to improve claims handling as Kenya’s insurance sector seeks to convert recent growth into higher public trust and wider uptake. The calls were made this week in Naivasha during Minet Kenya’s inaugural Claims Conference, held on March 19, 2026, according to a press release from the firm.

The conference brought together insurers, the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA), claims assessors, loss adjusters and other market players to discuss gaps and best practices in claims management. The meeting comes after what stakeholders described as sustained growth in 2025, with industry assets surpassing KES 1 trillion and premium volumes reaching KES 352.29 billion by the third quarter of 2025, as cited in the release.

The press release said regulators have attributed the sector’s recent expansion to innovation and a growing recognition of insurance as a financial protection tool. However, it added that insurance penetration remains just above 2% of GDP, below the global average of 7%, underscoring what it described as a persistent confidence gap despite rising premium volumes.

At the conference, participants argued that the claims experience is central to how customers judge the value of insurance. They pointed to the need for clear communication, transparency and faster settlement processes as key to improving trust, particularly as product distribution and payments have increasingly moved onto digital and mobile channels.

Minet Kenya Chief Executive Officer Sammy Muthui said customer understanding and fragmentation across the claims ecosystem remain major sources of friction. “The two biggest gaps that have been known to bring friction between insurers and customers are knowledge and silos. When we place insurance covers for clients, they do not always fully understand the terms and conditions. As a result, expectations may not be met, leading to disappointment and frustration at the point of claim,” Muthui said.

He added that multiple parties involved in claims processing often operate independently, which can delay settlement. “On silos, there are many players in the ecosystem, including clients, insurance risk advisors, insurance companies, loss adjusters, loss assessors, insurance investigators and reinsurance companies. Because these players often operate in silos, there is insufficient collaboration, which can affect the smooth settlement of claims,” Muthui said.

The stakeholders also discussed technology as a way to reduce delays and disputes. The press release cited digital platforms, automation and improved data management as tools for modernising claims operations, and pointed to artificial intelligence as a potential enabler for risk assessment, fraud detection and processing efficiency.

The IRA said it is putting more emphasis on market conduct and fairness in customer treatment. Insurance Regulatory Authority Market Conduct Director Anne Chelagat said the regulator has developed a framework to guide insurer-customer relationships from onboarding through to claims. “We have developed a Treating Customers Fairly framework that provides a clear pathway for how customers should be treated throughout their journey, from onboarding to the point of making a claim,” Chelagat said.

She said the regulator is shifting towards more proactive oversight. “We are now placing greater focus on market conduct by becoming more proactive rather than reactive. This includes reassessing the relationship between insurers and their customers from the outset, as well as how both parties conduct themselves, to ensure that when a claim arises, due process is followed and the customer is treated fairly,” Chelagat said.

For Kenya’s insurance market, improved claims outcomes could influence customer retention and help lift penetration, particularly among households and small businesses that remain underinsured. Industry efforts to digitise claims could also drive operational efficiencies, but will likely require stronger data governance and better coordination among insurers, intermediaries, assessors and investigators.

Minet Kenya said stakeholders at the conference reaffirmed a commitment to working more closely across the ecosystem, with the regulator pushing operational tools aimed at translating sector growth into improved customer outcomes. The next test will be whether insurers adopt common service standards and invest in end-to-end claims transformation that matches the pace of innovation in distribution.

ANZA MMA will stage its Fight Nights 007 event on Thursday, March 26, 2026 at The Alchemist in Nairobi, with the promotion confirming a Kenya-heavy amateur fight card headlined by a bantamweight bout between Hassan Wasswa Muhammed of Nairobi Jiu-Jitsu Academy and Maina Morgan of Shadow Strikers.

In a press release dated March 18, 2026, ANZA MMA said doors will open at 6pm and fights will start at 7pm. Tickets will be sold online via Hustle Sasa, which the organiser described as its official ticketing platform.

The event is the latest in a series of fight nights aimed at building the domestic mixed martial arts (MMA) pipeline, as gyms across the country expand training programmes and athletes seek competitive platforms without leaving Kenya. Hosting the event at a Nairobi entertainment venue also underscores the growing overlap between sports content and the night-time economy, where live events drive footfall for hospitality businesses and create opportunities for sponsors, merchandise sellers and digital content producers.

ANZA MMA said the March 26 card will include a co-main event in the featherweight division, with Dickson Aomo of Diani Fight Club set to face Hamza Fahim of Mombasa Sharks. The press release described Aomo as coming off two victories, while Fahim was described as making his MMA debut with a background in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and karate.

The promotion also listed two additional main-card matchups: Samuel Laurian of Nairobi Jiu-Jitsu Academy versus Brayan Ray in a featherweight bout, and Bobby Kamande of Chanuka Self Defense against Lwano Matthew of Marine Gym.

On the preliminary card, organisers confirmed six bouts: Augusto Kohn vs Erick Ogola (welterweight), Guraib Rukwaro vs Chris Mutea (strawweight), Alex Njathi vs Shadrack Otieno (lightweight), Felix Tole vs Evans Kaburia (super lightweight), Josiah Aoncha vs Rai Tsuma (lightweight), and Hashim Sefu vs Wayne Achoki (featherweight).

“Tickets are available online via Hustle Sasa – the official ANZA MMA ticketing platform,” the organiser said in the statement.

ANZA MMA said Fight Nights 007 is “notable for the number of new athletes entering the sport,” adding that “11 fighters” will make their amateur debuts on the card. The organiser also said that, unlike its previous event that included fighters from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo, the upcoming line-up is dominated by Kenyan athletes travelling from Kisii, Kakamega, Mombasa and Diani, as well as multiple Nairobi gyms.

For Kenya’s sports business landscape, a locally dominated card can reduce travel and logistics costs while deepening regional rivalries between gyms—an element that can help sustain ticket sales and viewership. It also points to a broadening talent base, which could support more frequent events and, over time, a clearer pathway from amateur competition to professional bouts. However, growth will depend on consistent event scheduling, safety standards, and the ability to attract sponsorship and broadcast or streaming partnerships.

In its background notes, ANZA MMA said it is “Kenya’s first licensed MMA Promotions under the Kenya Oriental Combat Sports Federation.” It also referenced “KO Fight Night by ANZA MMA” in 2025 as Kenya’s “first-ever professionally sanctioned Mixed Martial Arts event,” according to the organiser.

ANZA MMA said further event information and media inquiries can be directed to press@anyiko-pr.com, while ticketing support is available via support@hustlesasa.com.

Kenya Airways (KQ) has signed an interline agreement with South African regional carrier CemAir (5Z) to expand passenger connectivity into South Africa through Johannesburg (JNB) and Cape Town (CPT), the airline said in a media statement.

Under the agreement, Kenya Airways customers will be able to connect onto CemAir flights from Johannesburg to 10 domestic destinations in South Africa, including Bloemfontein, Hoedspruit and Kimberley. Kenya Airways also said the arrangement extends to four regional points served by CemAir, including Maun, Victoria Falls and Harare.

On the other side of the partnership, CemAir customers will be able to connect onto Kenya Airways flights to 15 destinations across Africa. Kenya Airways named Dar es Salaam, Addis Ababa, Entebbe, Accra and Abidjan among the destinations available for onward travel.

Kenya Airways said the interline agreement enables single-ticket itineraries and coordinated connections for customers travelling across the two airlines’ networks. The carrier did not disclose financial terms or implementation timelines for the arrangement.

The agreement is the latest example of airlines using commercial partnerships to widen network reach without adding aircraft capacity, a strategy that can be significant for carriers operating in Africa’s fragmented aviation market. For Kenya’s aviation sector, interline and codeshare-style arrangements can improve access to secondary cities and tourism markets that are not always viable for direct services from Nairobi.

Johannesburg and Cape Town are major gateways for business and leisure travel in Southern Africa, while routes linking East Africa with South Africa are important for trade, tourism and corporate travel flows. By tying into CemAir’s network from Johannesburg, Kenya Airways said it is positioning customers for onward access to smaller domestic markets in South Africa as well as select regional destinations in Southern Africa.

For CemAir, the tie-up offers a connection into Kenya Airways’ intra-Africa network, including hubs and commercial centres in East and West Africa, potentially increasing options for passengers who would otherwise rely on multiple tickets and self-managed transfers.

Kenya Airways did not provide passenger volume projections, expected revenue impact or details on baggage and ticketing conditions beyond the single-ticket and coordinated-connection framework described in the statement. CemAir also did not issue additional details within the provided statement.

Next, the practical impact for travellers will depend on how quickly the airlines integrate ticketing and schedules for sale through their respective distribution channels, and how consistently connections are timed through Johannesburg and Cape Town. Further updates are expected as the carriers operationalise the interline arrangement and make the eligible routes available for booking.

Emirates has introduced a set of Ramadan services for customers travelling during the Holy Month, including iftar boxes for fasting passengers in all cabin classes on select routes, complimentary prayer mats available on request, and additional religious content on its inflight entertainment system, the airline said on February 16, 2026 in a media statement released in Dubai.

The Dubai-based carrier said it will “share thousands of iftar boxes for fasting customers both onboard and at boarding gates,” alongside offering “complimentary Emirates prayer mats,” screening “an array of religious content and popular TV shows on ice,” and serving “traditional Ramadan dishes in the lounges,” according to The Emirates Group.

The measures matter for Kenya’s outbound travel market because Emirates is a major long-haul connector for Kenyan passengers through Dubai to the Middle East, Asia, Europe and North America. Ramadan travel demand typically includes visits to family, religious travel to Saudi Arabia, and business travel timed around the holiday period, making service consistency and operational planning important for airlines and travel trade partners in East Africa.

At boarding gates during iftar time, Emirates said it will distribute complimentary boxes containing “water, laban, a banana, and dates” at select gates. Onboard, the airline said Ramadan meal boxes will be offered “across all cabin classes to select destinations” in addition to the regular hot meal service.

The airline said the onboard boxes include “traditional dates, light bites of hummus, moutabel or muhammara with Arabic bread,” a chicken sandwich option, sweet items such as “baklawa pistachio mamoul or baklawa pine seed cashew,” and laban. Emirates said the packaging design references “the geometric design of traditional Islamic art.”

To manage fasting times in flight, Emirates said it uses “a unique tool to calculate the correct timings for imsak … and iftar while inflight,” using the aircraft’s “longitude, latitude, and altitude,” and that “passengers will be officially informed of the iftar time by the captain” when the sun sets.

For premium customers and eligible travellers using its facilities, Emirates said its seven lounges at Dubai International Airport (DXB) will offer Ramadan refreshments including “Arabic sweets, dates and coffee,” alongside a rotating range of hot and cold dishes. The airline added that its lounges in Cairo and Jeddah will also serve Ramadan dishes and that lounges include “dedicated prayer rooms and ablution facilities.”

On its ice entertainment system, Emirates said it will feature religious programming in Arabic and Urdu and that “the Holy Qur’an is also available on ice.” The airline also cited its broader catalogue, saying ice has “more than 6500 channels of on demand entertainment,” including “up to 450 channels of movies and TV in the Arabic language” and “400 channels of Arabic music and podcasts.”

Separately, Emirates said it has launched Bukhoor home fragrances for Ramadan via the Emirates Official Store, pricing each 70g pot at about KES 6,760 (USD 52), based on an indicative exchange rate of KES 130 per US dollar. The company also outlined support for Umrah travellers, saying customers can check in one bottle of Zamzam water “containing up to 5 litres per person” at DXB and select airports in Saudi Arabia, and that Ramadan boxes will be served for Umrah groups travelling to Jeddah and Medina during the month.

For the wider travel industry—including agents and corporate travel buyers in Kenya—the announcement signals a focus on standardised Ramadan service delivery across touchpoints (boarding gates, inflight and lounges), which can influence passenger experience expectations on routes connecting through Dubai. Emirates also said it provides “Ramadan awareness training” for cabin crew and ground teams across its network to align operations with Ramadan practices.

Emirates did not disclose which specific “select destinations” will receive the Ramadan meal boxes, or the number of boxes to be distributed, beyond stating “thousands.” Further updates are likely as the airline finalises route-level deployment and airport gate logistics during the month.

The MTV Staying Alive Foundation (MTV SAF) premiered Season 2 of MTV Shuga Mashariki in Nairobi on January 28, 2026, ahead of the season’s broadcast launch on Citizen TV on February 10. MTV SAF said the premiere was held at CCHUB and brought together the show’s cast and crew, creators, media and the foundation’s partners.

According to the foundation, the youth drama will air weekly on Citizen TV from Tuesday, February 10 at 11pm. Episodes will also be released globally on the MTV Shuga YouTube channel from Wednesday, February 11, expanding access beyond Kenya.

The return of the series is part of a wider trend in Kenya’s media sector where broadcasters and producers are increasing investments in locally relevant formats that can be distributed across both free-to-air television and digital platforms. Citizen TV remains one of the country’s largest broadcasters by audience reach, and the show’s availability on YouTube positions the production for regional and diaspora consumption while offering additional channels for audience engagement.

MTV SAF said Season 2 features returning cast members Serah Wanjiru, Basil Mungai, Matthew Ngugi, Wilson Muchemi, Fatuma Gichuru, Juliebrenda Nyambura, Fridah Mumbe, Renee Gichuki and Mwende King’ori, with Brian Kabugi returning in what the foundation described as a major role. The new season also introduces Vanessa Okeyo Aika, Marima Wanjiru, Natalia Kyalo, Jenny Muigai, Amalie Chopetta, Beatrice Kamuyu, Eunice Kamau and Tanzania’s Talie Gray.

In a new addition to the franchise, MTV SAF said Season 2 will be accompanied by an original soundtrack titled ‘25Flow’, developed as a standalone creative asset alongside the series. The foundation said the project spotlights Kenyan artists and songwriters led by music producer SoFresh, and that the music will be woven into the show’s storyline and film.

The premiere event was hosted by Miriam Bishar, who also stars in the series. MTV SAF said attendees were given first listens to music from the 25Flow project and participated in interactive panels on the production process and the research approach behind the show’s storytelling.

Season 2 is set at the fictional Enkare University and focuses on youth issues including consent, identity, ambition and the role of technology and social pressure in decision-making. MTV SAF said the season tackles themes such as viral fame, body autonomy, toxic masculinity and sexual violence, with storylines following interconnected characters as “secrets unravel, friendships are tested and justice emerges as a powerful rallying cry.”

On production, MTV SAF said the new season marks a partnership with She Moves Africa Films, a women-led production company founded by producer Dina Mwende, who takes on the role of Series Producer after serving as Associate Producer in Season 1. The foundation said Janet Chumbe joins as a new director, alongside returning Kenyan directors June Ndinya, Mkaiwawi Mwakaba and Likarion Wainaina, with cinematographer Enos Olik also returning.

For Kenya’s creative economy, the project highlights continued formalisation of TV production pipelines—spanning writing, directing, music composition and post-production—while creating paid opportunities for local talent. The release strategy also reflects the growing importance of multi-platform distribution for Kenyan screen content, as producers seek both local viewership and international visibility.

MTV SAF said MTV Shuga Mashariki is part of the broader MTV Shuga franchise and that its storylines are informed by local, youth-centred research. The foundation said the series is designed to integrate sexual and reproductive health messaging into storylines reflecting young audiences’ lived experiences.

MTV SAF said the season will begin airing on Citizen TV on February 10, with YouTube releases following from February 11, setting the next milestone for audience uptake and digital performance in the weeks after launch.

The 2026 WRC Safari Rally concluded in Naivasha over the weekend, with Japan’s Takamoto Katsuta securing what the organisers described as his first World Rally Championship (WRC) victory, according to a press release dated March 17, 2026. The statement added that Toyota Gazoo Racing delivered “a composed and consistent performance” across the Kenyan stages.

The press release, issued from Naivasha, said the four-day event paired on-stage rally competition with an off-track programme centred on the Morendat Fan Village. It said the fan village was sponsored by Kenya Breweries Limited (KBL)’s heritage beer brand White Cap and served as a hub for entertainment activities throughout the rally period.

The Safari Rally is one of Kenya’s most visible international sports events, drawing global attention to Naivasha and surrounding rally routes and supporting seasonal demand for hospitality, transport, food services and event production. While the statement did not provide attendance figures or economic impact estimates, it positioned the fan village as a key touchpoint for brands seeking to engage audiences around large-scale sports tourism.

According to the press release, the Morendat Fan Village entertainment programme began on Thursday with DJ sets by Festa, Blaze, Kalonje, Confy and Benitez, with Hype Kev hosting. Friday’s line-up included DJ Nijo, DJ E and DJ Ite, alongside Big Mitch, with a live performance by Sanaipei Tande.

Saturday’s schedule featured DJs Joe Mfalme, Kris Darlin, Mista C, Cross, Lisney and Wal, with MC Claudia Naisabwa hosting. The statement said artists Fathermoh, Khaligraph Jones and Mejja performed that evening. On Sunday, the press release listed DJs Jay, Most Wanted and DJ Daq Child, with Mejja returning to the stage, and MC Gogo and Daffy hosting the closing sessions.

The press release also stated that White Cap had a role as the “Official Responsible Drinking Partner” during the rally, and that the brand used the event platform to encourage responsible consumption among fans attending rally stages and the fan village. “Throughout the rally, KBL’s White Cap brand maintained a strong presence as the Official Responsible Drinking Partner,” the statement said.

For Kenyan consumer brands, the event’s structure—combining the rally route with designated entertainment villages—continues to provide an avenue for experiential marketing, on-site sales partnerships and media visibility tied to an international sports calendar. The concentration of activity in Naivasha also underlines the strategic value of the Naivasha–Nakuru corridor for events tourism, with potential spillover into accommodation, logistics and local retail trade during rally week.

Looking ahead, the rally’s continued inclusion on the WRC calendar and the growing importance of fan zones suggest organisers and sponsors will keep expanding ancillary programming alongside the competition itself. The press release concluded that the 2026 edition “highlighted why the WRC Safari Rally remains one of Kenya’s most anticipated annual events.”

MUA Insurance (Kenya) Limited has relocated and upgraded its Mombasa branch to Jubilee Arcade along Moi Avenue, positioning the office within the coastal city’s central business district as part of a broader branch modernisation and national expansion strategy, the company said on March 17, 2026.

The insurer moved the branch from Zulfat Hatimy Plaza on Hatimy Road, citing the need for a more accessible location as it scales physical service points in line with rising demand for insurance among corporates, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and households.

The expansion plan comes as Kenya’s insurance industry posts steady premium growth but continues to report relatively low penetration levels compared with other financial services. According to the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) quarterly report cited by the company, Kenya’s insurance industry recorded gross written premiums of KES 352.29 billion by September 2025, an 11.2% year-on-year increase, while total industry assets surpassed KES 1 trillion for the first time. The same release put insurance penetration at about 2.4% of GDP, indicating room for growth as insurers broaden distribution through regional outreach and service digitisation.

Within that context, MUA said the Mombasa relocation is intended to strengthen service delivery at the Coast, a key trade and logistics corridor that serves the Port of Mombasa and regional supply chains linking Kenya to Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“This investment reflects our confidence in Kenya’s long-term economic outlook and the growing importance of insurance in supporting businesses and households,” said Nixon Shigoli, CEO, MUA Insurance (Kenya). “Upgrading our branches allows us to serve customers more efficiently while reinforcing our presence in regions that are central to trade and economic growth.”

MUA said the Mombasa branch will serve businesses and households with products including property and asset insurance, motor and marine cover, liability solutions, health insurance, engineering and cyber insurance, alongside specialised covers such as aviation and political violence insurance.

The company linked its Kenya investment programme to the backing of its parent, Mauritius-based MUA Ltd (Group), which operates across six markets—Mauritius, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania and Seychelles. In the statement, MUA said the group’s market capitalisation reached KES 9.1 billion as of December 2024, a 39% increase within 12 months.

For Kenya’s insurance market, branch upgrades and relocations remain a notable channel strategy even as firms invest in digital distribution. Physical access continues to matter for onboarding and servicing complex commercial lines—such as marine and logistics-related covers—especially in trade-heavy regions like Mombasa, where insurers target port-linked operators, traders, SMEs and households.

The IRA’s data points to an industry that is growing in volumes and balance sheets, but still has significant headroom on penetration. In that environment, insurers’ efforts to extend reach beyond Nairobi and improve service turnaround times could intensify competition in regional hubs, particularly for corporate and SME segments tied to transport, warehousing, construction and import-export activity.

MUA did not disclose the value of its Kenya branch investment or a timeline for additional branch openings. However, the company said the Mombasa move is part of an ongoing modernisation programme aimed at bringing service points closer to customers across key economic centres.