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Quickmart IPO: Step-by-Step guide to buying shares through USSD and online

Jane Muia
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Quickmart IPO: Step-by-Step guide to buying shares through USSD and online

Kenyans can now buy shares in Quickmart as the supermarket chain opens its Initial Public Offering (IPO), with investors able to apply through mobile phones, an online platform or physical application forms.

The offer, which opened on October 5, 2026, gives the public an opportunity to acquire a stake in one of Kenya’s largest supermarket chains ahead of its planned listing on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE).

How to apply for Quickmart shares

Investors first need a valid Central Depository and Settlement Corporation (CDSC) account. The account is where shares traded on the NSE are held electronically, and any Quickmart shares allotted to an investor will be credited to it.

There are three ways to apply:

  1. Through USSD: Investors can dial *483*803# on their mobile phones and follow the prompts to submit an application.

The USSD option is available for applications worth up to Sh250,000. Investors will be required to provide details including their CDS account number, identification number, investor category and the number of shares they want to purchase.

The minimum application is 500 shares, costing Sh3,750 at the IPO price of Sh7.50 per share. Additional applications must be made in multiples of 100 shares, equivalent to Sh750.

Applicants using USSD can opt to have refunds and future dividends paid through M-Pesa. After confirming the application, investors can make payment immediately through an M-Pesa prompt or choose to pay later using the payment instructions sent by SMS.

Also Read: Ndegwa family to spend Sh8.5 billion to regain full control of ICEA Lion

2. Online application: Investors can also submit their applications electronically through Quickmart’s designated IPO portal.

The process involves completing the application form, providing the required information, uploading supporting documents and making payment through the designated payment channel.

3. Physical application: Investors who prefer paper applications can obtain and complete the relevant forms and submit them to designated placing agents before the offer closes.

All applications must be completed and paid for by 5pm on October 30, 2026. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be accepted.

Once the offer closes, Quickmart expects to announce the results and notify investors of their allocations on November 6.

Shares are scheduled to be credited to successful applicants’ CDS accounts on November 11, alongside the processing of refunds where applicable. Trading on the NSE is expected to begin on November 12.

Quickmart offers 2 billion shares at Sh7.50

Quickmart is offering 2 billion existing ordinary shares at Sh7.50 each, giving the offer a total value of Sh15 billion. The shares represent 50 per cent of the retailer’s issued share capital.

At the offer price, Quickmart will have an implied market value of Sh30 billion once listed. The shares are being sold by existing shareholder Sokoni Retail Kenya Limited, making the transaction an offer for sale rather than an issue of new shares by Quickmart itself.

The IPO has no maximum application limit, meaning investors can apply for as many shares as they wish, subject to the applicable application and payment arrangements.

For a retail investor, the entry point is Sh3,750, which buys 500 shares at the offer price.

The IPO is, however, conditional on achieving a minimum subscription level of 75 per cent. This means at least 1.5 billion of the 2 billion shares must receive valid applications.

If the requirement is not met, the offer will not proceed and application funds will be returned without interest.

Quickmart currently operates 72 stores across 16 counties, following the opening of additional outlets in July and August.

The retailer reported Sh50.4 billion in revenue in 2025, while its adjusted profit after tax stood at about Sh1.7 billion.

The company is targeting further expansion, with its medium-term strategy aimed at taking its store network beyond 100 outlets.

The IPO will pave the way for Quickmart’s admission to the NSE’s Main Investment Market Segment. If the timetable remains unchanged, the shares will start trading on November 12, 2026.

Also Read: Kenyan Investors Gain Direct Route to Dangote Refinery Share Offering Through Unsponsored GDR

Kenyan Investors Gain Direct Route to Dangote Refinery Share Offering Through Unsponsored GDR

Bizna Team
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Kenyan Investors Gain Direct Route to Dangote Refinery Share Offering Through Unsponsored GDR

Kenyan investors will now be able to acquire an interest in the Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals FZE (DPRP) through an inward, unsponsored Global Depositary Receipt (GDR) programme on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE).

Kenyan Investors Can Trade GDRs in Shillings

Under this programme, Kenyan investors can trade and settle receipts in Kenyan Shillings through the existing capital-market infrastructure, while the underlying ordinary shares remain in custody on the Nigerian Exchange on a 1:1 ratio.

The programme requires a minimum investment of 2,000 GDRs, with additional subscriptions available in multiples of 100 GDRs and no upper limit. Official listing on the NSE is targeted for 8 December 2026.

GDR Programme Operates Separately From Dangote IPO

The GDR is established and administered by regulated market intermediaries rather than Dangote Refinery itself. The refinery’s primary listing, share register, and corporate governance remain rooted in Nigeria.

The local listing operates independently from the company’s ongoing NGN 2.15 trillion (approx. US$1.6 billion) primary IPO in Nigeria, functioning instead as a secondary trading route for existing shares.

Kenyan investors explore Dangote Refinery IPO through NSE GDR

CMA Highlights Kenya’s Cross-Border Investment Framework

Commenting on the approval, the Capital Markets Authority said, “Kenya created its depositary-receipt framework in 2017 so that local investors could reach opportunities across Africa without leaving the protection of a regulated market. This is the first time that the framework has brought a GDR to the NSE. Our role is to ensure the structure is sound, disclosures are clear, and investors understand both the benefits and the limits of what they are buying. Approval is not a view on the merits of the investment, so we urge investors to read the Information Memorandum and to deal only with CMA-licensed intermediaries.”

Renaissance Capital to Lead Transaction

Renaissance Capital said: “The approval of the unsponsored GDR programme marks an important step in connecting Kenyan capital with investment opportunities beyond our borders. What we aim to do is give investors in Kenya a way to participate in the Dangote IPO through a market and infrastructure they already know, trading on the NSE and settling in Kenyan shillings, without separate arrangements in Nigeria.

“Our role has been to build a structure that is accessible, transparent and operationally straightforward, and to make the connection between the two markets work in practice.”

Dangote IPO: How Kenyans can buy shares using their mobile phones

Stanbic Bank Kenya to Provide Custody Infrastructure

For investors, the structure is designed to simplify the practical process of accessing an investment whose underlying shares are held in another market.

Stanbic Bank Kenya, acting as custodian, will support the secure holding of the underlying Nigerian shares and the link between those securities and the GDRs traded in Kenya.

Stanbic Bank Kenya said: “The infrastructure supporting a cross-border investment opportunity is as important as the opportunity itself. As custodian and receiving bank, our role is to provide the secure link between the underlying Dangote shares in Nigeria and the GDRs available to investors in Kenya.

“Investors would access the GDRs through Kenya’s existing market infrastructure, with the underlying securities held within a controlled custody structure. Our focus is on supporting a seamless cross-border process while maintaining the security, transparency and operational integrity investors expect.”

Legal Framework Supports Cross-Border Investment

G&A Advocates LLP said: “African capital markets have significant pools of capital, but investors do not always have straightforward mechanisms to access opportunities across markets.

“This approval shows that Kenya’s market can accommodate innovative structures while keeping the safeguards that give investors confidence. In this transaction, our priority has been to make that structure legally sound, transparent to investors and aligned with Kenya’s capital-markets framework, because getting it right is what allows the product to work.”

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Image Registrars to Manage Investor Records

Image Registrars said: “The investor experience does not end when a security is purchased. Accurate registration, record-keeping and administration are what allow investors to hold and manage their interests with confidence.

“Our role is to bring that discipline to the GDR, maintaining the holder register and supporting transfers and payment distributions throughout its life.”

Programme Opens New Route for African Capital

Phanice Global said: “For decades, African savers and African companies have looked abroad, one for scale and the other for capital. This programme allows a Kenyan saver to own a share in a major Nigerian company via the NSE, in shillings and under Kenyan regulation.

“The region now has a working model. Together with The Newmark Group, our aim is to help governments, regulators and markets build the institutions that enable African savings to fund African industry.”

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GDR Remains Unsponsored by Dangote Refinery

The programme is unsponsored because DPRP is not a party to the GDR arrangement. The facility is established and administered by the appointed market intermediaries, while DPRP’s primary listing, share register and corporate governance arrangements remain in Nigeria.

The GDR programme is separate from the company’s ongoing primary share offer on the NGX.

Key Intermediaries Behind the Programme

Renaissance Capital is acting as lead transaction adviser and sponsoring broker, working with Stanbic Bank Kenya as receiving bank and custodian, G&A Advocates LLP as legal adviser, Image Registrars as registrar, and Phanice Global and Newmark Group as the joint strategy and communications adviser.

The NSE will provide the Kenyan listing and trading platform, alongside other market intermediaries supporting distribution, settlement and investor participation.

How Black Soldier Fly farming is reshaping animal feed business

Jane Muia
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How Black Soldier Fly farming is reshaping animal feed business

For women and young farmers looking for an entry point into livestock production, Black Soldier Fly (BSF) farming is emerging as a low-space venture that can turn organic waste into a valuable source of animal feed and income.

The enterprise involves rearing Black Soldier Fly larvae, which are rich in protein and can be processed into feed for poultry, pigs and fish.

The larvae can also be fed to livestock while wet or alive, providing farmers with an alternative to conventional commercial feeds.

At about 21 days into their life cycle, BSF larvae have a crude protein content of at least 45 per cent.

This has made them increasingly attractive to livestock and poultry feed manufacturers seeking alternatives to traditional protein sources such as silver cyprinid (omena) and soya beans.

Also Read: Farmer turns dry Laikipia land into beef goldmine selling up to 100 cattle per month

The insects also offer farmers a second source of income. After feeding on organic waste, the larvae leave behind frass, a nutrient-rich residue that can be used as an organic fertiliser.

The model allows farmers to convert materials that would otherwise be discarded into both livestock feed and a soil-enhancing product.

For Winnie Wambui Githinji, the prospect of turning waste into a valuable agricultural resource was the starting point for her venture into BSF farming.

“I discovered that organic waste could be used to rear Black Soldier Fly larvae, turning discarded material into a source of protein for livestock while leaving behind a residue that can be used to make organic fertilizer,” she said.

Githinji sees BSF farming as more than an alternative feed business. She believes the enterprise can provide women with an opportunity to participate in livestock production without the large tracts of land and substantial capital traditionally associated with farming.

The relatively small land requirement was one of the factors that attracted her to the venture. She began by leasing a small piece of land and putting up a greenhouse structure for rearing the insects, starting on a modest scale.

According to her, while BSF farming can be started in limited space, expansion brings additional requirements for infrastructure and land.

“As an enterprise grows, land and infrastructure become increasingly important for sorting, processing, waste treatment and other forms of value addition,” she says.

She argues that reducing the cost and space requirements of livestock production does not necessarily address the wider challenges women face in accessing agricultural assets.

“Alternative feeds may lower the entry barrier, but they do not automatically remove the structural barriers that have historically limited women’s participation in agriculture,” says Githinji.

Understanding Black Soldier Fly 

The Black Soldier Fly, scientifically known as Hermetia illucens, is particularly valued for its larvae, which are used as a protein-rich feed ingredient for poultry, fish and pigs.

The insects thrive on organic waste, making BSF farming part of a circular agricultural system. Instead of allowing organic material to go to waste, farmers can use it to produce larvae for animal feed while generating frass that can be applied to soils as an organic fertiliser.

Frass can improve soil quality by increasing organic matter, enhancing water retention and supporting beneficial soil organisms. This can contribute to healthier soils while reducing reliance on synthetic fertilisers.

The low space and capital requirements also make the enterprise attractive to young people and women who may struggle to access land and financing for conventional livestock enterprises.

Also Read: Sweet potato farming: How farmers can avoid selling their produce at a loss

Azolla farming offers Nyeri farmer a low-cost feed alternative

Jane Muia
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Azolla farming offers Nyeri farmer a low-cost feed alternative

At her farm in Mahiga Ward, Othaya Constituency, Nyeri County, Agnes Gathondu tends to three small ponds measuring just 5 by 10 metres.

The ponds may look modest, but they have become an important part of her fish and poultry business, helping her cut feed costs and create an additional income source.

“I have been a fish and poultry farmer for more than five years, and the cost of commercial feeds almost made me close the business because I was relying on my father for most of the finances,” says Gathondu.

Gathondu’s journey in Azolla farming began in 2021 after years of struggling with costly commercial feeds.

She began with a small aquatic plant that she now grows in the ponds and uses to supplement commercial feed for her fish and poultry.

Also Read: A look at seven-day fodder alternative that could help farmers slash feed costs

“I started Azolla farming in 2021 after feed prices hiked due to scarcity. Since then, I no longer rely on my father because the business is profitable,” she says.

Gathondu says the change has significantly reduced the amount of commercial feed she needs to buy. A 25-kilogramme bag of commercial fish feed costs about Sh4,700 and lasts her roughly eight days.

By alternating commercial feed with Azolla, she estimates that she has cut her production costs by about 40 per cent.

Her entry into farming, however, was not without challenges. Coming from a community where girls traditionally do not inherit land from their parents, Gathondu had to seek permission from her father to access land for her enterprise.

What started as a small experiment has since developed into another income stream. Besides feeding her own livestock and fish, she sells Azolla planting material to other farmers at Sh1,000 per kilogramme.

“The ponds have also become a business. I sell Azolla planting material at Sh1,000 per kilogramme. I have so far introduced 120 women to the technology,” she says.

What is Azolla?

Azolla is a small, free-floating aquatic fern that grows rapidly on the surface of freshwater. Its ability to produce large amounts of biomass is linked to a natural partnership with a nitrogen-fixing blue-green alga, Anabaena azollae, which lives within the plant.

Through this relationship, Azolla can fix atmospheric nitrogen, allowing it to grow with limited reliance on synthetic fertilisers. The resulting biomass can be harvested regularly and used as a supplementary source of feed for livestock, poultry and fish, as well as an organic input for crops.

A potential low-cost feed option

Azolla contains about 19 to 35 per cent crude protein, as well as vitamins and minerals including calcium and phosphorus. This makes it a useful supplementary feed, particularly for farmers looking to reduce their dependence on expensive commercial feeds.

Feed is one of the biggest costs in livestock production, with poultry farmers in Kenya often spending a substantial share of their production budgets on feed.

Fast-growing and easy to harvest

One of Azolla’s biggest advantages is its rapid growth under favourable conditions. The plant can multiply its biomass within a few days, allowing farmers to harvest it continuously from properly managed ponds.

A relatively small pond can therefore provide a regular supply of Azolla without requiring large portions of farmland. This makes it particularly attractive to smallholder farmers who have limited land but want to diversify their sources of livestock feed.

More than just animal feed

Azolla’s value extends beyond livestock production. Because of its nitrogen-fixing ability, the plant can also be incorporated into farming systems as a source of organic nutrients.

Research in Kenya’s Mwea Irrigation Scheme, a major rice-growing region, has investigated the use of Azolla in rice production, with findings showing improvements in crop growth and yield following Azolla inoculation.

The plant can also help suppress weeds and influence conditions in flooded rice fields. Its ability to absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis adds to its potential as part of more sustainable farming systems.

Also Read: Farmers turn to poultry, goats as crop returns decline

Suqoon Founder calls for dignified ageing through stronger social protection

Peninnnah M
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Suqoon Founder calls for dignified ageing through stronger social protection

Kenya’s progress in extending life expectancy must be matched by social protection systems that help people age with health, independence and dignity, rather than waiting until vulnerability becomes a crisis, says Suqoon Founder Shakira Khawaja.

Making the case for a more preventive and person-centred approach to ageing, Khawaja emphasised the need to protect older persons’ health, preserve their independence and enable them to remain active contributors to society. She shared these perspectives during discussions on social protection for older persons at the Fourth Kenya Social Protection Conference in Nairobi.

“We worked hard for people to live longer. Now let us make sure our systems are ready for those longer lives, and that those lives are lived with function, contribution and dignity,” she said.

Her call comes as Kenya seeks to strengthen its social protection framework. During the conference, President William Ruto, in a speech read on his behalf by Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua, committed to establishing and capitalising a Social Protection Fund, making benefit indexation predictable and expanding coverage to 2.5 million households. The President also directed that a national school meals programme begin in all 47 counties in the first term of 2027.

The need is growing. The number of Kenyans aged 60 and above is projected to rise from about 2.9 million today to 6.4 million by 2045, according to specialists briefing the media ahead of Kenya’s inaugural International Day of Older Persons (IDOP) national celebration.

Khawaja argued that health and social protection cannot be separated in an elder’s life. A fall at home can lead to a fracture, a hospital stay, lost mobility and dependence, often forcing a son or daughter to stop working to provide care. Suqoon, working with partners including Safaricom and the Chandaria Foundation, modifies elders’ homes to prevent such falls.

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“That grab rail is not just a renovation. It is health protection. It is caregiver protection. It is social protection,” she said.

Khawaja called on delegates to carry three commitments into the conference’s Call to Action, to be signed on 1 October: a clear pathway to close the protection gap between ages 60, when the Constitution recognises a Kenyan as an older person, and 70, when the Older Persons Cash Transfer begins; protection of elders’ income, property and assets from abuse, including the introduction of the Older Persons Bill, 2024 in Parliament, where it has not yet been tabled since public participation closed in 2024; and an assisted route that always remains open for elders who cannot use digital payments and services on their own.

She also urged a change in how Kenya talks about its elders, who raise grandchildren, farm, run businesses, keep chamas going and hold families together.

“An elder is not where the life cycle closes. She is where it turns. When we invest in an older person, the return does not stop with her. It moves through the family, the community and into the next generation,” she said.

In Nairobi’s Mathare and Embakasi, elders who take part in Suqoon’s community activities say connection matters as much as cash.

“We need more conversations between generations. Young people need to understand what older people go through and why they need to be cared for. There is a lot that younger people can learn from older people,” said 64-year-old Ann Wanjiru Mbuthia, Organising Secretary at Mathare Older Persons Network.

“Suqoon has given us a space where we can come together, talk and interact. Sometimes an older person can stay in the house for many days without going anywhere. Having this space gives us a reason to come out and feel part of the community,” added Peter Oyugi, 65 years, from Embakasi.

The Fourth Kenya Social Protection Conference runs from 29 September to 1 October under the theme “Re-imagining Social Protection in an evolving socio-economic landscape and climate change: Strengthening Adaptive, Transformative and Sustainable Social Protection Systems for Inclusive Development in Kenya.”

Solar success: Unilever’s Kshs70M Nairobi investment powers growth and cuts energy costs

Peninnnah M
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0
Solar success: Unilever’s Kshs70M Nairobi investment powers growth and cuts energy costs

When corporations promote renewable energy projects worth millions of shillings, the main focus is typically placed on environmental responsibility, reductions in carbon emissions, and achieving global sustainability objectives. However, if you get rid of the climate-related jargon concerning Unilever’s KES 70 million (£540,000) solar installation at its factory in Nairobi, what remains is a much more practical story: a high-return operational safeguard in the uncertain East African industrial environment.

In industrial corporate finance, any capital expenditure has to meet strict internal hurdle rates. In theory, Unilever’s 800kW solar installation—which has been in operation since June 2026has a highly attractive payback profile. The initial outlay is S 70 million and the expected annual savings are about KES 30 million (£230,000), so the simple payback period is around 2.33 years (about 28 months). It is extremely quick to recover an industrial asset worth half a million dollars within just under two and a half years, enabling the factory to meet about 30% of its electricity needs at nearly zero marginal cost for the rest of the system’s 20- to 25-year life.

For manufacturers working in East Africa, unpredictable operational expenditure tends to pose a greater threat to their margins than the basic cost of raw materials. By generating 30% of its power on-site, the facility almost manages a third of its electricity demand away from variations in grid tariffs, fuel adjustment surcharges, and spikes in foreign exchange levies. The solar power produced on-site during the day naturally matches the timing of the peak periods of production, thus reducing the peak demand charges and helping to stabilise the factory’s overhead costs. Together with an earlier change that involved replacing the heavy fuel oil boilers with biomass units, the plant greatly decreases its exposure to fluctuating imported petroleum prices and establishes a more self-sufficient industrial system.

The financial aspects can be considered independently, but the operational restructuring also directly addresses Unilever’s wider corporate governance needs. Combining the solar array with the biomass boilers reduces the factory’s carbon emissions by about 40% compared to its 2023 baseline. Since global consumer goods companies are now undergoing more rigorous supply chain audits and have to meet tighter carbon disclosure requirements from international investors, local measures such as those implemented in Nairobi help to secure access to capital and preserve a competitive edge in the various regional markets.

The fact that senior management were present at the event—among them João F. Ribeiro, Head of Supply Chain at 1UL, Luck Ochieng, Managing Director, and Richard Bogita and Elodie Kouassi, Supply Chain Executives—shows that this is not merely a standalone pilot project. Since it has already been announced that plans exist to convert hot-air generation systems from fossil fuels to biomass, the Nairobi site acts as a model for private-sector industrial decarbonisation throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, since in that region the best reason for pursuing sustainability is a strong balance sheet.

KMTC announces 678 job vacancies: Qualifications and how to apply

Jane Muia
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0
KMTC announces 678 job vacancies: Qualifications and how to apply

The Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) has announced 678 job vacancies at its headquarters and campuses, opening opportunities in teaching, healthcare, administration, information technology, human resources, and support services.

The vacancies, announced on October 6, include 200 positions for Lecturer II (Nursing), 105 Lecturer II (Clinical Medicine) positions, and 20 positions each for Lecturer II (Orthopedic and Trauma Medicine), Lecturer II (Community Health), Lecturer II (Health Records and Information Technology), Lecturer II (Radiography and Imaging), and Assistant Office Administrator III.

“The Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) is a State Corporation established by an Act of Parliament and falls under the Ministry of Health. Founded in 1927, the College is entrusted with the role of training various disciplines in the health sector, conducting research and consultancy.

“Therefore, the KMTC Board of Directors seeks to recruit competent, result-oriented, knowledgeable, dynamic, visionary and experienced persons to fill the following vacant positions tenable at the Kenya Medical Training College, Headquarters and its Campuses,” read part of the announcement.

The largest share of the vacancies is in teaching. KMTC is seeking five Senior Lecturers (Dentist), 200 Lecturer II (Nursing), 105 Lecturer II (Clinical Medicine), 20 Lecturer II (Orthopedic and Trauma Medicine), five Lecturer II (Emergency Medical Technology), 20 Lecturer II (Community Health), 20 Lecturer II (Health Records and Information Technology), five Lecturer II (Medical Laboratory Sciences), five Lecturer II (Public Health Sciences) and 12 Lecturer II (Medical Engineering).

The college has also advertised 15 positions for Lecturer II (Occupational Therapy), 15 Lecturer II (Nutrition), 20 Lecturer II (Radiography and Imaging), 15 Lecturer II (Physiotherapy), 10 Lecturer II (Community Oral Health) and five Lecturer II (Optometry).

Other health-related vacancies include 10 Librarian II positions, five Orthopedic Trauma Assistant III positions, two Orthopedic Technologist III positions, five Pharmaceutical Technologist III positions and four Physiotherapy Assistant III positions.

KMTC is also recruiting five Registered Clinical Officers III, 10 Registered Nurses III, five Medical Engineering Technologists III, five Medical Laboratory Technologists III, one Occupational Therapy Assistant III and five Assistant Radiographers III/II.

In management and professional services, the college has advertised two Assistant Director, Human Resource Management positions, one Senior Assistant Director, ICT position and one Principal Legal Officer position.

There are also 15 vacancies for Administrative Officer II, five Housekeeper II positions, 10 Assistant Housekeeper III positions, 10 Office Administrator II positions and 20 Assistant Office Administrator III positions.

The college is seeking to fill 20 Corporate Communication Assistant III positions and four Corporate Communication Officer II positions.

Other administrative vacancies include eight Human Resource Management Assistant III positions, three Information Communication Technology Officer II positions, three Maintenance Assistant III positions and two Maintenance Officer II positions.

In records, security, planning and procurement, KMTC has advertised 20 Records Management Assistant III positions, five Records Management Officer II positions, three Security Assistant III positions, two Planning Officer II positions and 10 Supply Chain Management Officer II positions.

Job requirements

Successful candidates will be required to meet the academic, professional and experience requirements specified for their respective positions.

Those selected for appointment will also be required to provide clearance certificates from the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) and Credit Reference Bureau (CRB).

They must also provide a valid Certificate of Good Conduct issued by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) before receiving their offer letters.

Shortlisted applicants will be required to present the originals of their National Identity Cards, academic and professional certificates, as well as academic transcripts during the interview process.

How to apply

Eligible candidates have been invited to submit their applications online through the KMTC recruitment portal.

The college said it will not accept hard-copy applications, meaning applicants must complete the recruitment process through the online portal.

Applicants are advised to review the requirements for their preferred position and ensure they provide all the required information and supporting documents before submitting their applications.

Applications must be submitted by Friday, October 30, 2026.

Also Read: Ndegwa family to spend Sh8.5 billion to regain full control of ICEA Lion

Ndegwa family to spend Sh8.5 billion to regain full control of ICEA Lion

Jane Muia
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0
Ndegwa family to spend Sh8.5 billion to regain full control of ICEA Lion

The family of former Central Bank of Kenya governor Philip Ndegwa is set to spend Sh8.5 billion to reclaim a 24.1 per cent stake in ICEA Lion Insurance Holdings, restoring its full ownership of one of East Africa’s major insurance groups.

First Chartered Securities, the Ndegwa family’s investment vehicle, has secured approval from the Competition Authority of Kenya to acquire the minority interest from Eastern Africa Holdings, an investment vehicle associated with LeapFrog Investments and US-based insurer Prudential Financial.

First Chartered already controls the remaining 75.9 per cent of ICEA Lion, meaning the transaction will give the family complete ownership of the insurance group.

ICEA Lion operates across the insurance and financial services sectors, offering life and general insurance, alongside asset and fund management services. Its operations extend to Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

The stake being acquired was held through LeapFrog Strategic Africa Investments, a $350 million fund established by LeapFrog and Prudential in 2016 to invest in African insurance businesses.

Prudential disclosed earlier this year that it intended to exit the investment, although neither it nor LeapFrog has publicly revealed the consideration for the latest transaction.

The buyback marks a reversal of a deal struck five years ago when the Ndegwa family sold the same 24.1 per cent interest to LeapFrog for Sh2.4 billion. The 2020 transaction placed the value of ICEA Lion at about Sh10 billion.

The proposed Sh8.5 billion acquisition now puts the implied value of the entire group at roughly Sh35 billion. This represents more than a threefold increase in the company’s valuation since LeapFrog acquired its stake.

James Ndegwa remains chairman of ICEA Lion, while his brother Andrew Ndegwa is also a board member.

The Ndegwa family’s involvement in the business dates back decades. Philip Ndegwa, who served as CBK governor, founded First Chartered Securities in 1974 alongside 20 other shareholders.

The investment firm has since expanded under the leadership of his sons James and Andrew into a diversified holding company with interests spanning banking, manufacturing, property, logistics and insurance.

The family has also actively restructured its business interests through acquisitions, mergers and disposals. ICEA Lion itself emerged from the combination of ICEA and Lion of Kenya Insurance.

The family is among the largest shareholders of NCBA, with its investment held mainly through First Chartered Securities.

Their banking interests date back to the former NIC Bank, where the family was a significant shareholder.

NIC later merged with Commercial Bank of Africa (CBA) in 2019 to create NCBA, bringing together two institutions in which the Ndegwa and Kenyatta families are major investors.

Also Read: Quickmart opens Sh15 billion IPO ahead of NSE listing

Farmers turn to poultry, goats as crop returns decline

Jane Muia
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0
Farmers turn to poultry, goats as crop returns decline

Farmers in Western Kenya are increasingly turning to poultry and goat farming as they seek to boost household incomes and cushion themselves against declining returns from traditional crops.

The shift was highlighted on Monday, October 5, 2026, during an exhibition organised by the Kenya Livestock Commercialisation Project (KELCOP) in Busia, where farmers were trained on ways to improve livestock production and increase earnings.

For decades, agriculture has been the main source of food and income for thousands of households in the region, with farmers largely depending on crops such as sugarcane, maize, cassava and cotton.

However, unreliable markets, fluctuating commodity prices, and changing weather patterns have made crop farming increasingly unpredictable, forcing some farmers to explore alternative income sources.

Improved chicken breeds and goats have emerged as some of the preferred options, with farmers saying the enterprises provide regular income while also improving household food security.

One farmer said poultry farming had become an important source of money for meeting everyday family expenses.

“I have started keeping chickens, and now I can get money and eggs. Even when a child is sent away from school because of fees, I can sell a chicken or eggs and buy a book,” the farmer said.

Besides generating income, the farmer said poultry had helped improve the family’s diet, as some of the eggs produced are consumed at home instead of being sold.

“Out of the eggs we produce, I keep some for my family to eat. It has helped my family get better nutrition,” the farmer said.

Officials involved in the programme said farmers who have embraced poultry and goat farming have recorded significant improvements in their earnings, with some reporting income increases of up to 500 per cent.

For some farmers, the livestock enterprises have grown from small household projects into businesses generating income from different products.

One farmer who began with a small flock of chickens has expanded the venture and now earns money from selling eggs, chicks and mature birds.

Another farmer said income from poultry had enabled him to finance other investments at home, including the drilling of a water source and installation of a solar-powered water pump.

The diversification into livestock is also creating opportunities for young people, who have traditionally been less involved in agriculture.

The programme is encouraging young farmers to adopt modern production methods, technology and value addition as a way of making agriculture more attractive and profitable.

“We have young farmers who had been left out of the agricultural space, but they have now come in and started implementing projects,” an official said.

Farmers in Busia and other counties across Western Kenya are receiving training and support from county governments through the KELCOP programme to improve livestock production, strengthen value chains and raise household incomes.

Also Read: A look at seven-day fodder alternative that could help farmers slash feed costs

Kenyan nurse Maureen Wanjiru Ngure deported by ICE from U.S

Patricia Akinyi
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Kenyan nurse Maureen Wanjiru Ngure deported by ICE from U.S
The United States of America’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has deported a Kenyan nurse Maureen Wanjiru Ngure.

Maureen was deported by ICE on September 22, about a month after she was arrested by ICE agents in San Francisco. According to a report that appeared on Newsweek, Maureen was arrested while attending an appointment at the ICE agency in San Francisco, California.

“[Maureen Wanjiru Ngure] chose to illegally overstay her welcome in violation of our nation’s laws… Claims that [she] was unjustly detained are false,” the Newsweek quoted a spokesperson from the Department of Homeland Security.

Maureen had entered the United States through New York in November 2006 using a student’s visa. After her arrested, the married mother of two was allegedly detained at a federal immigration centre in Louisiana.

A website that had been launched to raise funds on her behalf claimed that she had been offered a nursing job in British Columbia, Canada and was planning to move for work when she arrested.

There was also a claim that after her arrest, she was detained in various federal detention centres in California, Arizona, Louisiana, and New Jersey.

According to officials from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Maureen had been issued with a removal order by an immigration judge in February 2012. In March 2012, she was arrested in Seattle before she was later released about six months later in September 2012 pending immigration proceedings.

See More: ICE arrests Kenyan truck driver Eric Maloba after road accident in Tennessee, US

According to Maureen’s attorney Regine Dupuy, her husband and their two children flew to Kenya to join her shortly after the deportation.

“To be clear: a pending application does NOT confer legal status in the United States. Being in detention is a choice. We encourage all illegal aliens to take control of their departure with the CBP Home App. The United States is offering illegal aliens $3,000 and a free flight to self-deport now,” the DHS was quoted by Newsweek.

“We encourage every person here illegally to take advantage of this offer and reserve the chance to come back to the U.S. the right legal way to live the American dream. If not, you will be arrested and deported without a chance to return.”

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