Jaza Supermarket has made history after becoming the first retail chain in Kenya to open six outlets within a single day, setting a new benchmark in the country’s fast-evolving supermarket industry.

The discount-focused retailer executed the rapid expansion on Thursday, April 23, 2026. The rollout pushes Jaza’s total number of branches to over 25, further strengthening its growing footprint in key residential and commercial areas.

The newly opened outlets are located at Evergreen Square along Kiambu Road, Thindigua Center, Madaraka Shopping Centre, Utawala Shooters, Bahati Heshima Avenue, and Manyanja Road.

Speaking during the launch, Jaza Supermarket Founder and Director Willy Kimani said the aggressive expansion is a strategic response to the rising demand for affordable household goods across urban and peri-urban markets.

Jaza, Kenya’s youngest and fastest-growing retail chain, is known for its low-price model and focus on locally-made products.

Under this approach, the retailer offers products from various brands, one of which is from its own line.

To keep prices competitive, Jaza packages essentials such as sugar, soaps, detergents and tissue paper under its own brand, enabling it to pass on cost savings to shoppers.

Additionally, unlike the normal retail space where suppliers get paid after sales are made, Jaza suppliers are reportedly paid in advance with 100 percent local sourcing.

Since its launch in November 2023, the supermarket chain has experienced rapid growth in various parts of Nairobi and Kiambu counties.

Among the areas the retailer has opened outlets are Buruburu, Kayole Mihango, Githurai 44, Kayole Soweto, Pipeline estate, Utawala, Lang’ata, and Mirema, among others

The record-breaking expansion reflects the chain’s ambition to position itself as a leading player in the value retail segment, as consumers increasingly seek supermarkets that offer convenience and cost-effective shopping options.

Jaza’s latest growth milestone comes amid heightened competition in the retail sector, where supermarket chains are racing to expand their presence while meeting shifting consumer needs.

With the new branches now operational, the supermarket expects to boost accessibility for shoppers while increasing employment opportunities within the communities hosting the outlets.

The retailer has so far employed over 100 people, including at its headquarters and warehouse on Mombasa Road.

Also Read: KRA goes after mobile money paybills and till numbers

The Kenya Revenue Authority has announced that it is launching a crackdown on traders who have been changing their paybills and till numbers to avoid paying taxes. This has been announced by the Acting Commissioner-General Lilian Nyawanda.

According to Ms Nyawanda, the taxman has noticed a pattern in which traders in the micro small and medium enterprises categories have been switching to different paybills and till numbers. This has been enabling them to avoid leaving a trail of financial transactions for KRA to track.

“It is very easy to see the transactions. If you are a trader, there is what you purchase and there is what you sell. Your transactions will somehow be captured somewhere. Even if you change paybills and till numbers, somehow they will be captured because you will be trading with someone,” she said.

The authority will be relying on electronic tax invoices popularly known as eTIMS. With these receipts, businesses supplied with goods and services are required to declare payments made to their suppliers using paybills and tills.

READ MORE: KRA drops taxpayers from the infamous ‘Special Table’

According to Ms Nyawanda, the KRA has been using its systems to match transactions across counterparties [the sender and the receiver]. This has in turn been creating dual records that the taxman has been using to track parties who fail to declare their income despite appearing in the records of either sender or receiver.

“A transaction is not completed by one party. It has two parties. One party may file and another may not. So there is a way we can track from our system,” she said.

She added that the revenue authority has already started sending targeted messages to traders who have been flagged. The messages state that their transactions have been detected and that they are required to regularize their tax statuses.

KRA has been requiring traders with annual turnover of over Sh5 million to issue eTIMS invoices. Where goods are acquired from a small trader who has an annual turnover of less than Sh5 million, KRA requires the buyer to generate a buyer-initiated invoice. This is done through KRA’s eCitizen platform.

The taxman is using this two way traffic between buyer and seller to ensure that the transaction is captured on either both on one end with details of both the seller and the buyer for taxa purposes.

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More Kenyans who have been fighting for Russia have been killed in Ukraine. Ukraine’s military intelligence agency which is known as the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine has identified a number of those who have been killed.

They include Eric Mwangi Nyambura who was 23 years old. Others are Joseph Kamau Wanjiru, Joel Ngure Karithi, and Ronald Kipkuri Kibet.

According to intelligence reports, these young men are said to have traveled to Russia with Mwangi in October 2025. They signed contracts in Russia and were taken through brief military training before the were sent to the frontlines.

Ukraine’s intelligence says that Mwangi Nyambura was initially designated as a radio operator. He was later on moved to an assault unit where he was killed while fighting for Russia.

These Kenyans were identified through a line dubbed ‘I want to Leave’ that is being operated by Ukraine. The line targets foreign recruits fighting for Russia who want to surrender and return home.

More Kenyans killed in Ukraine

Earlier this year, Ukraine, which was unjustly invaded by Russia in 2022, recovered the bodies of Kenyan men in the Donetsk region. Among them were bodies of 39-year-old Ombwori Denis Bagaka and 35-year-old Wahome Simon Gititu. At the time, reports released by the Ukraine military’s Defense Intelligence of Ukraine unit said that these Kenyans had been working for security companies in Qatar from where they were lured into joining the Russia army in its aggression against Ukraine.

For Russia, the young Kenyan men they are recruiting, and many others from different African countries, are disposable. Their vulnerability amd desperation to make money openly evident, the Russians send them to war as their frontline.

These Kenyans are the first to receive fire when things get thick. They act as a protective vest for the Russian forces.

In one video that was recently circulated online, Russian forces were seen recording Kenyan men in the warzones and mocking them in Russian languages, labeling them as fools who would die in the war.

In one video that was shared by Ukraine intelligence, a Russia soldier was captured on video bragging how Russia had so many disposable recruits from Africa.

“Behind their backs, he comments in Russian that they are essentially disposable cannon fodder,” Ukraine’s intelligence interpreted the message.

The Russian soldier went on to say:

“Look how many disposables are here. They’re even singing. So cheerful. No problem – once they’re sent to the assault, they’ll sing a different tune.”

According to a report by the the National Intelligence Service (NIS), Kenyan men who were recruited to go fight for Russia started off by leaving the country on tourist visas. They would travel via Istanbul, Turkey, and via the United Arab Emirates.

The reports states that the government started rejecting travels to Russia via the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), these recruits started using alternative routes that include travel to Russia via Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and South Africa.

READ MORE: Blood money Russia is using to lure Kenyan men into war with Ukraine

The recruits are being hired through recruitment agencies that are based in Kenya. The report states that these recruitment agencies have also been colluding with staff at the JKIA, immigration officials, rogue officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, Anti-Narcotics and National Employment Authority officers in order for the recruits to be allowed safe passage via the JKIA.

There’s also the allure of monetary rewards by Russia. It is claimed that men who are recruited into the Russian army as mercenaries are paid an initial payment of approximately Sh4.4 million within the first three weeks after signing the contract. They are then paid a monthly compensation of Sh540,000.

In the event a recruit suffers injury in the war, he is paid Sh5 million while compensation for those killed in Ukraine has been set at Sh24 million.

A related report by the NIS that was presented to parliament placed the monthly salaries that are promised to these recruits at Sh350,000 with bonuses of Sh900,000. It is however not clear if the recruits ever receive these monies.

Kerry, the global leader in taste and nutrition, has unveiled the Kenya 2026 Taste Charts, highlighting a clear shift in Kenyans’ consumer preferences towards more complex, tart, and ‘culinary-inspired’ profiles such as Mango Chilli, Garlic and Butter, and Red Grape.

The 2026 Taste Charts are powered by an extensive multidisciplinary team of over 1,200 scientists, 100 flavourists, 70 food-craft experts, and 250+ marketing and insights voices.

Regis Manyange, Commercial Director, East Africa, Kerry Group, said: “The findings reflect a fundamental shift in how Kenyans approach food and drink today, with consumers actively seeking contrast, comfort, and deeper meaning in flavour. By combining global sensory science with local cultural insight, the company has identified that the Kenyan market is increasingly prioritising layered experiences.”

This year, the research expanded its scope from five to seven categories, including Soups, Sauces & Dressings, Refreshing Beverages, Alcohol & Alcohol-Inspired Beverages, Tea, Coffee & Cocoa, Sweets, Savoury Snacks and Meats & Meals, to provide the most comprehensive view of the evolving food landscape. This data-driven approach is critical when adventurous profiles like Dragon Fruit are seeing a 17% Growth Rate (CAGR) in new product launches globally.

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“The insights indicate a widening gap between what is available on retail shelves and the rapidly evolving culinary preferences of Kenyan consumers. The 2026 Taste Charts give manufacturers a strategic edge in responding to new demand and creating products that resonate with consumers,” said Regis.

In beverages, familiar flavours such as Orange, Pineapple, Lemon, and Mango remain popular, but Kenyans are increasingly drawn to more complex fruit and floral notes. Red Grape, Green Grape, watermelon, Hibiscus, and Melon are gaining traction, reflecting a growing appetite for variety and sophistication.

Kenyans are exploring new flavour territories while staying connected to familiar favourites in alcohol and alcohol inspired beverages. The classic ‘Dawa’ flavour (typically made of vodka, honey, fresh lime juice, and sugar syrup) remains strong, while “swicy” profiles that combine sweet and spicy elements are rising quickly. Mango Chilli and Marula are gaining momentum, alongside cocktail-inspired notes such as Mojito. Established flavours, including Cranberry, Peach, and Strawberry, continue to provide familiarity and balance.

In the savoury snacks, the Kenyan market is shifting from basic heat to richer culinary experiences. While Salt, Chilli, and Peri Peri Chilli remain key volume drivers, Garlic and Butter and Garlic and Herb are the fastest growing profiles. This appetite for complexity is also visible in sweet treats, where global flavours such as Durian and Plum are gaining traction.

Strawberry, Vanilla, and Coconut remain staples in the desserts and confectionery segment, while Apple Cinnamon, Fig, and Shortcake are growing quickly. The rise of Durian and Plum highlights increasing openness to experimentation and more nuanced, fruit-forward indulgence.

With these trends mapped, the Kenya 2026 Taste Charts provide a clear roadmap for innovation, supported by tools such as KerryNow™ to help food & beverage manufacturers move quickly from concept to market.