veri blog

ACCRA, Ghana – January 16, 2026: West African economies are rapidly advancing their digital financial infrastructure as a cornerstone for broader economic inclusion and modernization. Across the region, especially in Ghana and Nigeria, authorities are enacting forward-looking policies and partnerships to digitize banking services, strengthen payment systems, and extend financial access to underserved populations. These moves – backed by new regulations, collaborations with t

Kenya has just placed a big bet on keeping the lights on – without blowing up its public balance sheet. On Monday, the finance ministry signed a $311 million agreement with Africa50 , the Morocco-based pan-African infrastructure fund, and PowerGrid Corporation of India to design, finance, build and operate two new high-voltage electricity transmission lines and associated substations. The deal will be structured as a public-private partnership (PPP) . A project company led

Kenya is cashing in its crown jewel. In the biggest privatisation move in nearly 20 years, the government has agreed to sell a 15% stake in Safaricom – East Africa’s most valuable company – to Vodacom/Vodafone for roughly $1.6 billion , cutting the state’s holding from 35% to 20% and handing majority control to the South African group. The deal is priced at KES 34 per share , a hefty premium to recent market levels, and includes an upfront payment of about KES 40.2 billion

Kenya is rewriting its debt story in real time. In the space of a few weeks, Nairobi has: Agreed a $1 billion debt-for-food security swap with the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC); and Launched a $1.5 billion Chinese-backed highway expansion , with Kenya’s own National Social Security Fund (NSSF) taking equity risk in a 28-year toll concession.() Two very different deals. One goal: create breathing room on the public balance sheet while still funding

For decades, African finance ministers flew to Washington, London or Beijing when they needed capital. Today, a quiet reversal is underway. According to new data from state-owned investor tracker GlobalSWF, African public institutions now manage close to $1 trillion in assets  – a historic high. That pool sits not in foreign aid budgets, but in: Public pension funds Central bank reserve portfolios Sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) Public development banks and social security inst

When President William Ruto’s government announced a new $1.5 billion highway expansion last week, it was the flags that told the story: Chinese and Kenyan colours flying side by side as officials unveiled plans to rebuild the country’s most important transport corridor. The project will upgrade sections of the road linking Mombasa, Nairobi and western Kenya , a route that carries much of the region’s trade to and from the Indian Ocean. It is also China’s biggest new infrast