Esther Dianah

Nairobi

Journalist and Reporter at The Standard (Kenya)

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Articles

Central and Rift farmers pocket Sh1.9b from milk sales

1 week ago | standardmedia.co.ke | Esther Dianah

Brookside Dairy Milk Procurement General Manager Emmanuel Kabaki (left) at a past event. [Courtesy]Earnings by dairy farmers in Central and South Rift from raw milk sold to processor Brookside climbed to Sh1.9 billion last year. The payout represents a 29 per cent growth over earnings in 2023, with Brookside attributing the rise to favourable weather and the adoption of better farm practices by smallholder farmers in the two regions.
Labour pains as Atwoli ages and workers' wages remain stagnant

2 weeks ago | standardmedia.co.ke | Esther Dianah

COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli at Solidarity Building, Nairobi on April 26, 2025. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]At 75, Francis Atwoli, the long-serving Secretary General of the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu), faces mounting scrutiny over his tenure. Despite his age, Atwoli’s supporters argue he remains vibrant and essential to Kenya’s labour movement.
Atwoli to seek re-election next year, COTU board says

2 weeks ago | standardmedia.co.ke | Esther Dianah

Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU-K) Secretary General Francis Atwoli at Solidarity Building, Nairobi on April 26, 2025. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]The executive Board members of the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU-K) have said that Francis Atwoli will defend his seat as the secretary general of the umbrella workers' body. Speaking in Nairobi on Tuesday, the board dismissed the claims that Atwoli will be retiring soon.
Francis Awoli vows to stay put in Cotu

2 weeks ago | standardmedia.co.ke | Esther Dianah

Central Organisation of Trade Unions Secretary General Francis Atwoli during Labour Day service at St Stephen's ACK Church Jogoo Road, Nairobi, on April 27, 2025. [Benard Orwongo, Standard]Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) Secretary General Francis Atwoli has declared interest in defending his position in the union elections next year. The Cotu leadership vowed to re-elect Atwoli come the 2026 elections.
How second hand clothing imports are costing Kenya's exchequer billions

3 weeks ago | standardmedia.co.ke | Esther Dianah

Recent studies have shown that Kenya is now Africa’s largest importer of second hand clothes. This could also suggest that the government has lost significant revenues due to misinvoicing. Latest Data by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) shows that Kenya imported used clothes and textiles valued Sh38.5 billion (298 million usd in 2023) overtaking Nigeria. In the same period, Kenya had one of the largest trade deficits in second hand trade.
Minty business: Local farmer mints cash from fragrant crop

3 weeks ago | standardmedia.co.ke | Esther Dianah

For years, Joseph Kang’ethe toiled on his quarter-acre farm in Kiambu, growing vegetables with little to show for his effort. But everything changed in 2015 when he made a bold decision — to switch exclusively to mint farming. Today, his once-struggling farm thrives with fragrant rows of mint, a transformation fuelled by his willingness to embrace a more profitable, low-maintenance crop.
Absa Bank's home loan financing to tackle home affordability and access

4 weeks ago | standardmedia.co.ke | Esther Dianah

Absa Bank Kenya has unveiled an enhanced home loan solution, offering 110 per cent financing to help Kenyans climb the property ladder. The new facility is available at competitive interest rates, with a repayment period of up to 25 years. The financing is available for both direct purchase and remortgaging. It is open to salaried individuals, small and medium enterprises (SME) owners, and Kenyans in the diaspora.
CBK to lift 10-year ban on licensing new banks in July 2025

4 weeks ago | standardmedia.co.ke | Esther Dianah

The Central Bank of Kenya has said it will lift the moratorium on licensing of new commercial banks on July 1, 2025, which may see more lenders enter the market. The moratorium, which has been in place from November 17, 2015, was imposed against a backdrop of governance, risk management, and operational challenges in the banking sector.
Prudential Assurance to recruit and train over 5,000 agents

4 weeks ago | standardmedia.co.ke | Esther Dianah

In a bid to address youth unemployment in the country, Prudential Assurance has announced plans to recruit and train more than 5,000 sales agents across Kenya over the next five years. Besides boosting its agent network from the current 1,000 to 5,000, the firm said, this will create more jobs for Kenyan youths.
Import of used clothes holding back textile industry - CS

4 weeks ago | standardmedia.co.ke | Esther Dianah

Kenya cannot have a thriving textile Industry and at the same time remain a favourite export destination for second hand clothes, Trade Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui. According to the CS, there is need for political good will to revive Kenya’s textile industry. He said the global trade realignment caused by Trump’s new tariffs on countries around the world is an opportunity for Kenya to look inwards to promote local manufacturing and enhance value addition.