Glossary

The words behind the headlines

21 economic, political and development terms explained in plain language, each linked to a full explainer.

AFCON

The Africa Cup of Nations, the main international men's football tournament organised by CAF. The 2027 edition is co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Read: AFCON 2027: is East Africa ready to host Africa's biggest football tournament?

Brent crude

The most widely used global benchmark price for oil, quoted in US dollars per barrel. When it rises, Kenya's fuel import costs usually follow. Read: Is this World War III? What is really happening, and what it means for Kenya

CAF

The Confederation of African Football, which runs AFCON and inspects host countries' stadiums, training grounds and hotels. Read: AFCON 2027: is East Africa ready to host Africa's biggest football tournament?

Central Bank Rate (CBR)

The policy interest rate set by the Central Bank of Kenya. Raising it tends to make loans more expensive and slow inflation; cutting it does the opposite. Read: Inflation hits 7.3%: what rising fuel and food prices mean for your pocket

Consumer Price Index (CPI)

A measure of how the prices of a fixed basket of goods and services that households buy change over time. KNBS publishes Kenya's CPI every month. Read: Inflation hits 7.3%: what rising fuel and food prices mean for your pocket

Diaspora

People living and working outside their home country. About 500,000 Kenyans live in the Middle East alone. Read: Kenyans in the Gulf: what the Middle East conflict means for workers and their families

EPRA

The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority, which sets the maximum prices for petrol, diesel and kerosene in Kenya each month. Read: Inflation hits 7.3%: what rising fuel and food prices mean for your pocket

Finance Bill

The annual bill that sets out the government's tax proposals to fund the budget. It becomes the Finance Act only after Parliament passes it and the President signs it. Read: The Finance Bill 'land rent' rumour: what happened, and how to check a bill yourself

GDP

Gross domestic product: the total value of goods and services a country produces in a period. It is the most common measure of the size of an economy.

IEBC

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, which registers voters and runs Kenya's elections, including the General Election on 10 August 2027. Read: Election 2027: the dates every Kenyan voter should know

Inflation

The rate at which average prices rise over time. If inflation is 7%, the same basket of goods costs about 7% more than a year earlier. Read: Inflation hits 7.3%: what rising fuel and food prices mean for your pocket

Landed cost

The full cost of imported fuel once it arrives in Kenya, including the product, shipping and insurance. EPRA uses it to set pump prices. Read: Inflation hits 7.3%: what rising fuel and food prices mean for your pocket

Means testing

Assessing a household's income and circumstances to decide how much it should pay. SHA uses it to set contributions for people outside formal employment. Read: SHA explained: what replaced NHIF, what you pay, and why only some members pay

Mobile money

Storing, sending and receiving money through a mobile phone account. Kenya had about 51.4 million mobile-money subscriptions at the end of 2025. Read: Kenya online in 2026: 23.4 million connected, and most of the country still to come

NATO Article 5

The clause of the NATO treaty in which members agree that an armed attack on one of them is an attack on all. Read: Is this World War III? What is really happening, and what it means for Kenya

NSSF

The National Social Security Fund, Kenya's state pension scheme, which collects contributions from workers and employers and invests them. Read: NSSF Twin Towers: inside the plan for East Africa's tallest building

Public-private partnership (PPP)

An arrangement in which a private company finances, builds or runs public infrastructure, often recovering its money through tolls or fees. Read: The 60 km Nairobi–Thika Expressway: what we know, and what we don't

RPM

Revenue per mille: what a creator earns for every 1,000 views. African audiences currently earn creators far less per view than audiences in the US. Read: Kenya's online ad market is set to nearly double. Why creators still earn less per view

SHA and SHIF

The Social Health Authority replaced the NHIF. Its main fund, the Social Health Insurance Fund, aims to cover every Kenyan. Read: SHA explained: what replaced NHIF, what you pay, and why only some members pay

Strait of Hormuz

The narrow sea passage between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula through which a large share of the world's seaborne oil is shipped. Read: Is this World War III? What is really happening, and what it means for Kenya

Toll road

A road where drivers pay a fee to use it, such as the Nairobi Expressway. Read: The 60 km Nairobi–Thika Expressway: what we know, and what we don't

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