PesaCalc Insights
Money wisdom
built for Kenya
Practical guides on budgeting, investing, side hustles, debt and building lasting wealth, no jargon, no fluff.
43
Articles
12
Topics
Free
Always
Featured
Investing
Mansa X Returns H1 2026: 10.97% Net in Six Months, Explained
Mansa X returned 10.97% net in the first half of 2026 (Q1 4.74%, Q2 5.95%), with the USD fund at 6.54% and combined assets past USD 1 billion. What the numbers mean, how they compare to MMFs and T-Bills, and what KES 1M actually became.
Read Article
Saving
How to Save Your First KES 1 Million in Kenya (2026 Plan)
Your first million is the hardest. With a money market fund paying around 11% in 2026, saving KES 20,000 a month gets you there in under three and a half years. Here is the exact plan.
Motoring
Importing a Car vs Buying Local in Kenya (2026): Which Actually Saves You More?
Import taxes can add 50% or more to a car's value, but local dealer prices carry their own markup. We break down the real 2026 cost of importing versus buying from a Kenyan yard.
Loans
Jun 27, 2026
How to Pay Off Your HELB Loan Faster in Kenya (2026)
HELB charges just 4% a year but punishes late starters with a KES 5,000 monthly penalty. Here is how to clear your student loan faster, dodge the penalties, and grab the 80% waiver while it lasts.
Investing
Jun 23, 2026
Compound Interest vs a Big Salary: Who Wins the Wealth Race?
Brian starts with KES 5 million. Achieng starts with 50,000 but earns 350,000 and saves hard. Ten years on, who is richer? The answer reveals the one number that really builds wealth in Kenya.
Business
Jun 22, 2026
Business Investment Accounts in Kenya 2026: Where Smart Companies Park Idle Cash
Leaving company float in a current account costs real money, KES 5M idle for a year forgoes over KES 400,000 of net interest in 2026. Corporate MMF accounts, call deposits, fixed deposits and T-Bills compared for Kenyan businesses.
Salary & Tax
Jun 20, 2026
How to Calculate Your Net Salary in Kenya (2026): PAYE, SHIF, NSSF & Housing Levy
From gross to take-home in 2026: the exact PAYE bands, the 2.75% SHIF rate, NSSF up to KES 6,480 and the 1.5% Housing Levy, worked through on a real KES 100,000 salary.
Finance
Jun 20, 2026
Kenya's Inflation Just Hit 6.7% - What May 2026's Number Means for Your Money
Inflation accelerated to 6.7% in May 2026, the highest since January 2024, driven by transport (+16.5%) and food (+9.4%). Here is what it does to your savings, salary and loans, and the net yields that still beat it.
Banking
Jun 18, 2026
Fixed Deposit Rates in Kenya 2026: Which Bank Actually Pays the Most?
Kenyan fixed deposit rates span an enormous 3% to 11% in 2026. The difference between walking into a branch and negotiating, or just using a digital product, is worth tens of thousands of shillings. Here is the honest map.
Investing
Jun 16, 2026
Britam Money Market Fund in 2026: Yield, Minimums, and How It Compares
The Britam MMF is one of Kenya's most popular funds, KES 1,000 entry, an established insurer behind it, and a current yield around 9.7% gross. Here is what you actually earn after tax, and how it stacks up against Cytonn, Etica and CIC.
Investing
Jun 14, 2026
Best Money Market Funds in Kenya (June 2026): All Yields Ranked
Cytonn, Nabo and Etica top the June 2026 MMF yield table at over 11% gross, while the big-brand funds pay 8.4-9.7%. Here is every major fund ranked, what you actually keep after 15% tax, and how to choose.
Investing
Jun 13, 2026
Money Market Fund vs Fixed Deposit vs T-Bill: Where Should Kenyans Save in 2026?
Top Kenyan money market funds returned 11-13% in early 2026, T-bills track the 9% CBR, and fixed deposits sit in between. We compare liquidity, returns, tax and risk so you park your cash in the right place.
Property
Jun 6, 2026
How Much House Can You Afford in Kenya? A 2026 Salary Guide
Mortgage rates in Kenya average 10-13% in 2026 and lenders cap your repayment at about a third of your net pay. Here is exactly how to work out the house price your salary can carry.
Loans
Jun 5, 2026
Mobile Loans in Kenya Compared 2026: M-Shwari vs KCB M-Pesa vs Fuliza vs Tala
The same KES 5,000 mobile loan can cost you KES 375 or KES 1,500 depending on the app. We compare M-Shwari, KCB M-Pesa, Fuliza, Tala, Branch and the Hustler Fund, real 2026 fees, terms and the traps to avoid.
Finance
Jun 5, 2026
Petrol vs Diesel vs Electric Cars in Kenya: True Cost of Driving (2026)
With petrol above KES 214 and diesel above KES 232 a litre in 2026, the cost of driving in Kenya has changed, and diesel is now pricier than petrol. We compare petrol, diesel and electric on real cost per kilometre and total ownership.
Property
Jun 5, 2026
Renting vs Buying a House in Kenya: The Real Math (2026)
Should you rent or buy a house in Kenya in 2026? With mortgages near 13% and money market funds paying ~10%, the answer hinges on two numbers and how long you stay. Here is the honest math, no agent spin.
Loans
Jun 5, 2026
SACCO Loan vs Bank Loan in Kenya: Which Is Actually Cheaper? (2026)
SACCO loans charge about 1% a month on reducing balance; banks charge 14-18% a year. We compare the real cost of borrowing KES 1,000,000 in Kenya, fees, speed, eligibility, so you know which to choose.
Investing
Jun 4, 2026
Kenya Money Market & Bond Returns in 2026: Where the Yields Landed
The rate-cut cycle has trimmed Kenyan savings returns. Here are the real 2026 numbers, money market funds (~9% average, top funds 12-13%), Treasury bills under 8%, bonds near 12%, and how to choose, after tax.
Finance
Jun 2, 2026
How SHIF, NSSF & the Housing Levy Changed Your Take-Home Pay in 2026
Your 2026 payslip has four statutory deductions, PAYE, SHIF (2.75%), NSSF up to KES 6,480, and the 1.5% Housing Levy. Here is exactly what comes out, why net pay dropped in February 2026, and how to calculate your real take-home.
Finance
Mar 16, 2026
Kenya Car Import Duty Calculator (2025–2026) – Exact KRA Tax Formula
How much will KRA charge to import your car? Get an instant, accurate breakdown of Import Duty, Excise, VAT, IDF and Railway Levy using current CRSP data and Finance Act rates.
Business
Jan 30, 2026
How to Register a Company Online in Kenya: The 2026 eCitizen Guide
The complete step-by-step guide to registering a limited company in Kenya via eCitizen, including what documents you need, what it costs, and the common mistakes that delay approval.
Investing
Jan 28, 2026
The Truth About Lock-In Periods: How Kenyan Private Funds Really Work
Discover how Kenyan private funds handle lock-in periods. Learn the difference between standard lock-ins and auto-locks, and why most funds avoid automatic rollovers.
Marketing
Jan 25, 2026
Digital Marketing for Kenyan Businesses: What Actually Works in 2026
A no-nonsense guide to digital marketing for Kenyan SMEs, which channels work, what budgets are realistic, and the mistakes that burn marketing money without results.
Investing
Jan 16, 2026
Mansa X vs Oak Special Fund 2026: Returns, Fees, Verdict
Mansa X (18.18% net p.a. since 2019) vs Oak Special Fund: real fact-sheet returns, fees, minimums and risk compared, plus a clear verdict on which fits you.
Investing
Jan 15, 2026
Mansa X vs Oak Special Fund: What KES 1,000,000 Actually Produced (Official Data)
Official fact sheet figures: KES 1M in Mansa X since 2019 = KES 3,431,672. KES 1M in Oak since inception = KES 1,511,398. Here is the full breakdown.
Finance
Jan 8, 2026
SME Loans in Kenya 2026: Every Financing Option Compared
Bank loans, SACCOs, mobile credit, DFIs, and government funds, a complete guide to SME financing in Kenya with eligibility, rates, and what lenders actually want to see.
Business
Dec 15, 2025
Profitable Side Hustles in Kenya 2026 - What Actually Works
Cutting through the noise: side hustles that Kenyans are actually running profitably in 2026, with real startup costs and honest earning potential.
Business
Nov 20, 2025
Profitable Business Ideas in Kenya That Actually Work (2026 Edition)
Ten business categories that Kenyan entrepreneurs are building into KES 100K–500K/month revenues in 2026, with startup costs, margins, and the key success factors for each.
Business
Oct 5, 2025
How to Start a Business in Kenya in 2026: The Complete Step-by-Step Guide
From idea validation to eCitizen registration, KRA PIN, and first sale, the complete process for launching a legal, fundable business in Kenya in 2026.
General
Apr 8, 2025
10 Money Lies Kenyans Believe - And How They Keep You Broke
From 'I'll save when I earn more' to 'loans are evil', these deeply held beliefs silently destroy Kenyan financial futures. Which ones do you hold?
General
Mar 15, 2025
Why Your Salary Is Not Making You Rich - The Honest Truth
A higher salary is not the solution most Kenyan professionals think it is. Here is what actually determines whether income builds wealth.
Investing
Mar 1, 2025
Why Some Kenyan Income Funds Are Paying Less - And What to Do About It
Your income fund yield dropped and you are not sure why. Here is what is driving the divergence between funds, and how to respond.
Saving
Feb 20, 2025
How I Saved KES 100K in 6 Months on a Minimum Wage in Nairobi
A real account of saving KES 100,000 in 6 months while earning KES 15,600. The specific decisions, the sacrifices, and what made it possible.
Investing
Feb 14, 2025
The Truth About Income Funds in Kenya (2025 Edition)
Income funds promise stable, predictable returns. But not all perform equally, and the fine print matters enormously. Here is what you need to know before investing.
Finance
Jan 10, 2025
How I Cleared KES 310K in Debt in Kenya Without Earning More
KES 310,000 in combined mobile loans, SACCO debt, and credit card balances. Here is the exact sequence used to clear it in 18 months.
Finance
Dec 5, 2024
How to Get Out of Debt in Kenya: The Complete Guide
A practical, step-by-step guide for Kenyans navigating mobile loans, SACCO debt, bank loans, and family borrowing. No fluff, just the system.
General
Jul 21, 2024
Salary Negotiation in Kenya: How to Ask for a Raise and Actually Get It
83% of Kenyan employees never negotiate salary. The ones who do earn 10–25% more. Here are the exact scripts that work in Kenyan companies.
Business
Jul 20, 2024
Top 7 Profitable Side Hustles in Kenya (2024) - Earn KES 10K–50K Extra Per Month
Seven side hustles that Kenyans are actively using to supplement income, with realistic earnings, startup costs, and what it actually takes to succeed at each.
Saving
Jul 19, 2024
How Much Emergency Fund Do You Actually Need in Kenya?
The generic '3–6 months expenses' rule was not written for Kenyan realities. Here is the formula that actually works for your situation.
Budgeting
Jul 18, 2024
Black Tax in Kenya: How to Support Your Family Without Going Broke
Black tax is real, the obligation is genuine, but going broke helping others helps no one. Here is the system that lets you support family and still build wealth.
Investing
Jul 17, 2024
M-Pesa vs SACCO vs Stocks: Where to Invest KES 5,000 in Kenya
A data-backed comparison of Kenya's three most popular investment options, and which one actually wins over 5 years.
Budgeting
Jul 16, 2024
The Silent Wealth Killers: 7 Expenses Draining Your Salary in Kenya
You cancelled Netflix. You stopped eating out. But you are still broke every month. These seven costs are why, and how to fix each one.
Saving
Jul 15, 2024
How to Save 50% of Your Salary in Kenya (Even on KES 30K)
Most Kenyans think saving half their salary is impossible. Here is the proven system that works, no side hustle required.
No articles match your search.