Friday: SHA care continues, shilling pressure returns and Bolt cuts ride costs

SHA announced on October 15 that contracts due to expire on October 14 will remain valid through December 31, with the new contracting cycle starting on January 1, 2027. This reverses the earlier position that there would be no further extension after providers reported problems completing the online process. Valid claims submitted during the extension will be honoured. The practical point is that an unfinished HAKIKA application should not by itself interrupt care at a currently contracted facility, though patients should still confirm a hospital's SHA status before planned treatment. Facilities must now submit the full required documentation because the earlier moratorium on selected documents has ended.

A Reuters survey published on October 15 found rising dollar demand from oil marketers and general importers, partly offset by foreign-currency inflows from charities. The shilling had been stable over the previous week. A weaker currency would increase the local cost of fuel imports, electronics, medicines and services billed in dollars, adding to the pressure from this week's pump-price increase. This is a market forecast, not a confirmed fall, so the useful signal is the actual rate quoted by banks, cards and money-transfer services over the next several days.

The new Kenya subscription includes cashback credited to Bolt Balance, free delivery on eligible food and retail orders, priority driver matching and three free ride cancellations each month. At the maximum 10% cashback rate, Sh2,800 of eligible monthly rides offsets the regular subscription fee before counting delivery savings. The break-even point is higher if your cashback rate is lower. Occasional users should compare the offer with their last month's spending, and remember that ride cashback stays inside Bolt rather than returning to cash or M-Pesa.

Volvo says it will combine its own safety systems with Nvidia's Hyperion computing and sensor platform, then roll out features gradually before 2030 across several regions outside China. The company says the technology will not be limited to its most expensive models, but it has not named vehicles or pricing. This remains supervised driver assistance, not permission to stop paying attention. For future car buyers, the deal is another sign that software updates, regional feature availability and possible subscriptions will matter alongside conventional specifications.