Author: Martin Mwita

• Growth attributed to increase in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), which increased by 11.6 per cent from $8.2 billion at the end of 2020, to $9.2 billion.
• The stock of Other Investment (OI) liabilities increased from $4.9 billion in 2020 to $6.2 billion in 2022. Similarly, Portfolio Investment (PI) rose from $253.4 million to $266.4 million in 2022.
• The OI liabilities accounted for 39.2 per cent of total foreign liabilities in 2022, and were mainly in the form of loans, and currency and deposits.

Kenya’s foreign liabilities

Europe and Africa account for the biggest share of Kenya’s foreign liabilities mainly Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs), an official government report shows, as the country continues to retain its East Africa’s economic power status.

This comes on the back of an increase in the stock of Kenya’s foreign liabilities, which went up by 17.9 per cent from $13.4 billion at the end …

• In the first three months of this year, Asia remained the leading source of Kenya’s imports accounting for goods worth $3.4 billion, as the country’s import bill closed the quarter at $5.4 billion.
• Kenyan traders and government imported goods worth $990.2 million from China, data by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) shows, making it the biggest import source by country.
• Unlike his predecessors, President Ruto is seen to lean more towards the West as he seeks financing and trade cooperation.

Kenya’s imports from Asian countries including China

China and India remained the top exporters to Kenya in the first quarter of this year, leading other Far East nations in retaining a firm grip on the East African economic powerhouse’s trade and investment space, which they have dominated for over a decade.

This trend continues despite President William Ruto’s heightened charm offensive to economies from the West, which is …

• Business confidence slips to lowest since February
• Input prices rise mildly after back-to-back declines
• Steepest drops in activity and new work for seven months

Kenya’s business activity dips amid tax revolt

Kenya’s business activities fell sharply in June amid reports of widespread economic challenges and a negative impact on sales from protests and policy uncertainty, the Standard Bank’s Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for June indicates. New business intakes dropped at the fastest rate since November last year, leading to a drop in business confidence and weaker job creation.

Although Kenyan firms also saw a renewed increase in their input costs in June, the rate of inflation was mild and had little impact on selling charges.

The survey by Stanbic Bank Kenya, compiled by S&P Global was conducted between June12 and June 26, with headline figure derived from the survey reading at 47.2 in June. Readings above 50.0 signal an improvement …

• • The transaction marks the successful outcome of BII and I&M’s equity partnership for over 7 years as AfricInvest takes over.
  • The institution said that the sale to a like-minded investor is one of the most significant transactions in East Africa in recent years and represents a vote of confidence in the region’s financial services sector.
  • It is listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange, and the Rwandan subsidiary I&M Bank Rwanda PLC is listed on the Rwanda Stock Exchange.

  British International Investment (‘BII’)

• British International Investment (‘BII’), the UK’s development finance institution and impact investor, has sold its 10.1 per cent stake in I&M Group PLC, the Eastern African banking group, to AfricInvest, a leading Pan-African Asset Management platform.

  The acquisition was made through East Africa Growth Holding, a special-purpose vehicle owned by AfricInvest.

• I&M Group PLC is a leading banking group in Eastern Africa with a presence in Kenya,

• • (CBK) retained its base lending rate at a high of 13 per cent for the second time.
  • This is the highest rate in 12 years, as the apex bank continues implementing monetary policies to manage stubborn inflation.
  • According to CBK data, the country’s borrowers had defaulted on about $4.8 billion as of April, the highest in 18 years, due to the tough credit market.

  Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) retains high interest rates

  Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) retained its base lending rate at a high of 13 per cent for the second time driving the borrowing costs in Kenya to remain high for at least the next two months.This is the highest rate in 12 years, as the apex bank continues to implement monetary policies intended to manage the stubborn inflation, which slightly increased to 5.1 per cent last month from five per cent in April.

• The base-lending

• • Output rises at the sharpest rate in 20 months.
  • New order volumes strengthen.
  • Input costs fall for the second month in a row.

  Kenya recorded an improvement in private sector business conditions during May, as falling cost burdens and rising new business contributed to a solid expansion in activity.

  The Latest Stanbic Bank Kenya Purchasing Managers’ Index indicates that activity’s upturn was the sharpest in 20 months, as was input buying growth.

  Job creation continued at a mild pace even as reductions in fuel prices and import costs led to a further drop in overall input prices in May, after the first decrease in nearly four years during April.

  Selling prices started to rise again, albeit slowly. The Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI). Readings above 50.0 signal improved business conditions in the previous month, while readings below 50.0 show a deterioration.

  The latest headline PMI reading of 51.8 marked the index’s

• • Energy industry experts and policymakers are meeting in Nairobi for the International Energy Agency 9th Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency, the first time the conference is being hosted in Africa.
  • European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson and Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary of Energy and Petroleum Davis Chirchir launched the Green Resilient Electricity System Program for Kenya.
  • The Green Resilient Electricity System Program will support Kenya’s goal of a complete transition to 100per cent clean power generation by 2030 and it will boost Kenya’s sustainable energy future.

  The green energy economy strategy seeks to build on the country’s current economic strengths to secure a more sustainable future. Kenya’s ambitious plan to fully transition to 100 per cent clean power generation by 2030 has received a major boost, with the European Union backing the initiative.

  This comes as leaders, energy industry experts, and policymakers meet in Nairobi for the International Energy Agency’s

• Under a new COMESA programme, farmers in the five East African countries are expected to access quality seeds, and training on how to improve production and distribution.
• The five-year programme is expected to help the countries cut post-harvest losses in horticulture to 40 per cent or lower, from highs of 60 per cent, for instance in Kenya. 
• Agriculture is estimated to contribute on average 27% of the gross domestic product (GDP) in the EAC and accounts for the highest share of employment not only in the region but across Africa.

Agriculture is the backbone of nearly all East Africa region’s economies and the main economic activity for more than 70 per cent of the population. It is estimated to contribute on average 27 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP) in the EAC and accounts for the highest share of employment not only in the region, but the African.…

• For the first time, the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE) came to Africa, with Nairobi playing host last week.
• According to the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China, the forum is expected to spread across the continent, with different countries hosting it in the coming years.
• The Asian country is keen to continue its influence and trade dominance on the African continent.

China has launched a charm offensive on Africa in renewed efforts to tighten its grip on the continent. The West has recently shown growing interest in political and investment corporations, and China is seen as keen to continue its influence on the continent.

For the first time, the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE) came to Africa, with Nairobi playing host last week. According to the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China, it is expected to go around the continent, with …

• Kenya’s private sector enjoyed a much more stable business environment in April amid continued job creation in the market, with the country enjoying the lowest inflation in two years.
• Employment growth continues as the country’s economy remains on a growth trajectory.
• The headline PMI registered fractionally above the 50.0 neutral mark at 50.1 in April, up from 49.7 in March.

Kenya’s private sector enjoyed a much more stable business environment in April amid continued job creation in the market, with the country enjoying the lowest inflation in two years.

The latest Purchasing Managers’ Index by Stanbic Bank depicted broadly steady operating conditions across the sector during the month, as order book volumes and output levels have changed little since March.

The 12-month outlook continued to rebound sharply from February’s record low, and employment growth was maintained, as the country’s economy remained on a growth trajectory.

World Bank has projected Kenya’s …