Author: Martin Mwita

Martin Mwita is a business reporter based in Kenya. He covers equities, capital markets, trade and the East African Cooperation markets.

Kenyan Shilling
  • The Kenyan shilling has made a strong turnaround against the US dollar this week,
  • Last Tuesday, Kenya successfully raised $1.5 billion from its Eurobonds buyback offer initiated on February 7, reducing the chance of defaulting payment on its $2-billion-dollar debt due in June.
  • East Africa’s most robust economy plans to use the funds to repay its debut Eurobond issued in 2014.

The Kenyan shilling has made a strong turnaround against the Ubest human hair wigs for black females jordan air force 1 latex hood sac eastpak nike air jordan 1 elevate low smith and soul johnny manziel jersey jordan max aura 4 dallas cowboys slippers mens johnny manziel jersey bouncing putty egg adidas yeezy boost 350 turtle dove luvme human hair wigs jordan proto max 720 uberlube luxury lubricant S dollar this week, moving towards the most potent levels since March last year, mainly on investor confidence and increased …

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Kenya’s capital markets is showing a sign of recovery this year with the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) recording a gain in January, albeit minimal, as large stocks pay investors.
  • The latest Nairobi Securities Exchange monthly Barometer shows month-on-month growth comparing January this year and December last year, with prospects looking much better after a bear run last year.
  • Market capitalisation increased by 0.08 per cent in January to $9.11 billion from $9.05 billion in December 2023.
  • The NSE 20 and NSE 25 Share Index recorded increases in activity of 0.89 per cent and 1.32 per cent, respectively, while the All-Share Index experienced a 0.08 per cent increase.

Nairobi Securities Exchange showing recovery signs

Kenya’s capital market is showing a sign of recovery this year, with the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) recording a gain in January, albeit minimal, as large stocks pay investors.

This is despite interest rates in advanced economies remaining high into 2024, a trend that has seen foreign investors focus on home markets, mainly the United States.

The latest NSE monthly Barometer shows month-on-month growth comparing January …

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Nigeria's economy
  • Like many other countries, the IMF has noted that Nigeria’s economy faces a complex external environment and wide-ranging domestic challenges.
  • External financing (market and official) is scarce, and global food prices have surged, reflecting the repercussions of conflict and geo-economic fragmentation.
  • Per-capita growth in Nigeria has stalled, and poverty and food insecurity are high, exacerbating the cost-of-living crisis, according to the global lender.

Nigeria’s economy is not yet out of the woods, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has indicated, with a potential economic crisis despite government interventions to improve the economy.

This is even as the country’s real GDP is projected to grow by three per cent this year compared to last year’s projection of 2.9 per cent.

Like many other countries, the IMF has noted that Nigeria faces a complex external environment and wide-ranging domestic challenges.

External financing (market and official) is scarce, and global food prices have surged, …

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the cost of borrowing in Kenya
  • The cost of borrowing in Kenya has been going up since October last year, when it was at 10.50 per cent, before two consecutive raises.
  • This means banks are likely to adjust their interest rates upwards, pushing the cost of borrowing beyond the reach of many.
  • The majority of bank rates are currently above 20 per cent, amid a high default rate as banks struggle with Non-Performing Loans (NPLs).

Higher interest rates to raise the cost of borrowing in Kenya

The cost of borrowing in Kenya is set for yet another rise if banks are to factor in the latest Central Bank of Kenya increase in the base-lending rate.

The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has raised borrowing costs to highs last seen nearly 12 years ago, as it moves to try and contain the country’s inflation, which has started to pick.

On Tuesday, the Monetary Policy Committee, CBK’s top …

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unctad
  • UNCTAD estimates that the weekly transits going through the Suez Canal decreased by 42 per cent over the last two months.
  • The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has triggered substantial shifts in oil and grain trades, reshaping established trade patterns.
  • Simultaneously, the Panama Canal, a pivotal conduit for global trade, is grappling with diminished water levels, resulting in a staggering 36 per cent reduction in total transits over the past month compared to a year ago.

The escalating geopolitical tensions and climate change related issues affecting key shipping routes are now threatening global trade, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has warned, with potential to curtail economic development mainly in poor countries.

The United Nations trade and development body has expressed concerns over the disruptions, particularly stemming geopolitical tensions affecting shipping in the Black Sea, recent attacks on shipping in the Red Sea affecting the Suez

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Kenya's distressed debt levels
  • Kenya’s distressed debt levels are pushing the country in a tight spot following years of successive borrowing, the Institute of Public Finance (IPF) says in its latest Macro Fiscal Analytical Snapshot Report.
  • This is compounded by the inability of the private sector to create woefully insufficient jobs for millions of young people entering the job market annually.
  • The report notes that since 2014, persistent high fiscal deficits have resulted in a swift escalation of public debt, now standing at 70 per cent of the GDP.

Kenya risks missing its economic growth targets in the medium-term as the country grapples with high debt distress and a deteriorating macroeconomic operating environment.

According to the Institute of Public Finance (IPF) in its latest Macro Fiscal Analytical Snapshot Report, the country finds itself in a tight spot following years of successive borrowing.

This is coupled with the inability of the private sector to create …

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Kenyan Shilling
  • Kenyan Shilling, which has been on a free-fall against the Dollar since mid-last year, fell to a record-low of 162 to the greenback with projections it could tumble further into the year.
  • The unit has shed over 31 per cent of its value to the dollar year-to-date, as the Fed rate hikes in the US took a toll on currencies across the different markets.
  • According to Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), the Kenyan shilling also ceded ground against the Euro, Pound Sterling and the Japanese Yen.

The Kenyan government is facing a major headache as the country’s currency continues to fall against the US Dollar and other major currencies, hitting a new low this week.

Kenyan shilling, which has been on a free-fall against the dollar since mid-last year, fell to a record-low of 162 to the greenback with projections it could tumble even further this year.

The local…

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Kenya-Uganda oil deal | East African Court of Justice
  • Uganda has moved to the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) over alleged Kenya's move to block it from importing its refined petroleum products.
  • In 2016, Uganda opted to work with Tanzania to develop a pipeline to evacuate crude oil from its fields in Hoima, western Uganda.
  • This dealt a blow to an initial plan to jointly construct a 1,500-kilometre-long pipeline from oil-rich Hoima to Kenya’s Lamu port, a project envisioned to cost about $2.5 billion.

Kenya’s fallout with Uganda on importing refined petroleum products has caused another rift between the neighbouring countries, threatening trade and bilateral relations.

On December 28, last year, Kampala lodged a case at the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) against Nairobi for blocking its plans to shift from purchasing petroleum products from Kenya to importing consignments.

Over the year, Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) in Uganda have picked imports from Kenya Pipeline’s depots in Eldoret…

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open skies policy
  • The open Skies Policy in civil aviation aims to ease international airlines’ access to national airports to increase the flow of tourists and develop their potential as regional air hubs.
  • Kenya is seen to warm up to more international carriers, with the latest being flyDubai, which is now flying directly to the Moi International Airport, Mombasa, after launching last week.
  • Apart from attracting foreign carriers mainly from Europe and the Middle East, airlines from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and other EAC states will operate across borders without restrictions.

The Open Skies Policy in Kenya

Kenya is slowly heeding calls by the private sector to open its skies to more international airlines seeking to fly directly to the country’s Coast, a leading beach destination preferred mainly by Europeans.

This comes as the government also banks on the recently unveiled “visa-free” to open the country to more visitors, aiming to grow the …

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Social Bond
  • Kenyans in the diaspora sent home $4.19 billion in 2023 as remittance inflows to the East African country hit an all-time high.
  • The high numbers signal that Kenyans living and working in the diaspora defied the inflationary pressures they still experienced to send more money back home.
  • Since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, many Kenyans in the diaspora have had to cut spending to navigate inflationary pressures and afford to send money back home.

Kenyans in the diaspora sent home $4.19 billion in 2023 as remittance inflows to the East African country hit an all-time high, boosting foreign exchange reserves and support for families in the wake of tough economic times.

According to the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), the figures are up by four per cent compared to the $4.02 billion sent in 2022.

“The inflows were strong in December 2023 at $372.6 million compared to $355.0 million …

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