Browsing: Central Bank of Kenya (CBK)

Kenya gets US$365 million dividend windfall from investments

Investing

Safaricom, the government’s primary source of dividends, substantially increased its dividends payout. Other state-controlled enterprises, like the power generator KenGen and Kenya Re, also increased their contribution during the review period, which helped to boost the total amount of dividends.

The Treasury will receive a total payout of Sh19.4 billion for its 35 per cent telco ownership due to the dividend announcement, making it one of the most significant recipients of the windfall.

In February, Safaricom paid an interim dividend to the Treasury in the amount of 8.97 billion Kenyan shillings.

Safaricom declared a final dividend of 0.75 shillings per share, which will entitle it to receive an additional 10.5 billion by the 31st of August.

Kenyan elections and NSE, investors to adopt precautionary behaviour

Countries

President Uhuru Kenyatta, who was first elected in 2013, will retire after serving his two constitutional terms. Four presidential candidates were cleared by the Independent, Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) in the State House race.

They are Deputy President William Ruto of the United Democratic Alliance, Raila Odinga of the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party, David Mwaure (Agano Party) and George Wajackpoyah (Roots Party).

The outgoing head of state has endorsed Raila as his preferred successor to the chagrin of his deputy, who has accused him of interfering in the 2022 succession politics.

The central Bank of Kenya, in its July 2022 Monetary Policy Committee Market Perceptions Survey, notes that at the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE), NASI, NSE 25 and NSE 20 share price indices increased by 4.0 per cent, 4.1 per cent and 0.4 per cent, respectively, during the week ending July 28.