Browsing: Kenya

• Kenya’s Capital Markets Authority will examine corporate governance reporting templates and assessment methods for all its issuers.
• This initiative ensures continued relevance in the financial landscape while enhancing accuracy to align with global standards.
• The industry watchdog is also exploring integrating sustainability into the listing requirements.

The Capital Markets Authority in Kenya is poised to conduct a comprehensive regulatory examination of corporate governance reporting templates and assessment methods for all its issuers. This initiative aims to ensure ongoing relevance in the financial landscape and enhance accuracy to align with global standards.

Details contained in the regulator’s latest report indicate that this exercise will promote transparency, accountability, and investor confidence in the capital markets sector. This came when the bourse recorded an overall improvement in corporate governance practices in the 2022/2023 financial year.

According to the CMA, during the review period, the annual weighted overall score by all issuers experienced …

• Airtel Africa CEO Olusegun Ogunsanya has retired and will be replaced by Sunil Taldar, the new Managing Director and CEO.
• For the six months ending on September 30, the group reported a net loss of $13 million,
• Mittal further announced Ogunsanya’s post-retirement role as the Airtel Africa Charitable Foundation Chair.

Airtel Africa CEO set to retire

Airtel Africa PLC has announced that Chief Executive Officer Olusegun Ogunsanya will retire on 1 July 2024 and take an advisory role.

Ogunsanya, who joined Airtel in 2012, ran the Nigeria Operations of the Telecommunications and Mobile Money Company for nine years before he was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Group in 2021.

He led the company to maintain double-digit revenue growth and deliver new products to its customers across the continent.

Building on the work undertaken during his time as CEO, including the launch of the Company’s first Sustainability Strategy, and given …

• In 2023, Kenya’s economy experienced real GDP growth, surging from 4.8% in 2022 to an estimated 5 per cent.
• Kenya’s agriculture, which had grappled with severe drought, recovered with critical crops, such as tea and coffee, displaying remarkable resilience.
• High cost of living, exchange rate pressures, and global economic uncertainties remain persistent risks to growth this year.

In 2023, Kenya’s economy strengthened, defying persistent challenges as highlighted in the World Bank’s 28th edition of the Kenya Economic Update (KEU). Despite facing continued hurdles, East Africa’s biggest economy experienced an acceleration in real GDP growth, surging from 4.8 per cent in 2022 to an estimated 5 per cent in 2023.

This economic performance is a testament to Kenya’s ability to navigate adversities and build a foundation for sustainable economic growth.

Agriculture helped revive Kenya’s economy in 2023

A key factor contributing to Kenya’s revival of economic performance in 2023 was the …

• A state-of-the-art liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) storage facility is being built in Mombasa by Taifa Gas Investment SEZ Limited.
• Taifa Gas’ entry into the Kenyan market marks the beginning of a fresh era in the trading links within East Africa.
• Much of East Africa, especially in nations like Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda, needs more energy because so many people there do not have access to consistent power.

A state-of-the-art liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) storage facility is being built in Mombasa by Taifa Gas Investment SEZ Limited. This is a monumental step for East Africa’s energy sector. This project is more than a local development; its 30,000-ton capacity symbolises the rise energy sector in East Africa and promises economic prosperity for the entire region.

Strategically located within the Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zone (SEZ), the facility represents economic vision. This site is not a fluke because of the strategic decision …

• Kenya’s real estate investment requires obtaining the necessary financing to achieve success.
• Exploring various financing options and establishing strong relationships with banks or financial institutions is crucial.
• Developing effective exit strategies and focusing on long-term appreciation is vital for real estate investment success in Kenya.

Financing options for Kenya’s real estate investment

In Kenya’s real estate investment, obtaining the necessary financing is crucial to success. Fortunately, several financing options are available for Kenyan real estate market investors. Understanding these options can help you make informed decisions and secure the funds needed for your investment endeavors.

Mortgage Loans

One of Kenya’s most common financing options for real estate investment is obtaining a mortgage loan. Kenyan banks and financial institutions offer mortgage products specifically tailored for property purchases. These loans typically involve a down payment and offer competitive interest rates and repayment terms. Evaluating different mortgage options and choosing one that suits …

• Kenya stands to benefit from duty-free and quota-free access to the expansive opportunities that historic Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) presents with the 27-member EU bloc.
• President Ruto has lauded EPA, saying it seeks to put real money into the pockets of ordinary people (in Kenya).
• Kenya aims to roll out provisions contained in the EU-East African Community EPA, and will be open for regional countries to join in the pact in the future.

Kenya and the European Union (EU) have taken a significant stride towards strengthening their trade relations with the signing of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) in Nairobi.

This landmark agreement, which now awaits endorsement from lawmakers on both sides, is poised to bolster bilateral trade in goods, foster increased investment flows, and contribute to sustainable economic growth.

As East Africa’s largest economy, Kenya stands to benefit from duty-free and quota-free access to the expansive opportunities that …

• The World Bank recommends three broad policy pathways to achieve inclusive growth and fight poverty.
• These include connecting the poor to economic growth and strengthening households’ resilience to adverse weather shocks.
• The lender also advocates leveraging fiscal policy programs to support poverty reduction objectives.

Kenya’s economic growth holds the promise of lifting millions out of poverty, even amid challenging economic conditions. According to the World Bank, the secret lies in adopting an inclusive growth strategy that not only enhances economic opportunities and productivity for the poorest but also remains steadfast in pursuing long-term developmental objectives.

This vision is captured in the latest World Bank report titled “Kenya Poverty and Equity Assessment (KPEA) 2023 – From Poverty to Prosperity: Making Growth More Inclusive,” which focuses on the years from 2005 to 2021.

The report underscores that while Kenya has made strides in reducing poverty and improving living standards, the …

• Kenyan and Nigerian stores will soon experience absence of Procter & Gamble (P&G) products, as the American multinational embarks on a phased withdrawal.
• In Kenya, P&G has set its sights on leaving Nairobi by June 2024, citing high cost of doing business, dollar shortages, and dip in sales.
• P&G’s response to these challenges involves increased pricing as a strategy to mitigate currency impacts, but this has seen it lose market share to rivals.

The shelves of Kenyan and Nigerian stores will soon experience a noticeable absence of Procter & Gamble (P&G) products, as the American multinational consumer goods manufacturer embarks on a phased withdrawal from these markets.

The decision stems from the challenging macroeconomic and fiscal conditions prevailing in both countries. Specifically, in Kenya, P&G has set its sights on leaving Nairobi by June 2024, citing a confluence of factors such as the high cost of doing business, dollar shortages, …

• The collaboration seeks to play a significant role in closing the tech skills gap in Africa, fostering job creation, entrepreneurship, and empowering the continent’s youth with in-demand digital skills.
• Through the partnership, Microsoft and Gebeya aim to upskill 300,000 developers across eight countries over the next three years.
• They include Kenya, South Africa, Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Nigeria, Egypt and Mozambique.

Microsoft and Gebeya Inc., the leading Pan-African SaaS-enabled tech talent marketplace, have partnered  to launch a new skills and jobs matching platform called Microsoft.Gebeya.com.

The collaboration seeks to play a significant role in closing the tech skills gap in Africa, fostering job creation, entrepreneurship, and empowering the continent’s youth with in-demand digital skills.

Through the partnership, Microsoft and Gebeya aim to upskill 300,000 developers across eight countries over the next three years, including Kenya, South Africa, Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Nigeria, Egypt and Mozambique.

Applications …

• Since ascending to office in September 2022, President Ruto has remained relentless in his bid to boost Kenya’s agricultural productivity.
• Agriculture remains the bedrock of the country’s development and the key to creating equitable and sustainable growth for its citizens.
• President Ruto has focused on implementing policies and programs to enhance productivity, improve farmers’ incomes, and ensure food security.

Agriculture as a bedrock of Kenya’s economic prosperity

Kenya has made impressive economic strides in innovation and entrepreneurship, private sector enterprise, infrastructure, and human skills development. However, agriculture remains the bedrock of the country’s development and the key to creating equitable and sustainable growth for its citizens. The importance of agriculture has been highlighted in Kenya’s Vision 2030

Moreover, research has demonstrated that agriculture remains a major driver of economic prosperity for most African countries. In addition to driving economic growth, agriculture creates jobs for most rural communities and is essential …