MC

1. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗵 — A business can report impressive revenue and profits yet struggle to pay suppliers, salaries and operating expenses. The difference often lies in the cash conversion cycle: money tied up in inventory and unpaid invoices is money the business cannot use today. 2. 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗮 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 — Expanding into new markets or launching new products before assessing cash flow can put an otherwise healthy business under pressure. Growth must match the business’s financial capacity. Resilience and sustainability matter as much as ambition. 3. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀 — Sales revenue must cover suppliers, salaries, operating costs and financial obligations before the balance can be treated as profit. Businesses that spend incoming cash without accounting for these commitments risk damaging supplier relationships and accumulating unsustainable debt. 4. 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀 — Tools such as letters of credit and bank guarantees help bridge trust between buyers and sellers who may never have transacted before. With the right financing and risk assessment, businesses can import equipment, increase production capacity and reach new markets without relying solely on upfront cash. 5. 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗮𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗵 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 — Real-time collections, automated reconciliation and integrated payment systems give businesses better visibility of their money and reduce manual processes. Regional payment platforms are also making it easier to transact across African markets. 6. 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗰𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 — Working capital should support the trading cycle, while long-term growth requires its own plan and funding. Businesses must continually assess risk, maintain integrity, build trusted relationships and know when to cut losses. Full conversation with Grace Mbugua, and GEORGE KILUVA (CDCS) @kcbgroup The Lion’s Share Podcast here: youtube.com/watch?v=4P1EHeSJ… #TheLionsShare #KCB #CashFlowManagement #TradeFinance #BusinessGrowth #AfricanTrade

You have less than 4 days to close of the @QuickmartKenya IPO 1. 𝗔𝗻 𝗜𝗣𝗢 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘆 - Quickmart Kenya Official is a secondary offer, meaning existing shareholders are selling shares rather than the company raising fresh capital for expansion. Waweru’s point is that investors must understand the transaction structure and why the shares are being offered, instead of assuming every IPO funds business growth directly. youtube.com/watch?v=-vGQjDyt… 2. 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 - Waweru points to strong market performance over the past two years and growing interest from foreign investors in local listings. QuickMart also offers something different from the financial services businesses that have historically dominated the NSE, helping broaden the market’s investment choices. 3. 𝗞𝗲𝗻𝘆𝗮 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗽𝗶𝗽𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘀 - Waweru describes a robust pipeline of potential transactions across the market, with continued opportunities in debt issuance and a need for more equity offerings. He also sees room for innovative products beyond conventional listings, giving investors more ways to deploy capital. 4. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴-𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 — A successful IPO is not simply about completing the transaction. It also requires strong governance, transparent communication and sustained business performance. For investors, access to an opportunity is only the beginning; assessing the business and its ability to create lasting shareholder value remains essential. For more of this, catch this chat with Gregory Martin Waweru here: youtube.com/watch?v=-vGQjDyt… #TheTradingBell #QuickMartIPO #NSE #CapitalMarkets #Investing #Kenya

𝐁𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐇𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐊 1. @Nedbank 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐍𝐂𝐁𝐀 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫: Nedbank secured a controlling 66% stake in NCBA after shareholders tendered 79.9% of its shares, expanding its East African presence. 2. @QuickmartKenya 𝐈𝐏𝐎 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐊𝐒𝐡𝟕.𝟏𝟐𝐁𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬: Four institutional investors have commitments totalling KSh7.12Bn - 47.5% of the KSh15Bn IPO. IFC’s KSh1.94Bn commitment remains subject to board approval. Shares are priced at KSh7.50, with the offer closing on 30 October. 3. @DangoteGroup 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝟐𝟒.𝟕𝟔% 𝐨𝐟 𝐊𝐏𝐂: Aliko Dangote acquired the stake for about KSh42.5Bn and plans a further US$1.5Bn pipeline investment. KPC reported annual net profit of KSh11.58Bn. 4. @KenGenKenya 𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐂𝐄𝐎: Ronoh Kibet will succeed Peter Njenga from 1 February 2027. 5. @KRACare 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐨 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠: From 26 October, importers, exporters and transporters must use approved vendors for electronic tracking seals on dry cargo and motor vehicles. 6. @SanlamAllianzKe 𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐂𝐄𝐎: Jacqueline Karasha takes over on 1 November as the insurer plans to absorb its life subsidiary, which holds KSh38.47Bn in assets. 7. 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐆𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝: African development finance institutions participated in US$4.7Bn of Q3 2026 financing, nearly triple the previous quarter. African investors featured in 69% of deals with identified investors. 8. 𝐊𝐞𝐧𝐲𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐔𝐊 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐀𝐯𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐥: Mutual recognition of security procedures should reduce repeat baggage screening for eligible London-to-JKIA transfers, improving connections. 9. 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐒𝐀 𝐏𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐓𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐔𝐒$𝟏𝐓𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞: The 21-member bloc prioritises industrialisation, local processing and fewer cross-border barriers as Zimbabwe assumes leadership. 10. 𝐊𝐞𝐧𝐲𝐚 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐦𝐩 𝐃𝐮𝐭𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐟: A proposed exemption for land transactions worth KSh1Mn or less could save buyers up to KSh40,000 in stamp duty. 11. 𝐊𝐞𝐧𝐲𝐚 𝐓𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐁𝐍𝐏𝐋 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭: Parliament plans to question digital lenders on lending practices, compliance and consumer complaints. ~ @kenyanwalstreet #BusinessHighlights #KenyaBusiness #AfricanMarkets #CapitalMarkets

Clip from a chat with Eric Kimani @PalmhouseFund Chair and Founder. Full conversation here youtu.be/QBl8jST5M9A?si=bL_u…

Here are six key takeaways from @StanbicKE and S.Sudan CEO Michael Mutiga 1. 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 — Stanbic reported 27% growth in its asset book and 24% growth in its loan book in the first half, while maintaining a relatively low non-performing loan ratio. Mutiga says the focus is on understanding customers, their business flows and their needs before extending credit... not simply growing the balance sheet. 2. 𝗦𝗠𝗘𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 — Stanbic is looking to expand its SME business, having reported KSh21 billion in SME lending in the first half. Beyond financing, the opportunity is to give entrepreneurs practical tools for cash management, payroll, payments and business expansion. 3. 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺𝘀 — The bank’s digital ambitions go beyond introducing technology. From simpler onboarding and transactions to helping businesses connect with buyers and improve cash flows, the test is whether digital solutions make banking easier and deliver measurable value. 4. 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿-𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀-𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 — Telcos have transformed financial inclusion and the speed of payments, while banks remain central to capital allocation, investment and cross-border trade. The next phase is convergence, with both sectors evolving their solutions around changing customer needs. 5. 𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 — Rather than looking at individual borrowers in isolation, Stanbic is seeking to support the wider agricultural value chain. Its work in the tea sector spans trading platforms, factories and farmers... illustrating how financing can connect different parts of an industry. 6. 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮’𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 — Stanbic’s presence across African markets gives businesses access to cross-border payment capabilities, currency management and visibility into opportunities in different countries. In a region seeking deeper trade integration, this network can be an important tool for businesses looking to expand. Full conversation here youtube.com/watch?v=_lqMDDIy…

𝐁𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐇𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒 @Nedbank’𝐬 𝐔𝐒$𝟖𝟓𝟓.𝟖𝟐𝐌𝐧 𝐍𝐂𝐁𝐀 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝: The offer to acquire a significant stake in NCBA has become unconditional after shareholders tendered 79.9% of issued shares. Nedbank’s final stake is expected to be approximately 66%. Trading in @NCBABankKenya shares is scheduled for suspension from 21 October, with settlement expected on 3 November. 𝐊𝐞𝐧𝐲𝐚’𝐬 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐲 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝟓.𝟏%: GDP expanded by 5.1% in Q2 2026, up from 4.9% a year earlier, supported by electricity, ICT, transport and manufacturing despite higher fuel costs and uneven business conditions. 𝐊𝐏𝐂 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐭 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝟏𝟑%: @kenyapipeline Company reported net profit of KSh11.58Bn for the year ended June 2026, while revenue reached KSh42.98Bn. The company proposed a dividend of approximately KSh5.9Bn. 𝐔𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚 𝐇𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝟏𝟐%: The central bank raised its benchmark rate by 225 basis points in an emergency move to address currency depreciation, external imbalances and inflation risks. 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡 𝐋𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Nine creditors have petitioned the High Court to wind up the PSV insurer amid mounting legal challenges and a reported KSh2.6Bn equity deficit. No final liquidation order has been issued. 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐏𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚: EAC countries are accelerating plans for a regional visa ahead of AFCON 2027, alongside joint tourism marketing and harmonised hospitality standards. 𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐥𝐲𝐭 𝐑𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐔𝐒$𝟖𝐌𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐀𝐈: The Kenyan-founded startup secured US$8Mn (about KSh1.04Bn) in seed funding to develop technology that allows satellites to process data and run AI applications in orbit. @UNGAGroupPLC 𝐔𝐧𝐠𝐚 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐭 𝐉𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐬 𝟖𝟐%: Net profit rose to KSh404.56Mn for the year ended June 2026, while revenue increased 16.5% to KSh30.45Bn. However, the strong annual performance masked a second-half loss. 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐥𝐚𝐦 𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐳 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐊𝐒𝐡𝟑𝟖.𝟓𝐁𝐧 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭 𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐫: The listed insurer plans to absorb its life insurance subsidiary, bringing its insurance portfolio, liabilities and operations directly into the parent company. 𝐊𝐞𝐧𝐲𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐏𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐧 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐋𝐨𝐚𝐧𝐬: TransUnion found that the share of consumers planning to apply for credit or refinance fell to 57%, from 69% a year earlier, as households prioritise existing financial obligations. 𝐊𝐞𝐧𝐲𝐚 𝐀𝐢𝐦𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝟓.𝟓𝐌𝐧 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟖: The government is targeting 5.5 million international arrivals, up from approximately 2.7 million in 2025/26, with air connectivity central to expanding tourism earnings. 𝐊𝐐 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐢𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: A planned conversion of 1.66 billion shares in 2027 could leave original minority shareholders facing cumulative dilution of about 95%, even before the impact of the proposed KSh122Bn government debt restructuring is determined. 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐬: Cabinet has approved a bill proposing stricter licensing and penalties for unqualified building professionals, including fines of up to KSh2Mn for certain offences, amid concerns over building safety. ~ @kenyanwalstreet #BusinessHighlights #KenyaBusiness #AfricanMarkets #CapitalMarkets

Africa MICE Summit 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲. 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗡𝗘𝗘𝗗 𝗧𝗢 𝗞𝗡𝗢𝗪 Africa’s business events industry is sitting on a massive economic opportunity. But are we doing enough to capture it? 𝟭. 𝗔 𝗨𝗦$𝟭.𝟯 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 - Business events generated an estimated US$1.3 trillion in direct spending globally in 2025 and this is not just tourism. It is an industry that drives trade, investment, jobs and innovation. 𝟮. 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟰% - Africa accounted for only 4% of international and regional association meetings in 2025. The opportunity is significant but so is the gap between our potential and our performance. 𝟯. 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 - One summit presentation estimated that Africa could generate around US$2.5 billion annually from association meetings if it captured a share of delegate spending closer to its share of the global population. That is potential revenue we should be competing for. 𝟰. 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 - Convention centres and hotels matter. But destinations must also offer reliable connectivity, accessible travel, professional event organisers, strong bidding capabilities and confidence in their ability to deliver. 𝟱. 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼𝗼 - The opportunity is not limited to mega-events. The data presented at the summit showed that most international association meetings have fewer than 1,000 delegates. African destinations can compete for these events now - not someday. 𝟲. 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗿, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲 - We need to develop African-owned events, strengthen regional collaboration and make it easier for international associations to choose African destinations. 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗗𝗢𝗘𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗠𝗘𝗔𝗡 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗞𝗘𝗡𝗬𝗔? We have hotels, conference facilities, tourism attractions and an established hospitality sector. The next challenge is turning those assets into more international meetings, business opportunities, investment and jobs. That requires government, airlines, hotels, convention bureaux and private-sector players to work together with clear targets and accountability. 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗢𝗧𝗧𝗢𝗠 𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗘: Africa does not simply need to host more conferences. It needs to capture more of the economic value those conferences create. The question is not whether Africa has the potential (It does), It is whether we can execute. Asante Africa MICE Summit (AMS) Kezy Mukiri for having me moderate the deries of this year's events. #AfricaMICESummit #BusinessEvents #MICE #Tourism #Investment #Kenya

𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭 (𝐀𝐂𝐈𝐒 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔) Conversations at the intersection of trade, investment, industrialisation and Africa’s economic future. From high-level dialogue on regional integration and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat to discussions on investment opportunities, market access and the role of business in driving growth. One message: 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚’𝐬 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐭, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐮𝐧𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬, 𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. My appreciation to Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry for bringing together the leaders, investors, policymakers and business voices driving this important conversation. @TerryanneChebet great co-hosting as alway! #ACIS2026 #AfricaInvestment #AfricanTrade #AfCFTA #EconomicGrowth

My French was tested, taste buds thoroughly rewarded, and the Ambassador made us feel right at home! Air France’s Routes of Flavour evening at the French Embassy kenya Nairobi, and what a beautiful experience it was! The food? Out of this world! A culinary journey inspired by Michelin-starred Chef Mory Sacko, blending French, West African and Japanese influences. Well, some of the best journeys happen around a dining table. Special thanks you to H.E. Wadid Benaabou, the French Ambassador to Kenya, for such a warm welcome and wonderful hospitality. And to the Air France team, merci beaucoup for an evening that delighted all the senses. As for my French? Let’s just say bonsoir, bon appétit and merci beaucoup carried the evening quite well! 😂

Tomorrow night on @thetradingbell, @StanbicKE and South Sudan CE Michael Mutiga joins us to explore: 🔹 Stanbic’s growth strategy and opportunities ahead 🔹 Growing the loan book while managing credit risk 🔹 Digital banking and delivering greater customer value 🔹 Financing entrepreneurs and growing businesses 🔹 Regional expansion and cross-border trade 🔹 Navigating economic uncertainty while sustaining growth 🔹 His leadership vision and ambitions for Stanbic Tune in tomorrow at 8:00 PM on @KTNNewsKE . #TheTradingBell #Banking #Business #Investing

Eric Muriuki, a seasoned banking and tech leader who helped shape Kenya’s digital finance landscape through his work at CBA and @NCBABankKenya (M-Shwari, Fuliza, LOOP), has moved to @Absa Group as Managing Executive for Pan African Growth Strategy and Digital Ventures. He shared with me earlier today on his perspectives on the future of African banking, financial inclusion, customer trust, digital innovation and the opportunities to make cross-border payments more seamless across the continent. Also why the move? Some takeaways 1. 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘀 — Eric’s experience developing digital financial services reinforces a powerful lesson: innovation begins by observing how people actually live, save and borrow. The best solutions emerge from understanding real customer needs, not assumptions. 2. 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 — Digital finance is not just about moving money faster. It is about enabling people to save and borrow with dignity, while building trust between customers and financial institutions. 3. 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽 — The next frontier is financial wellness. Beyond giving people access to financial services, the industry must help customers build resilience, access better-quality credit and develop healthier financial habits through education and coaching. 4. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 — As consumers move seamlessly between payments, shopping, travel and social media on their phones, financial services will increasingly connect these everyday experiences. The opportunity lies in becoming relevant to customers throughout their daily lives. 5. 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 — A pan-African strategy must draw on the strengths of different markets while respecting local customer behaviour, regulation and innovation. The ambition is to build a strong African bank that can also be a local champion in each market. 6. 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮’𝘀 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀-𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗶𝗲𝗰𝗲𝘀 — The digital payment rails, identity systems and regulatory frameworks are increasingly taking shape. The next task is to bring them together to make cross-border trade and payments faster, cheaper and more seamless for African businesses. Catch this interview on the @thetradingbell coming soon

𝐁𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐇𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐊 1. 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐲 𝐁𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝: The 91-day T-bill attracted a record KSh50.20Bn in bids, equivalent to 627.56% of the KSh8Bn offered. The CBK accepted KSh20.45Bn at an average yield of 8.76%, reflecting strong investor appetite for short-term government securities. 2. @QuickmartKenya 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝟓𝟎% 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐊𝐒𝐡𝟏𝟓𝐁𝐧: Quickmart is seeking KSh15Bn through the sale of 2 billion shares at KSh7.50 each ahead of its planned NSE listing on November 12. The offer values the retailer at KSh30Bn. 3. 𝐂𝐌𝐀 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐈𝐏𝐎 𝐭𝐨 𝐊𝐞𝐧𝐲𝐚𝐧𝐬: The @CMAKenya approved a route for eligible Kenyan investors to participate in the Dangote Refinery IPO through Global Depositary Receipts, expanding access to the Nigerian offer. 4. @CBKKenya 𝐒𝐞𝐞𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐔𝐒$𝟏𝟓𝐁𝐧: Governor Kamau Thugge said Kenya's foreign exchange reserves could reach US$15Bn by year-end, reducing the immediate need for IMF balance-of-payments support. 5. 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐋𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐊𝐒𝐡𝟒.𝟒𝐓𝐧: Private-sector credit rose to KSh4.40Tn in September, with annual growth accelerating to 10.6%, extending the recovery in lending. 6. 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲: The African Union-backed AfCRA was launched in Mauritius to provide an Africa-focused assessment of sovereign and corporate credit risk amid concerns over borrowing costs and international ratings methodologies. 7. 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐫-𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡 𝐋𝐨𝐰: Rising operating costs and supply shortages weakened business confidence in September, although companies remained relatively optimistic about the year ahead. 8. 𝐍𝐒𝐄 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭: The market lost KSh96.11Bn in September as capitalisation fell to KSh4.12Tn, following substantial gains earlier in the year. The pullback continued into October, although foreign investors returned to net buying. 9. 𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐑𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐖𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡: The electric mobility company increased revenue 177% to KSh561.6Mn in 2025, but its net loss widened to KSh378.1Mn amid expansion costs and higher financing expenses. 10. 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐔𝐒$𝟏𝟎𝟎𝐌𝐧 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐝: The Nairobi-based lender opened subscriptions for a sustainable bond targeting West African investors, offering annual rates of 6.1% for five-year securities and 6.3% for seven-year securities. 11. @KeEquityBank Group 𝐂𝐄𝐎 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧: Dr. James Mwangi joined a German-backed international commission alongside global leaders, including the heads of the World Bank and WTO, to shape development cooperation beyond 2030. 12. 𝐊𝐞𝐧𝐲𝐚 𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝟓.𝟓𝐌𝐧 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟖: Kenya is targeting 5.5 million international arrivals, building on approximately 2.7 million visitors and KSh500Bn in annual tourism revenue. 13. 𝐓𝐞𝐥𝐤𝐨𝐦 𝐔𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬: Telkom recorded average on-net calls of 3.9 minutes in Q4 FY2025/26, compared with the national average of 1.8 minutes. 14. 𝐊𝐞𝐧𝐲𝐚’𝐬 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐤 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬: Formal milk deliveries fell for a third consecutive month, dropping 5.8% year-on-year to 81.32 million litres in July amid dry weather, fodder shortages and high feed costs. 15. 𝐒𝐆𝐑 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐭: The railway generated KSh22.09Bn in FY2025/26, with passenger revenue exceeding KSh5Bn and freight volumes reaching a record 7.87 million tonnes. 16. 𝐊𝐞𝐧𝐲𝐚 𝐀𝐢𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐆𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐊𝐒𝐡𝟒𝟓.𝟒𝐁𝐧 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠: The Cabinet approved KSh45.4Bn to support KQ’s turnaround, alongside a proposed conversion of KSh122Bn in government loans into an equity qualifying instrument. ~ @kenyanwalstreet #BusinessHighlights #KenyaBusiness #EastAfrica #Markets #Finance