NSE Week 3: Indices Advance, Trading Activity Slows as Foreign Outflows Deepen
The NSE posted further gains in the week III ended Jan 16, 2026, with all major indices closing higher as the NASI rose 1.04%. Trading activity cooled, with turnover slipping to KSh 2.57Bn, while foreign investors recorded a KSh 1.1Bn net outflow. Banks and Safaricom supported index performance as the market consolidated after a strong start to the year.
I&M Group Lifts Stake In Tanzania Unit To 95.5% As Minority Shareholders Exit
I&M Group PLC has raised its ownership in I&M Bank (T) Limited to 95.5% after acquiring shares previously held by PROPARCO and Microfinance East Africa Ltd. The stake increase from 84.9% follows receipt of all corporate and regulatory approvals and consolidates the group’s control of its Tanzanian unit, according to a board notice dated January 13, 2026.Kenya Re Proposes Dual Share Structure Giving Treasury Majority Board Control
Kenya’s state-backed reinsurer plans to lock in government control of its board through a governance overhaul that would introduce unequal voting power between shareholdersFrom East African Industrial to NSE 20: The Forgotten Roots of Kenya’s Market Benchmark
The NSE 20 Share Index, Kenya’s oldest stock market benchmark, began in 1964 as the East African Industrial Share Index—tracking regional blue chips across Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. It evolved into a purely Kenyan index after the collapse of the East African Community in 1977. Through market liberalization, privatizations, and financial crises, the NSE 20 has reflected Kenya’s shifting economic landscape. Though now overshadowed by broader indices, its legacy remains vital for historical analysis and regional market integration.Parliament Opens Hearings on Safaricom Share Sale Plan
Parliament will begin stakeholder hearings on the government’s plan to partially divest its shareholding in Safaricom PLC
Sasini Jumps 65% to July 2023 Highs, NSE Edges Up in Monday Trade
The NSE traded higher at midday as Sasini surged 10.5% to its highest level since July 2023 following a return to profit in FY2025. The NASI rose 0.43%, supported by gains in agriculture and industrial stocks, while turnover reached KSh 336M. Foreign investors remained net sellers.NSE Extends 2025 Momentum in First Full Week of 2026
The NSE began its first full trading week of 2026 on a firm footing, with all major indices posting gains and turnover surging to KSh 3.5Bn. Activity reflected renewed liquidity and portfolio repositioning after a record 51.1% NASI gain in 2025, led by banks and Safaricom.Sasini Returns To Profit On Higher Coffee Prices But Cash Flow Weakens
Sasini Plc returned to profit in FY2025, posting net income of KSh188Mn after a KSh562.9Mn loss a year earlier, supported by higher coffee and macadamia prices that lifted revenue to a record KSh8.44Bn. The rebound came with pressure beneath the surface, as cost of sales absorbed most revenue gains, operating and free cash flows turned negative, and cash balances fell nearly 40%, highlighting a recovery driven by prices rather than stronger margins or cash generation.LAPTRUST Imara I-REIT Issues Profit Warning on Lower Rental Income
LAPTRUST Imara I-REIT has issued a profit warning, cautioning that earnings for the year ending December 31, 2025 will decline by at least 25% compared with the previous period, driven mainly by weaker gross rental income. The warning marks a shift from 2024, when operating performance improved sharply but results were weighed down by non-cash property valuation losses. The REIT said the outlook is based on management accounts to October 2025 and did not revise distribution guidance, placing focus on the durability of rental cash flows going into 2026.Kenya Raises KSh 60.6Bn in First Bond Sale of 2026
Kenya opened 2026 with a fully subscribed bond auction, raising KSh 60.6Bn after attracting KSh 71.5Bn in bids for the 20- and 25-year FXDs.Saudi Arabia Clears Barriers to Foreign Investment in its Stock Market
Saudi Arabia’s Capital Market Authority (CMA) has announced that, effective February 1, 2026, all categories of foreign investors will be permitted to invest directly in its financial markets. This regulatory shift eliminates the restrictive "Qualified Foreign Investor" (QFI) framework and phases out indirect swap agreements, allowing global participants direct ownership of listed securities. The move is a strategic component of the Vision 2030 plan to diversify the economy and enhance market liquidity.Safaricom’s Green Bond Rings in a New Era for Kenyan Investors
The NSE bell rang for Safaricom’s Green note on December 16, 2025, and a live trade in red-jacket tradition started the secondary market for the KSh 20.0Bn tranche.
