The Kenyan Wallstreet 🕘 история названий (1)

Microsoft’s Africa Development Centre in Nairobi is facing closure, raising concerns about the future of Kenya’s technology workforce. The development comes amid Microsoft’s global restructuring, which has affected its Kenyan engineering operations. ICT Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo has called for the protection of local jobs, while Microsoft says it remains committed to serving customers in Kenya and across the region.

Ethiopia's largest private lender, Awash Bank, has launched five Mastercard products targeting individual and corporate customers, expanding access to international payments following foreign exchange reforms. The portfolio includes World Elite debit, Platinum and Gold prepaid, corporate prepaid and domestic contactless cards, alongside a virtual prepaid option. Awash said its existing international prepaid cards served over 20,000 customers, processing more than US$55Mn in completed transactions during the last financial year, against US$60Mn authorised. The bank serves over 17Mn customers through more than 1,010 branches, with 4Mn card users and 5Mn Awash Birr Pro users. The launch builds on its Mastercard partnership established in 2024.

Kenya Airways (KQ) has confirmed government approval of a US$350Mn (KSh 45.15Bn) shareholder loan with a proposed 10-year tenor. The government may convert the loan into equity, subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals, or agree on early repayment. The financing will cover aircraft maintenance, returning grounded aircraft to service and other urgent operating needs. KQ also confirmed in-principle approval to convert approximately KSh 122Bn in existing government loans, plus accrued interest, into an equity-qualifying tradable instrument. The restructuring aims to restore positive equity and support a capital raise through an Investment Memorandum. KQ urged caution when trading its shares until the terms and required approvals are finalised.

Kenyan fintech Cloud9, founded by former Marketforce Tesh Mbaabu, has raised $500,000 from New York-based accelerator Alliance, taking its disclosed funding to $1 million. The money will go toward expanding payment corridors, launching virtual and physical cards, and acquiring customers. Cloud9 lets users hold shillings, dollars, euros, pounds and yuan, and settles cross-border payments with stablecoins USDC and USDT, so a Nairobi merchant can pay a supplier in Guangzhou without relying on correspondent banks. The company says it has opened more than 25,000 accounts since launching, with transaction volumes growing over 15% week over week. https://kenyanwallstreet.com/cloud9-raises-us-0-5mn-to-expand-cross-border-payments

Unajua credit score yako inaweza affect uwezo wako wa kuget business funding or even securing employment opportunities? This Friday we are stripping away the jargon and giving you actionable steps to check, clean, and build your credit standing.  Date: 9th October 2026  Time: 11:00 AM Host: Noah Kipkemboi Expert: Chris Mwangi, COO, CreditInfo Topic:Understanding Crbs, Credit And Your Financial Future To be part of the conversation, RSVP here: https://tinyurl.com/e9wxzmpm

The banking sector’s gross non-performing loan ratio fell to 13.9% in September 2026, dropping below 14% for the first time since December 2022. The ratio improved from 14.8% in June 2026 and 17.6% in August 2025, a decline of 370 basis points from last year’s peak. CBK said lower NPLs were recorded in the financial services, agriculture, trade, and energy and water sectors, while banks continued to maintain adequate provisions. The regulator said the banking sector remains stable and resilient, supported by strong liquidity and capital adequacy ratios.

The Central Bank of Kenya has held the CBR at 8.75% for a fourth consecutive meeting, saying the current stance remains appropriate to keep inflation expectations anchored and the exchange rate stable. September inflation rose to 6.8% from 6.6%, while core inflation increased to 4.0% from 3.4%. CBK raised its 2026 GDP growth forecast to 5.0% from 4.9%, with 2027 growth retained at 5.3%. Private-sector credit growth strengthened to 10.6% in September, while average lending rates stood at 14.4%. The current account deficit is projected at 3.2% of GDP in 2026, with FX reserves at US$14.70Bn, equivalent to 5.9 months of import cover. CBK said it will continue monitoring global oil prices, second-round inflation effects and wider domestic and global developments, and stands ready to act if necessary.

Kenyan investors can subscribe directly to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery IPO through Ecobank Transactional Incorporated and SBG Securities, which the Nigerian prospectus names as African distribution channels for investors outside Nigeria. The route allows eligible Kenyan investors to apply for the underlying DPRP shares at the ₦525 IPO price, with applications generally starting from a minimum of 10 shares and thereafter in multiples of 10. It sits alongside the separate KSh 39Bn NSE GDR structure, under which each KSh 53.50 GDR represents one DPRP share and gives investors access through a locally listed, Kenya-based custody and settlement framework.

Dangote’s Kenyan GDR offer targets KSh 39Bn through up to 728.97Mn receipts priced at KSh 53.50 each, with every GDR representing one underlying Dangote Refinery share offered in Nigeria at ₦525. The minimum application is 2,000 GDRs, or KSh 107,000, with additional subscriptions in multiples of 100. The offer price reflects the underlying share price, foreign-exchange conversion and GDR expenses. The GDR operates as a pass-through vehicle, meaning dividends and other corporate actions on the underlying shares flow to Kenyan holders; cash dividends paid in naira or US dollars will be converted into shillings, net of fees and applicable withholding taxes. The KSh 39Bn size is a target and depends on the final allocation of underlying IPO shares.

Turaco appoints Cedrick Todwell as Chief Commercial Officer, Africa, to oversee commercial strategy, partnerships, and market expansion across Africa. The microinsurance company, which operates in Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana, Zambia, and Tanzania, has reached over eight million people through embedded partnerships with firms including M-KOPA, Safaricom, Absa, Airtel, and Moniepoint. Turaco entered Pakistan in 2026 and plans to launch in two additional African underwriting markets by year end. The company ranked 29th among Africa’s fastest-growing companies in the FT 2026 ranking and second among Kenyan companies.