Unlocking County Capital: Why Subnational Bonds Could Reshape Kenya’s Fiscal Future
In 2021, Laikipia issued Kenya’s first county infrastructure bond, raising KSh 1.16 billion from private investors. It was a test of law, process, and public trust. Imperfect, yes, but proof of concept all the same. It showed that with structure, transparency, and resolve, counties can access capital markets on their own terms.
Brick by Brick: Evaluating The Merit Of Real Estate As East Africa’s Favourite Asset
Across Uganda and Kenya, real estate is more than just an investment – it’s a symbol of identity, security and legacy. From gated communities in the suburbs of Kampala to Airbnb rentals on Kenya’s coast, the region’s property boom has been fuelled by a perfect storm of demand from demographics, tourism and the diaspora.
Beyond the Shoreline: Building East Africa’s Blue Finance Ecosystem
East Africa’s extensive aquatic capital, from its Indian Ocean coastline to its Great Lakes, represents a monumental opportunity to drive climate-resilient growth and socioeconomic transformation. However, this potential is constrained by a significant financing gap.
Ethiopia’s Path to Financial Inclusion: Leveraging Digital Banking
Ethiopia has long been an outlier in the region when it comes to financial inclusion. While neighbouring countries embraced mobile money and digital banking, Ethiopia kept to its more traditional route. Yet the last decade has seen the nation begin to reroute, slowly but surely, from exclusion to inclusion, from cash to digital, and from isolation to innovation.
Barrier to Bridge: Uganda's New Limited Liability Partnership Regulations to Unlock Local Domiciliation of Private Capital Vehicles
Ugandan private equity fund managers and their advisors have long struggled to identify the most efficient legal structure for funds raised. This challenge is rooted in the underlying question: How can a group of institutions and individuals create a structure that would bind them as investors for a finite period without creating a duplicity of tax liabilities and complex compliance requirements?
From Soil to Stability: The Future of Smallholder Farming in East Africa
Agriculture in East Africa is more than an economic activity – it is a way of life. Contributing up to 40% of the region's GDP and employing over 80% of its population, it remains the primary livelihood for millions. Agriculture has not only ensured food security for local communities but also driven export revenues and supported agro-based industries.
Kenya’s Shift in IMF Engagement: Fiscal Freedom or Miscalculation?
Last year, Kenya witnessed widespread protests driven by public discontent over tax hikes, rising living costs, and its government’s economic policies. These demonstrations hinted not-so-subtly at growing frustrations with Kenya’s fiscal management, particularly with its reliance on external debt and the stringent, unforgiving austerity measures linked to International Monetary Fund (IMF) programs.
When Lifelines Become Nooses: East Africa’s Battle Against Predatory Digital Lending
Throughout East Africa, a financial revolution is unfolding, one that promises liberation but too often delivers bondage. East Africa's dramatic surge in digital lending has transformed the financial landscape with remarkable speed, creating a paradoxical reality where access to capital coexists with meticulous exploitation.
Domiciliation of Private Investment Vehicles in East Africa: A Comparative Analysis of Legal and Regulatory Frameworks for Establishing Private Investment Vehicles Across East African Jurisdictions
Private capital funds, or investment vehicles (IVs) – spanning private equity, venture capital, and private debt – play a pivotal role in the region’s economic growth and job creation, especially for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). Yet, fund managers and investors often face questions about where best to domicile their vehicles for optimal regulatory compliance, tax efficiency, and investor confidence.
