Biggest Kenyan Bank Makes Takeover Bid for State-Owned Rival

Biggest Kenyan Bank Makes Takeover Bid for State-Owned Rival

NAIROBI (Capital Markets in Africa) – Kenya’s biggest bank by assets offered to buy a state-owned lender as the industry struggles to cope with interest-rate caps that have cut profits and curbed lending. KCB Group Ltd. provided an expression of interest to the Treasury to acquire a controlling stake in National Bank of Kenya Ltd., Judith Odhiambo, a spokeswoman for Nairobi-based KCB, said in an emailed response to questions on Monday. “Further details will, however, be provided in…

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Ethiopia Eyes Role in DP World-Managed Port in Somaliland

Ethiopia Eyes Role in DP World-Managed Port in Somaliland

ADDIS ABABA (Capital Markets in Africa) – Ethiopia is in talks to acquire shares in a joint venture involving DP World Ltd. that will manage a port in northern Somalia, a Somali official said, a move that could give the fast-growing yet landlocked Horn of Africa economy its first stake in foreign docks. Somaliland, a semi-autonomous territory that aspires to statehood, has agreed “in principle” to give Ethiopia a 19 percent share in the venture administering Berbera…

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Kenya to Lower Growth Forecast as Drought Cuts Food Output

Kenya to Lower Growth Forecast as Drought Cuts Food Output

NAIROBI (Capital Markets in Africa) – Kenya will cut its growth forecast to reflect the impact of a drought that slashed agricultural output in East Africa’s biggest economy and left the country short of its staple food, Treasury Secretary Henry Rotich said. Economic growth will probably be 5.7 percent this year, compared with an earlier estimate of 5.9 percent to 6 percent, Rotich, 48, said in an interview Wednesday at his office in the capital, Nairobi. The…

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Kenyan Opposition Leader May Consider Tax Cuts to Woo Investors

Kenyan Opposition Leader May Consider Tax Cuts to Woo Investors

NAIROBI (Capital Markets in Africa) – Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga said he would consider tax cuts to woo foreign investors and measures to boost manufacturing to drive export-led growth if he wins the country’s presidential elections in August. The National Super Alliance also plans measures to assist small-scale businesses and farmers, and a crackdown on corruption to boost revenue collection if it comes to power, Odinga said in an interview Wednesday in the capital, Nairobi. The…

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Kenyan Election Body Denies Awarding Deal to Blocked Company

Kenyan Election Body Denies Awarding Deal to Blocked Company

NAIROBI (Capital Markets in Africa) – Kenya’s electoral commission said it’s yet to decide which company will print ballot papers for elections being held in two months, after a local newspaper said the deal had been handed to a Dubai-based firm whose contract has been blocked twice. “We are still working on it,” Andrew Limo, spokesman for the Independent Electoral & Boundaries Commission, said by phone on Wednesday from the capital, Nairobi. “Communication will be…

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Kenya Electoral Body Fires Procurement Officer as Vote Nears

Kenya Electoral Body Fires Procurement Officer as Vote Nears

NAIROBI (Capital Markets in Africa) – Kenya’s electoral body fired its head of procurement as it seeks to source ballot papers less than two months before the country’s presidential elections. The Independent Electoral & Boundaries Commission “has relieved the procurement director, Mr. Lawy Aura, of his duties,” the Nairobi-based body said on its Twitter account on Tuesday. “We are addressing the delayed sourcing of ballot papers.” The dismissal comes a week after the body placed…

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Kenya Airways Debt Swap May Give State a Controlling Stake

Kenya Airways Debt Swap May Give State a Controlling Stake

NAIROBI (Capital Markets in Africa) – Kenya’s government agreed to swap loans it provided to Kenya Airways Ltd. for equity, a conversion that may give the state a controlling stake in the national carrier, Treasury Secretary Henry Rotich said. The government will also guarantee 77 billion shillings ($745 million) of the airline’s debt to lessors and domestic banks, enabling Kenya Airways to extend its loan repayments to 10 years, Rotich told reporters Tuesday in the capital, Nairobi….

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