East Africa | - Part 3

Secession Talk Enters Kenyan Mainstream as Poll Feud Simmers

NAIROBI (Capital Markets in Africa) – Kenya’s protracted election dispute has spawned secession calls from opposition supporters who say their vote has no influence on how East Africa’s biggest economy is governed. The increased agitation follows the declaration of President Uhuru Kenyatta as the winner of October’s election rerun that the main opposition alliance boycotted, alleging it wouldn’t be a fair vote. His victory in the poll, in which turnout was just 38.8 percent and clustered in…

Kenya Stares at Bleak 2018 Outlook in Vote Mess Aftermath

Posted on by The Editorial Team

NAIROBI (Capital Markets in Africa) – Kenya is facing an economic storm in 2018 in the aftermath of two disputed elections. Saddled with the triple threat of austerity measures to pay for those votes, slowing credit growth and new accounting rules for banks, Kenya now risks missing the government’s forecast for 6 percent economic growth next year, according to lenders including Nairobi-based Stanbic Bank Kenya Ltd. Investec Bank Ltd. strategist Chris Becker says expansion could slow to as…

Kenya Government Takes Control of Kenya Airways in Debt Swap

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NAIROBI (Capital Markets in Africa) – Kenya’s government and domestic lenders agreed to convert $405.3 million of Kenya Airways Plc debt into equity, giving the state a controlling stake and diluting other shareholders including Air France-KLM. The government, which has given Kenya Airways shilling and U.S.-dollar loans totaling $238.1 million, will increase its stake to 48.9 percent from 29.8 percent, according to statements published in the Nairobi-based Standard newspaper on Monday. Lenders owed $217.2 million will convert…

Kenya’s Western Allies Urge Talks to Break Elections Impasse

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NAIROBI (Capital Markets in Africa) – Kenya’s key western trading partners and political allies urged talks to resolve a deadlock over the country’s presidential elections, as the nation’s top court began considering petitions challenging the outcome of last month’s vote rerun. The Oct. 26 rerun of an annulled vote two months earlier has polarized the East African nation and exposed “deep tribal and ethnic rifts” that have characterized Kenyan politics in the past, the Atlanta-based…

African Union Begins Pulling Forces Out of War-Torn Somalia

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MOGADISHU (Capital Markets in Africa) – The African Union mission in Somalia said it has started gradually withdrawing its forces from the war-torn nation and will have 1,000 fewer troops there by the end of the year. Troop movements have begun in various parts of the Horn of Africa country and will continue in the coming weeks, the mission known as Amisom said Tuesday on its Twitter account. Security responsibilities will be gradually transferred to Somali national…

Tanzanian Helium Discovery May Be Double Initial Estimate

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DAR ES SALAAM (Capital Markets in Africa) – Helium resources discovered in Tanzania last year may be almost twice as large as first thought, helping address possible future shortages of the gas used in medical scanners and nuclear energy when production begins, possibly as early as 2020, the exploration company said. Researchers working with Lisbon-based Helium One Ltd. calculated the Rukwa gas field in southwestern Tanzania could contain as much as 98.9 billion cubic feet of the resource, Chief Executive…

Kenyan Politician Files Petition to Overturn Vote Rerun Result

Posted on by The Editorial Team

NAIROBI (Capital Markets in Africa) A Kenyan politician lodged a petition at the Supreme Court challenging the validity of last month’s repeat presidential elections, arguing the vote breached the law and wasn’t free and fair. The petition was filed by Harun Mwau, a former legislator, the Judiciary’s spokeswoman, Lilian Mueni, said by phone from the capital, Nairobi. The Independent Electoral & Boundaries Commission proceeded with the Oct. 26 vote rerun despite opposition candidate Raila Odinga’s withdrawal. The…

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