Africa Markets Pulse | Business Redefined

We take a continental look at capital market activity that has shaped Africa in 2025. On the agenda:
  • Kenya debut asset backed security being listed at the Nairobi Securities Exchange
  • Egypt's venture with Africa's first regulated Voluntary Carbon Market
  • Ethiopia pushing forward the liberalization agenda by passing a new law allowing foreign banks to access its banking sector (capped at 40.0% ownership)
  • Global macros & FX implications for select African markets
We have a conversation with the Global Markets Director at Absa Kenya, Stella Mambo, for a deep dive into this & a lot more.
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Episodes
Reset in Kenya's Hospitality | Business Redefined Kenya's inbound tourism earnings closed 2024 at Kes 452.20 billion, up 19.8% y/y, as international arrivals grew to 2.39 million. As holiday & leisure & business & conferencing top the allure of the Kenyan market accounting for 44.2% & 26.9% of 2024's arrivals, respectively, the competitive landscape in the hospitality industry is navigating a shake up with top tier players introducing mid-market offerings to cater to the needs of squeezed wallets & demands for accommodative price points amidst growing supply.  A look at the state of the hospitality industry, the COVID19 hangover & emerging trends.   December 16, 2025
Capital Markets State of Play | Business Redefined Collective Investment Schemes now hold Kes 679.6 billion (US$5.25 billion) worth of assets under management. The latest data from the market regulator shows that  Fixed Income Funds & Special Funds are leading the growth charge at 29.48% (q/q) to Kes 136.76 billion & 21.53% (q/q) to Kes 137.81 billion, respectively, as at close of Q3 2025. We speak to ICEA LION Asset Management CEO, Einstein Kihanda, on the evolving landscape of Collective Investment Schemes in the country. December 9, 2025
Special Report - Loan Pricing Formula Overhaul | Business Redefined Starting Dec 1st, 2025, Kenya's banking sector ushers in a new regime of interest rate determination as the Risk Based Credit Pricing model is overhauled for all new variable loans. A Special Report on what is changing, how it's changing, why it's changing, what implications this has on the market & whether it really is a game change in monetary transmission. December 2, 2025
East Africa's Ride Hailing Landscape | Business Redefined Usage of app-based mobility services has gained traction in Kenya's urban centres. In the taxi industry, this has presented a notable reset as the market adjusts to platform based sourcing of services, an increase in the number operators coupled with an increase in zone coverage. We take a look at this sector covering:
  • The regulatory landscape
  • Pricing & commission
  • Product development & distribution
  • Client security
 November 26, 2025
Kenya's Digital Payments Ecosystem | Business Redefined A conversation with Network International regarding Kenya's & East Africa's Digital Payments Ecosystem. On the discussion:
  1. Solving for the micro, small & medium size businesses as far as payments go
  2. Interoperability across channels & the state of play on frictionless payments
  3. Three years after the launch of the National QR Code Standard, where are we on that front?
  4. Security & data protection
 November 25, 2025
Investment Play 2025/26 | Business Redefined From the listing of the first global equity ETF at the Nairobi Securities Exchange, through the largest corporate bond issuance (Kes 20.0 billion aggregate, Kes 16.76 billion Tranche I) to the structuring of the roads state arrears securitization program, few have commanded the East African corporate actions scene in 2025 like Absa Kenya. We speak to the man steering the team behind all these corporate actions, James Agin, Managing Principal, Corporate & Investment Banking, ABSA Kenya for a front row seat on the 2025 pipeline, the driving factors & also to get a sense of what we can expect in 2026. November 18, 2025
Banking on Africa | Business Redefined A sit down with pan-African entrepreneur Tony Elumelu during his latest visit to Nairobi to discuss UBA Group's 'Banking on Africa' white paper & the case for mobilising an estimated US$4.0 trillion worth of domestic capital to fund the continent's infrastructure needs. He tables an emphatic case for Africa's pension funds (~ US$500.0 billion in assets under management) to leave the safe harbour of government paper & deploy this capital in transformative infrastructure projects. November 17, 2025
Emerging Issues in Retail Banking | Business Redefined It's the big countdown to Dec 1st as Kenyans anticipate the much awaited transition to a new Risk Based Credit Pricing Model in the banking sector. We sit down with Stanbic Kenya's Head of Personal & Private Banking, Abraham Ongenge, for a discussion on what this transition means & how it is expected to impact lending.  Also on the discussion, evolving trends around retail lending, risk appetite & the deep-seated asset quality question. November 14, 2025
Alternative Tax Dispute Resolution | Business Redefined In 2024/25, KRA reported unlocking Kes 15.3 billion following the conclusion of 97 cases through the alternative dispute resolution route. We take a look at Alternative Tax Dispute Resolution with Janet Lavuna, Associate Director, PWC Kenya In the discussion:
  • What is the design of Kenya's Alternative Tax Dispute Resolution framework?
  • Who are the parties involved & what does it entail from start to finish?
  • What are the limitations of the Alternative Tax Dispute Resolution process & what recourse exists?
  • What are the typical settlement terms in the Alternative Tax Dispute Resolution process?
  • Enhanced Tax Compliance Certificates & implications for taxpayers
 November 12, 2025