Sustainability in Financial Services | Business Redefined
Stanbic Bank Kenya closed 2025 having 'greened' 9.0% of its credit portfolio, 100.0bps higher than the previous year.
In 2025, the bank disbursed Kes 4.5 billion worth of financing towards green buildings; Kes 2.5 billion towards climate smart agriculture & another Kes 273.0 million towards solar energy.
The bank's Ag. Chief Executive Officer, Abraham Ongenge, argues that as far as sustainability financing goes, the tide has turned.
The challenge is not any more so much the inadequacy of bankable projects, but rather whether one can find adequate patient & low cost capital to meet the pipeline of projects without an aggressive yield demand.
In the recent past, Kenya has seen two issuers go to the capital markets & raised debt via green notes, both of which not only attracted strong over-subscription but also pushed the market on pricing.
Notably, Safaricom Plc's 5-year note at 10.4% stretched the limits of what we'd consider tight credit spreads for issuers deemed to be of strong investment grade.
I asked Ongenge whether Stanbic Bank Kenya, with a strong balance sheet & the backing of a strong parent entity, could be looking to follow this route as it scouts for low priced financing for its sustainability.
AmCham Business Summit 2026 | Business Redefined
A conversation with Paul Muthaura, CEO, America Chamber of Commerce about the AmCham Business Summit 2026 that took place between 9th and 10th September.
16 hours ago
Scaling Dental Solutions | Business Redefined
We explore how Azure Dental Hospital is scaling comprehensive dental solutions across Kenya and Africa. A conversation with the CEO, Dr. Kennedy Carson Opiyo, on the vision, the business and the future of dental care.
September 15, 2026
African Tea Convention 2026 | Business Redefined
Kenya exported 653,736 tonnes of tea in 2025 fetching the economy Kes 187.06 billion (US$1.45 billion) but the country is far from optimising the value of this product in the global markets. The upcoming 7th African Tea Convention and Exhibition taking place between 16th & 18th Sep in Nairobi seeks to chart a way forward on how Africa's tea exporters can extract optimal value from their produce.
A conversation with George Omuga - MD, East Africa Tea Trade Association to explore what the options are as Africa thinks of tea. We also look into the history & evolution of the association as it marks 70 years.
September 8, 2026
East Africa's Banking Allure | Business Redefined
Standard Bank's Chief Executive, Sim Tshabalala, is in Nairobi. It is the second visit in just eight months by the senior most executive in Africa's largest bank by asset base.
A conversation on a raft of issues:
- The bank's quest to make its regional subsidiary ( Stanbic Bank KE) a universal bank what that looks like from potential organic or inorganic growth
- The retail rush in East Africa's banking sector & how well a bank with a corporate & investment banking extraction is positioned to face off with strong incumbents
- Declining external financial flows, rising infrastructure spending needs & the catalytic role that the banking sector can play in mobilising domestic capital pools
Kenya's Fiscal Landscape | Business Redefined
A look through the latest developments in Kenya's fiscal environment.
On the agenda:
- From US$880 million worth of Samurai issuances to US$1.0 billion in planned debt swap, inside the ambitious 2026/27 borrowing plan
- July 2026's Kes 195.29 billion in tax revenue collection, gauging the start of the 2026/27 financial year & the broader fiscal framework
- Looking into the condensed 2027/28 budget cycle & what is earmarked to be Kenya's debut > Kes 5.0 trillion budget
I&M Group HY2026 Earnings | Business Redefined
A deep dive into I&M Group's HY2026 numbers with the Regional Chief Executive, Kihara Maina
August 27, 2026
Africa Capital Week 2026 | Business Redefined
A fortnight from now, the continent's leading capital markets stakeholders will converge in Nairobi for the inaugural Africa Capital Week. Taking place between 7th & 11th September & themed “Deepening Capital Markets to advance Africa’s Economic Sovereignty”, Africa Capital Week 2026 will bring together regulators, investors, policymakers, market players & thought leaders to connect, collaborate & shape the future of Africa’s capital markets. We take a look at the state of play in Africa's capital markets, the agenda of the conference & the roadmap ahead as domestic capital pools play an increasingly greater role in financing Africa's growth & development.
August 25, 2026
ABSA Bank Kenya HY2026 Earnings | Business Redefined
Absa Bank Kenya is the latest to join the high dividend tide at the Nairobi Securities Exchange having bumped its interim dividend 150.0% to Kes 0.50/share in its HY2026 earnings. A conversation with the bank's interim MD & CEO, Yusuf Omari for a deep dive into the HY2026 numbers.
August 19, 2026
Kenya's Special Funds Market | Business Redefined
Special Funds are the fastest growing class of Collective Investment Schemes in Kenya with assets under management having surged 134.84% y/y to close Q1 2026 at Kes 203.56 billion. Mansa-X by Standard Investment Bank dominates this space with four funds under its stable accounting for 75.23% of the market. We have a conversation with the man steering this >US$1.1 billion fund, Nahashon Mungai, to whip through the special funds landscape in general & Mansa-X in particular.
On the agenda:
- The fund's return profile, benchmarks used & underlying risk
- Investment play & the strategies being deployed
- Liquidity management in a >US$1.1 billion fund
- Global macros, shifting tides & impact on the fund