Equity Group Holdings shareholders approved all resolutions at the 22nd Annual General Meeting on 24 June 2026, clearing a KSh21.7 billion dividend, three new insurance subsidiaries across Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and a full slate of board appointments.
The meeting, held electronically, also ratified the audited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025 and reappointed Ernst & Young as external auditors until the next AGM.
A dividend that reflects the distance travelled
Shareholders approved a first and final dividend of KSh21.70 billion — KSh5.75 per share — for the financial year ended 31 December 2025. That marks a 35.5% increase from the KSh16.04 billion, or KSh4.25 per share, paid for the 2024 financial year. Payment falls on or about 30 June 2026 to shareholders on the register at close of business on 22 May 2026.
The payout sits against a year in which Equity Group posted a 55% increase in profit after tax to KSh75.5 billion — a record in Kenya’s corporate history. The balance sheet expanded by 9% to KSh1.97 trillion, with customer deposits rising 4% to KSh1.46 trillion and net loans growing 8% to KSh882.5 billion.
Chairman Prof. Isaac Macharia said the outcome reflected shareholder confidence in both the numbers and the direction of travel.
“The approvals received today reflect our shareholders’ confidence in Equity’s strategy and oversight. We remain committed to strong governance, prudent stewardship, and delivering sustainable value — by building an institution that expands opportunities for our customers and strengthens resilience across our markets.”
Insurance: the third pillar takes shape
The most consequential decisions at the AGM concerned insurance. Shareholders approved the incorporation of three new subsidiaries under Equity Group Insurance Holdings Limited, subject to regulatory approvals: a microinsurance company in Kenya capitalised at KSh192 million, a life insurance company in the DRC with capital of USD12 million, and a general insurance company in the DRC capitalised at USD13.37 million. The combined DRC outlay stands at USD25.37 million.
Those approvals arrive at a moment when the insurance business has become one of the fastest-growing parts of the Group. For the full year 2025, gross written premiums rose 75% to KSh9.17 billion, insurance revenue climbed 150% to KSh3.57 billion, and profit before tax grew 36% to KSh2.0 billion.
The performance broke down across three units:
| Subsidiary | Gross Written Premiums | Profit Before Tax | Customers / Policies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equity Life Assurance Kenya | — | KSh1.77 billion | 6.9 million customers; 19.2 million policies since inception |
| Equity General Insurance Kenya | KSh1.79 billion | KSh199 million | First full year of operations |
| Equity Health Insurance Kenya | KSh20 million | KSh40 million | First 4 months of operations |
Source: Equity Group FY2025 Investor Briefing
The momentum carried into 2026. In Q1 2026, the insurance arm grew gross written premiums 30% to KSh4.5 billion, with profit before tax up 53%.
CEO Dr. James Mwangi said the insurance expansion deepens the Group’s capacity to serve customers beyond banking.
“Equity continues to pursue growth anchored on innovation, regional presence, and solutions that protect and advance livelihoods. The approvals to expand our insurance footprint strengthen our ability to offer more holistic financial services that help customers and communities manage risk, build resilience, and plan confidently for the future.”
Why the DRC matters
Equity BCDC, the Group’s DRC subsidiary, recorded a 58% jump in profit to KSh24.7 billion for the full year 2025, outpacing every other regional subsidiary in absolute profit growth. In Q1 2026, the DRC unit posted a further 32% year-on-year profit increase to KSh5 billion.
Approximately 94% of the DRC’s population remains unbanked, and insurance penetration is minimal. Equity BCDC holds a 24% share in commercial banking, giving the Group a distribution platform for insurance products that most market entrants could not replicate without decades of relationship-building.
The DRC push replicates the bancassurance model already deployed in Kenya, where the insurance arm reached KSh4.5 billion in gross written premiums in Q1 2026 alone, up 30% year-on-year.
Board and governance
On governance, shareholders re-elected Prof. Isaac Macharia, Mr. Jonas Mushosho, Dr. Evanson Baiya, and Mrs. Farida Khambata as Directors. They also approved the appointment of Dr. Eliane Ubalijoro as a Director, subject to regulatory approvals.
The approvals come as Equity Group continues to pursue regional growth across banking, insurance, investment, technology, and social impact, serving 22.7 million customers across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan, and the DRC. The Group was recently named Africa’s strongest banking brand in 2026 by Brand Finance, with a Brand Strength Index score of 93.9 out of 100 and an AAA+ rating.
The insurance expansion, in that context, is less a diversification move and more the next logical step in building what Dr. Mwangi describes as a full-service financial ecosystem, one where a customer can borrow, save, insure, invest, and pay, all within the same institution.
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