Author: David Indeje

Airtel Africa to explore the potential listing of mobile money business within four years Investment firm TPG’s Rise Fund will invest USD 200 million in Airtel Africa’s mobile money business at a valuation of $2.65 billion, Bharti Airtel said on Thursday. The Rise Fund will provide the funds in two batches — $150 million first and then the remaining $50 million in a second round. With this transaction, Rise Fund is estimated to get 7.5 per cent stake in Airtel Mobile Commerce AMC BV which is currently the holding company for several of Airtel Africas mobile money operations. “The transaction…

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Executives on Thursday approved a $2.4 billion (Ksh263 billion) loan to Kenya. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Executives on Thursday approved a $2.4 billion (Ksh263 billion) loan to Kenya under the Extended Fund Facility and Extended Credit Facility. The new programme will last for three years to support the government’s COVID-19 response. “The programme will support the next phase of the country’s COVID-19 response and the authorities’ plans for a strong multi-year effort to stabilize and begin reducing debt levels relative to GDP,” Mary Goodman who was representing the IMF said.

Kenya’s state-owned Geothermal Development Corporation (GDC) has secured a $5 million grant from the African Union (AU) for geothermal exploration of the Paka Geothermal Project in Baringo. According to GDC Managing Director and CEO, Jared Othieno, the funding will go towards the cost of the exploration drilling, and is expected to support 40% of the total drilling cost (drilling and testing program) and 20% of the total infrastructure development (infrastructure upgrade) cost of the project. “The Paka Geothermal Project is an integral component of GDC’s strategic plan, where the company envisions the development of 1,065MW from geothermal sources by 2030.…

KCB Group reported a 22.10% decline in annual net profit of KShs. 19.6 billion for the full year ending December 2020 from the KSh 25.2 billion in 2019. The lender which also operates in Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan attributed the decline to higher provisions for loan losses and subdued economic activity associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. “The pandemic significantly affected our business across the markets we operate in, with most of them going into some degree of lockdown. The negative impact on the economy drastically reduced our customer’s ability to operate necessitating loan restructures,” the Group CEO…

Kenyan High Court has dismissed a petition that sought to decriminalise Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) saying it violates the right to health, dignity and in some circumstances the right to life. In dismissing the petition case No. 244/2019, the 3-judge bench, Lady Justice Lydia Achode, Lady Justice Margaret Muigai and Justice Kanyi Kimondo held that one can not chose to harm themselves. “We find that limiting this right is reasonable in an open and democratic society, based on the dignity of women,” said judge Lydia Achode. “The amended petition is devoid of merit and hereby dismissed.” Dr. Tatu Kamau had…

Flutterwave is collaborating with PayPal allowing businesses in Africa to receive payments from over 377 million PayPal users all over the world. Flutterwave said the new arrangement will eliminate a barrier to cross-border commerce while involving 50 countries.  “By working with PayPal, we can further strengthen our commitment to our customers and service users as we will be enabling them to transact and expand their business operations to reach new markets. PayPal’s global reach is unrivalled and collaborating with them allows our customers to explore new markets where PayPal is embedded,” Flutterwave Founder and CEO Olugbenga ‘GB’ Agboola said Tuesday.…