Minimizing the Paper Trail...

Good evening! It's Brian from The Kenyan Wall Street. Here are the business stories we have compiled for you today…

Public Policy

Minimizing the Paper Trail : Efficiency in Tender Procurement

Kenya is bidding farewell to paper trails and slow procurement processes, aiming to save a cool KSh 330 billion by fully digitizing public procurement. 

The National Treasury has kicked off onboarding for ministries, counties, and state agencies, with a June deadline. With KSh 2.5 trillion of next year’s budget headed toward procurement, efficiency isn't just an upgrade—it's a necessity.

The current manual system has been a leaky ship, wasting funds and locking out deserving suppliers. Countries like Rwanda and Chile proved that going digital is transformational. Kenya’s finally ditching stone age procurement, but whether that will solve the current flimflam in the tendering process is a outcome to watch. Read about it here»»»»»

Today's Poll

Trade & Commerce  

A Stitch In Time Could Save AGOA…

♦️ Kenyan manufacturers are lobbying hard for an AGOA extension as Trump’s new 10% tariff looms large. With AGOA set to expire in September, Kenya’s $533M apparel trade—and thousands of jobs—are on the line.

KAM fears trade disruptions, while the Trade Ministry offers little more than a shrug. Meanwhile, the U.S. isn’t thrilled with Kenya’s protectionist vibes—especially the 35% EAC tariff on imported mtumba (second-hand clothes). President Donald Trump's approach to trade aims at establishing leverage—a deal that would seemingly edify the U.S. and therefore—it is unclear if an extension is possible.

Bilateral talks are urgent, but time's ticking fast. If AGOA goes, so might Kenya’s textile edge—and a chunk of its economy. Here is what's at stake»»»»»

♦️ Last week’s developments in US tariff policies by President Donald Trump signify a drastic shift in the global trade landscape, with several stakeholders in Kenya seeing opportunities to boost competitiveness and negotiations with Washington.

According to advisory firm PwC, to overcome the new challenges, Kenya should continue to pursue the Kenya-US Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership (“STIP”) for bilateral trade benefits where this is still feasible. Here is what they said»»»»»

Tech & Regulation

Strengthening the Crypto Bill

Kenya is tightening its crypto regulations with the Virtual Asset Service Providers Bill, 2025, introducing licenses, jail terms, and hefty fines for unregistered crypto firms.

The bill grants sweeping powers to the CBK and CMA, splitting oversight between wallet/custodial services and investment/exchange platforms. New definitions now cover stablecoins, ICOs, and token issuance platforms, reflecting a more mature regulatory approach—compared to the laughable bill proposed in 2024 under the same name. Here are the details»»»»»

Capital Markets

♦️Listed financial services provider Sanlam Kenya Plc has announced a KSh 2.5 billion Rights Issue to strengthen its balance sheet, following a year of robust financial recovery. The offer, opening on 25 April 2025, comes on the heels of the company’s 2024 audited results, which revealed a profit after tax of KSh 1.05 billion—a dramatic turnaround from a KSh 125.9 million loss in 2023. Here is why it is raising this money…

♦️As of April 2025, an impressive 79% of all shares traded on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) have been immobilized in electronic form—a staggering increase from just 50% in January 2024. Why is this an impressive fete»»»»»

Markets at a Glance…

Real Estate  

♦️ 60% of Kenyan wealth is stored in real estate, with the value estimated at KSh 773 billion of which 10% is in the commercial real estate segment. The sector has always been a go-to option for diaspora investors seeking high yields and safe investment options. This article analyzes the opportunities for the Diaspora in Kenya’s Real Estate Market»»»»»

♦️For many years, real estate investment has been associated with high capital barriers, tedious transactions, and illiquid assets. That formula is now being rewritten. Blockchain is reshaping the real estate market by opening up new ways to buy, sell, and trade property. Here is how tokenization has emerged as a viable Real Estate investment formula»»»»»

On your watchlist

Last Friday's Poll Results

Do you think the Kenyan Judiciary is capable of administering justice in cases involving global firms?

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Yes (60%)

🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️ No (40%)