Two Years After Grey Listing...

Hello 👋🏽 It's Brian from The Kenyan Wall Street.

In today's newsletter,

• Kenya marks its second year in the FATF grey list. What efforts have been made to clean the financial system?

• The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) wants to digitize JKIA Taxis.

• Several NSE-listed firms have released the interim financial results. We analyze them…

Two Years After Grey Listing… 

By Brian Nzomo 

Two years after the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) placed Kenya under increased monitoring, the country’s anti–money laundering regime is shifting from drafting statutes to producing cases. Over that period, several African countries have vacated the greylist.

At the center is the Financial Reporting Centre (FRC) which has ramped up suspicious-transaction analysis, expanded supervision to real estate agents, casinos, forex bureaus and crypto firms, and pushed more intelligence files into the hands of prosecutors. Reporting volumes have climbed, inter-agency taskforces have tightened, and asset freezes and forfeitures (while still modest) are no longer theoretical.

The appointment of a new director-general with a background in intelligence and enforcement underscores the pivot toward operational muscle, not mere compliance theatre. For Nairobi, the message to the FATF is increasingly clear: the laws are written, and now the machinery is running.

Read the full article here >>>>>

Unga Group Profit Rebounds 

By Harry Njuguna

After four years of margin compression and borrowing strain, Unga Group Plc returned to interim profitability in the six months to December 2025, with earnings surging as lower finance costs and firmer operating margins reset the income statement.

Financial Snapshot :

🟢 Revenue rose 12% to a record KSh 14.48 billion, lifting operating profit to KSh 746.8 million.

🟢 Finance costs fell 53% to KSh 106.2 million.

🟢 Profit before tax climbed to KSh 688.8 million from KSh 127.0 million.

🟢 Earnings per share rose to KSh 4.48 from KSh 0.63.

🟢 Operating margin improved to just over 5% from below 3%.

Read the full financial analysis here »»»»»

JKIA Taxis Plot a Ride-Hailing Future

By Chelsy Maina

The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) is stepping into the ride-hailing arena with a new app for Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), signaling a subtle shake-up in Nairobi’s airport transport market. Licensed yellow taxis, long overshadowed by Uber and Bolt, will now compete on a digital platform offering real-time fares and GPS tracking. The authority envisions expanding the system to parking, lounges, and even in-terminal services, hinting at a broader ambition beyond mere rides. With a three-month rollout timeline, the move positions KAA as both regulator and direct competitor in airport mobility.

Read the full article here >>>>>

A Mall Made for the Neighbourhood

By Fred Obura

In Nairobi’s Eastlands, MRE Real Estate is placing a calculated bet on proximity over spectacle, breaking ground on Manyanja Mall as neighbourhood retail regains its footing. Anchored by Quickmart and framed as a mixed-use convenience hub, the KSh 400 million project leans into density, daily foot traffic, and the quiet resilience of middle-income catchments. The move reflects a broader shift described by Knight Frank as cautious confidence, with developers favoring completion and absorption over grand retail gambles ahead of the 2027 elections. In a market once chastened by oversupply, the contest now is not for scale but for relevance.

Read the full article here >>>>>

Longhorn Publishers Narrows Half-Year Loss

By Harry Njuguna

After years of pandemic disruptions and shrinking revenues, Longhorn Publishers narrowed its interim loss, signalling a rebound toward pre-2020 financial situation. The board is optimistic on growth from digital learning rollouts and e-commerce expansion.

Financial Snapshot :

🔴 The NSE-listed publisher cut its half-year loss to KSh 11 million, down sharply from KSh 148.6 million a year earlier.

🟢 Revenue jumped 88% to KSh 524.2 million, fueled by expanded school coverage and higher government orders.

🟢 Gross profit more than doubled to KSh 239.7 million, lifting margins to 45.8%.

🔴 Operating expenses rose moderately to KSh 167.9 million.

Read the full financial analysis here »»»»»

Heads Up 

On Your Watchlist 

Are you returning to the workforce after a break and feeling unsure about your market value? In this episode of the Just Money Podcast, we sit down with HR experts Daisy and Michelle to break down the mechanics of salary negotiation, from entry-level roles to executive reviews

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Upcoming Events : InvestKenya Announces the Upcoming Kenya International Investment Conference (KIICO) 2026

Taking place at the Radisson Blu Upper Hill on March 25, 2026, the 4th Kenya International Investment Conference (KIICO) 2026 is set to be the largest and most impactful investment promotion conference in Kenya’s history. Register here »»»»»

During KIICO 2026, Kenya will also host the 2nd COMESA Investment Forum on March 26 and the Africa Green Industrialization Initiative (AGII) on March 27th.

Read more about it here »»»»»

Today in History 

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