veri blog

For many years, the dominant investment narrative around Africa has focused on access — how African investors can reach global markets, how capital can be moved outward efficiently, and how portfolios can be diversified beyond domestic borders. That access matters. But it is not the end goal. The next phase — and the one we are now actively building toward — is about bringing capital into Africa . Once continental connectivity is in place, once listed, OTC, and private placem

One of the most important milestones we’re working toward this year is completing full platform connectivity across the African continent. Not partially. Not selectively. But properly — in a way that respects local markets, regulatory frameworks, and the realities institutions operate within every day. By the end of Q2, our objective is clear: to have Africa fully covered across all investment environments we provide. That starts with what already exists today — access to li

One of the things I’m most looking forward to as we return to Kenya is the opportunity to sit down with clients and partners and talk openly about what’s coming next — not in abstract terms, but in very real, practical detail. 2026 is a pivotal year for Veri. Not just in terms of platform development, but in how we structure and deliver services to meet the evolving needs of institutions across Africa. At the core of what we already provide is live trading capability , which

In Africa, context matters. No two markets are the same. No two institutions operate under identical constraints. And no serious financial business thrives by being forced into a rigid, one-size-fits-all framework. That’s why at Veri, we’ve never seen ourselves as just a technology vendor or a service provider. We see ourselves as a working business partner . When we engage with clients across the continent, the starting point is never the platform. It’s the business. We take

Local-currency bond markets in East and Southern Africa are experiencing a surge of interest from both domestic and foreign investors. Countries such as Kenya, Zambia, Tanzania, and Uganda are seeing strong demand in recent government debt auctions, marking a shift toward deeper local financing and reduced reliance on foreign-currency borrowing. Financial authorities and international institutions are seizing this momentum to broaden yield curves, improve market infrastructur

Kenya’s first Treasury bond auction of 2026 saw robust uptake, with the government raising Ksh 60.6 billion  against a Ksh 60 billion target. Investors placed total bids of about Ksh 71.5–73 billion , making the sale oversubscribed by roughly 20% . This strong appetite – coming amid delays in external funding tied to IMF talks – highlights investor confidence in Kenya’s credit and abundant liquidity in the domestic market. The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) accepted Ksh 60.58 bi

Kenya has just placed a big bet on keeping the lights on – without blowing up its public balance sheet. On Monday, the finance ministry signed a $311 million agreement with Africa50 , the Morocco-based pan-African infrastructure fund, and PowerGrid Corporation of India to design, finance, build and operate two new high-voltage electricity transmission lines and associated substations. The deal will be structured as a public-private partnership (PPP) . A project company led

For decades, a simple rule defined African trade: If a Kenyan company wanted to pay a supplier in Zambia, or a Ghanaian importer needed to settle a bill in Rwanda, the money went on a long, expensive detour through the U.S. dollar and a chain of foreign correspondent banks. In 2025, that rule is being rewritten. Africa’s cross-border payments market is already worth around US$329 billion a year and is projected to more than triple to US$1 trillion by 2035 , according to a ne

Kenya is cashing in its crown jewel. In the biggest privatisation move in nearly 20 years, the government has agreed to sell a 15% stake in Safaricom – East Africa’s most valuable company – to Vodacom/Vodafone for roughly $1.6 billion , cutting the state’s holding from 35% to 20% and handing majority control to the South African group. The deal is priced at KES 34 per share , a hefty premium to recent market levels, and includes an upfront payment of about KES 40.2 billion

Kenya is rewriting its debt story in real time. In the space of a few weeks, Nairobi has: Agreed a $1 billion debt-for-food security swap with the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC); and Launched a $1.5 billion Chinese-backed highway expansion , with Kenya’s own National Social Security Fund (NSSF) taking equity risk in a 28-year toll concession.() Two very different deals. One goal: create breathing room on the public balance sheet while still funding

Most investors start at home. It’s familiar: you understand the banks on your high street, the telco you use every day, the government securities your adviser talks about. In many African markets, those local instruments also offer attractive nominal yields. But the last decade has shown how fragile that comfort can be: Currency shocks  can wipe out years of returns when measured in hard currency. Inflation spikes  can quietly erode the real value of cash, deposits and even s

When President William Ruto’s government announced a new $1.5 billion highway expansion last week, it was the flags that told the story: Chinese and Kenyan colours flying side by side as officials unveiled plans to rebuild the country’s most important transport corridor. The project will upgrade sections of the road linking Mombasa, Nairobi and western Kenya , a route that carries much of the region’s trade to and from the Indian Ocean. It is also China’s biggest new infrast

When the deal finally closed in October, it marked more than the end of a 30-year era. It was the moment Kestrel Capital – one of Kenya’s most recognisable investment managers and stockbrokers – formally moved from founder ownership to executive control , just as Nairobi’s capital markets are roaring back to life. Mwangi and Ruenji, have fired the starting gun and the new owners have taken over at a rare inflection point: a transformed balance of clients, a turbocharged bonds

On paper, Kenya’s macro story in late 2025 looks surprisingly calm. Inflation is 4.6% , right in the middle of the government’s 2.5–7.5% target range.   The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK)  has cut its policy rate eight meetings in a row, from 13% in early 2024 to 9.25% today, arguing there is still room to ease. The World Bank  this week nudged its 2025 growth forecast up to 4.9% , citing a rebound in construction and still-solid agriculture. Yet scratch the surface and a more c

Safaricom PLC is Kenya’s largest mobile network operator and a dominant force in East African telecom and mobile. Founded in 1997 as a unit of state-owned Telkom Kenya, Safaricom’s ownership structure changed when Vodafone acquired a 40% stake in. By 2008 the Kenyan government sold 25% of its shares in an IPO on the Nairobi Securities Exchange – a landmark offering oversubscribed by over 500%. Today Safaricom is by far the biggest listed company in Kenya, controlling roughly

In today’s fast-evolving financial landscape, the need for adaptable and efficient systems is undeniable. Investment management solutions that scale with your business are no longer a luxury but a necessity. They provide the backbone for handling increasing volumes, complex regulations, and diverse client demands without compromising on accuracy or speed. I want to share why scalable solutions are the smart choice for financial institutions, banks, pension administrators, ass

In October 2025, the International Monetary Fund upgraded its growth forecast for sub-Saharan Africa to 4.1 percent , reflecting modest optimism amid persistent headwinds. That figure underscores a region balancing between promising reform momentum and foundational structural risks. Key pressures loom large: rising debt service costs, tightening external financing, inflation pressures, and weak fiscal buffers. During the IMF’s African Department press briefing, Director Abebe

Kenya’s economy has weathered many storms — from droughts to debt rollovers — but a new challenge is tightening its grip: the rising cost...

Kenya’s Central Bank has confirmed that 27 new digital lenders have been formally licensed, bringing the total number of approved...

Can you feel the energy on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE)? Over the past year, we've witnessed a remarkable transformation in...