Kenyans raise Sh117.6 million through purchase of M-Akiba bond
Business
By
Macharia Kamau
| Apr 04, 2017
Kenyans have raised Sh117.6 million through the purchase of the first ever mobile phone-based M-Akiba bond.
This translates to an overwhelming uptake of 78.5 per cent of the Sh150 million that the National Treasury had targeted to raise between March 23, when the sale of the M-Akiba bond opened, and April 10 when it closes.
Data from Treasury shows that as of mid-morning, there were 92,739 investors that had registered on the M-Akiba platform.
The tax-free M-Akiba bond aims at promoting a savings and investment culture by Kenyans with a minimum investment amount of Sh3,000 and a maximum investment amount of Sh140,000 per day.
The Government is testing the waters with the current offer as it targets a larger bond that is expected to raise Sh4.85 billion mid this year.
READ MORE
KQ suspends flights to Kinshasa over detention of staff
Six-month loan moratorium will ease financial strain on businesses affected by floods
Is government on 'fuliza' mode?
Expert: The shilling has regained value, but don't expect it to last
EAC Central Bank Governors meet in Juba as single currency race debate heats up
Ruto to push for global finance reforms at World Bank meeting
Unearthing the artifacts of WWII: A journey through Matuu and beyond
Roam, County Bus Service partner to deploy 200 electric buses
Budget cuts loom for Parliament thanks to Sh9.6b Bunge Towers
The funds, according to Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich, will be invested in infrastructure projects.
“This new savings innovation is the first of its kind in the world, and to give it the full weight it deserves, the President will launch the main M-Akiba bond with an offer of Sh4.85 billion in June 2017,” Rotich told Parliament last week when he delivered the budget statement for the 2017/18 financial year.
The mobile phone-based way of lending to the Government is opening up to retail investors what has previously been a preserve of a few investors that new their way around the market and could also mobilise a relatively huge amount of money at a go.