The Capital Markets Authority (CMA) has authorised a set of new licences aimed at enhancing Kenya’s capital markets by broadening the spectrum of available investment and financial services.
Among the key approvals:
- Kestrel Capital (East Africa) Limited has upgraded from a stockbroker to a broker-dealer, expanding its mandate to include securities trading as principal, proprietary and fixed-income trading, liquidity provision, and securities issuance facilitation. This enables the firm to deliver integrated capital market services to retail, institutional, corporate, and high-net-worth clients across Kenya and East Africa.
- Hass Crest Capital Limited received a Fund Manager licence to operate as a Sharia-compliant fund manager, focusing on Islamic finance solutions such as Sukuk structuring, fund management, investment advisory, and alternative investments.
- Livonna Advisory Partners Ltd was licensed as an Investment Adviser to provide independent, fee-based advisory services targeting high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and institutions. Their offerings cover asset allocation, portfolio construction, manager selection, and ongoing portfolio reviews.
- Liaison Wealth Limited secured a Corporate Trustee licence, allowing the company to extend its pension and retirement consulting services to fiduciary oversight and asset safeguarding for Collective Investment Schemes, enhancing investor protection.
The CMA emphasised that these new licences will deepen market liquidity, diversify product offerings, and increase investor choice, thereby strengthening confidence in Kenya’s capital markets. This move aligns with Kenya’s broader goal to develop a more specialised and comprehensive capital market ecosystem.
