Aavishkaar Capital, an impact investment fund manager, has secured $40 million from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for its Global Supply Chain Support Fund (GSCSF) to boost growth for Kenyan and African SMEs.

• This financing aims to unlock growth for SMEs in Africa and Asia, specifically targeting a Sh1.3 trillion annual financing gap for Kenyan SMEs.
• The investment was announced by Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba during the Economic Partnership in Indian Ocean–Africa Forum, held alongside TICAD9 in Yokohama, Japan.
• The GSCSF, managed by Mumbai, India-headquartered Aavishkaar Capital, focuses on private companies in agriculture, food processing, and manufacturing supply chains, providing non-dilutive credit.

The Capital Markets Authority (CMA) has approved the sale of Holcim Limited’s 29.2% stake in East African Portland Cement (EAPC) Plc to Kalahari Cement Limited, a Kenyan investment company linked to Tanzania’s Amsons Group.

• The sale price was agreed at KSh 27.30 per share, totaling KSh 718.7 million (USD 5.57 million) for 26.3 million shares.
• Kalahari Cement Limited is a newly incorporated Kenyan entity, ultimately owned by Tanzanian investors through Pacific Cement Limited (90%) and Comercio Et Conseil Limited (10%).
• The CMA granted an exemption from mandatory takeover rules, meaning Kalahari Cement is not required to make an offer to other EAPC shareholders, and has pledged not to delist EAPC.

The High Court has provided a partial win for over 130 former National Bank of Kenya employees in their long-standing legal battle for pension benefits, coinciding with Access Bank's finalization of its acquisition of NBK.

• The High Court quashed a 2017 decision by the Retirement Benefits Appeals Tribunal, citing violations of fair hearing principles.
• The dispute, stemming from 2010, involves claims of underpaid pensions by hundreds of millions of shillings.
• Access Bank Plc, Africa's largest lender by customer base, completed its acquisition of NBK from KCB Group Plc on May 30, 2025.