Njuguna Ndung'u: The Kenyan money market and other key
developments in the financial sector
Foreword message by Prof Njuguna Ndung'u, Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya, for the
Kenya National Chamber of Commerce, Mombasa Branch Chronicle, "Business Financing
Edition", June 2007 issue.
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I am honoured and privileged for the opportunity to share the Central Bank's thoughts on the
Kenyan money market specifically and other key developments in the financial sector
generally. It is important to underscore at the onset, the mandate of the CBK which is
principally to foster, price, monetary and financial stability, supervision of efficient and
effective payment, clearing and settlement systems. Currently the ambit of the Central Bank
supervision extends to commercial banks, mortgage finance companies and non bank
financial institutions licensed under the Banking Act. Deposit Taking Microfinance Institutions
are also expected to come under the purview of the CBK once the Microfinance Act, 2006 is
operationalized by the Minister of Finance.
Money markets play a key role in providing a channel for savings which can be mobilised to
fund productive ventures in the economy. It is generally agreed that there are positive
linkages between mobilisation of savings, channelling them to productive investments and
poverty reduction. This is important especially when poverty is caused by lack of access to
credit and productive investment.
The Banking Sector currently offers an array of products that can be considered as channels
of deposits and savings. They range from savings accounts to fixed deposit accounts. They
offer a return by way of periodic interest on amounts saved or on maturity for fixed deposits.
There has however been public outcry on the returns received on these products which are
considered meagre in comparison to the rates charged on loans and also the charges on
these products. From an analytical point of view, most of these products have negative
returns in real terms. The CBK in a bid enhance the competitiveness of these products,
embarked on publication of charges in the print media in 2003. This initiative was expected to
reduce the charges on the products thus increasing their "net return" The publications which
had been suspended in 2005 are being reviewed to sharpen their effectiveness in promoting
market discipline. It is also noteworthy that the Banking Act was recently amended to restrict
charges on savings accounts.
In its role as fiscal agent of the government, the CBK also raises funds for the government
through Treasury Bills and Bonds. These instruments offer a secure investment vehicle with
the Bills being of a short term maturity of up to six months. Bonds are offered over longer
tenors of up to 15 years. These instruments can be discounted at the Central Bank and
bonds are tradeable on the Nairobi Stock Exchange.
It is also useful to highlight other critical investment products that fall under the purview of the
Capital Markets Authority (CMA). Of particular interest are equity securities and unit trusts.
The Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE) offers equity (shares) and fixed income (debt) securities.
There are over 50 companies in diverse sectors that are currently listed on the NSE. The
shares of these companies provide an investment opportunity based on one's risk
preferences and investment horizon. Recent Initial Public Offers (IPO) such as the Kengen
one have elicited substantial interest among Kenyan investors. This trend is expected to
continue with forthcoming IPO's in line with the Government's ongoing privatization
programme. On the fixed income segment, the NSE offers bonds, commercial paper and
notes that tend to target institutional investors.
I regard Unit Trusts as a form of "collective investment scheme" that provide an opportunity
for small investors to access the capital markets. They involve the pooling of funds from
various investors by market players licensed by the CMA. The pooled funds are invested in
diverse investment vehicles primarily shares based on among other factors, the investors risk
appetite and liquidity preference. The returns are then proportionately shared among the
investors. Unit Trusts particularly offer small investors the benefits of professional investment
management, economies of scale and portfolio risk diversification.
Turning to recent significant developments in the financial sector, I will focus on
MicroFinance and Credit Reference Bureaus. Microfinance involves the provision of diversified
financial services and products to the un-banked and underserved segments of the
population by different financial service providers, mainly to the low-income households and
micro enterprises. Microfinance plays a vital role in poverty alleviation in empowering the
underserved and un-banked economically active and underprivileged social constituencies in
contributing more effectively to wealth creation and economic development.
The recently enacted Microfinance Act, 2006 provides a legal, regulatory and supervisory
framework for deposit-taking microfinance business aimed at creating an enabling
environment that will promote performance and sustainability of deposit-taking microfinance
institutions, while at the same time protecting depositors' interests.
One of the key hindrances to access to financial services and products by the vast majority
of the Kenyan populace engaged in the informal/small and medium enterprise sectors has
been the lack of a "credit track history". Further, this information asymmetry problem has also
been a contributory factor to the high levels of non-performing loans in the Kenyan Banking
Sector. It is in this regard that the CBK teamed up with the Kenya Bankers Association and
other players to develop a credit information sharing mechanism. The mechanism will entail
the licensing and oversight of Credit Reference Bureaus by the CBK. The Bureaus will act as
depositories of credit information to be used by banks in their lending decisions. Regulations
for the Bureaus are expected to be gazetted by the Minister of Finance in the second half of
2007. One of the challenges facing us now is the presence of Pyramid Schemes that are not
only fraudulent but also not known until one falls victim. Information asymmetry makes such
a business thrive. Information provided by these bureaus will be long-term and sustainable
solution and promote undeterred development in the financial sector.
In closing, let me extend my thanks once again to the Mombasa Branch of the Kenya
National Chamber of Commerce and Industry for this opportunity. I wish the branch well in its
endeavours to achieve its mandate of acting as a forum for business people to share their
experiences and forge solutions that will create a conducive business environment. To the
readers, may you have an enjoyable and fruitful read and direct innovative ideas to us in
CBK.