KCB Group has announced a Sh13 billion dividend payout following a robust first-half performance in 2025, underscoring its resilience and regional momentum across East Africa.
The board has recommended an interim dividend of Sh2 per share and a special dividend of Sh2 per share, linked to the successful sale of National Bank of Kenya (NBK) to Nigeria’s Access Group, finalised in May. This marks the largest interim and first-ever special dividend in the group’s history.
“The strong half-year performance and the projected trajectory of the business has allowed us a great bandwidth to propose a historic special and interim dividend to shareholders,” said KCB Group Chairman Dr. Joseph Kinyua.
Financial Highlights (H1 2025)
| Metric | H1 2025 | H1 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pretax Profit | Sh40.83B | Sh38.11B | +7% |
| Profit After Tax | Sh32.3B | Sh29.9B | +8% |
| Net Interest Income | Sh69.1B | Sh61.3B | +12.7% |
| Total Revenue | Sh69.1B | — | +4.3% |
| Customer Deposits | Sh1.48T | — | Stable |
| Loan Portfolio | Sh1.18T | — | +2.8% (+12% excl. NBK sale) |
| Total Assets | Sh1.97T | — | Stable |
| Return on Equity | 22.2% | — | — |
| Return on Assets | 3.3% | — | — |
Subsidiaries outside Kenya—including Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda—contributed 33.4% of the Group’s gross profit, reflecting KCB’s deepening regional footprint.
“The business across markets remains resilient despite the tough operating environment in key markets like Kenya. We have placed our customers at the fore to ensure we meet their needs in a timely manner,” said Group CEO Paul Russo.
Strategic Developments
- The sale of NBK to Access Group marks a strategic divestment, freeing up capital and streamlining operations.
- KCB’s non-banking entities—Investment Bank, Asset Management, and Bancassurance—grew their pretax contribution to 2.1%, up from 1.8% last year.
- Uganda’s transition to a government-to-government oil import programme impacted deposit flows, but overall customer confidence remained strong.
Digital Transformation
KCB launched a unified mobile app on August 11, 2025, offering instant self-onboarding and powered by AI, data analytics, and a mini-app ecosystem.
With 99% of transactions now conducted via non-branch channels, the Group’s digital strategy continues to drive convenience and scale.
Risk & Capital Position
- Non-Performing Loans (NPL) declined to 18.7% from 19.2% in December 2024.
- Capital buffers remain robust: core capital to risk-weighted assets at 17.0% (vs. 10.5% minimum); total capital ratio at 19.7% (vs. 14.5% minimum).
- The liquidity ratio stood at 47.2%, slightly up from 47.0% last year.
Outlook
KCB Group remains focused on leveraging its regional scale to drive inclusive growth and shareholder value.
“We continue to leverage our Group strengths and capabilities to deliver on our strategic goals. We have set ambitious growth goals under our strategy to transform communities and deliver returns for our shareholders by putting People and Planet first,” said Dr. Kinyua.
