Uhuru Launches Kenya’s First Green Bond At London Stock Exchange

President Uhuru Kenyatta, on Monday, launched first Kenya’s green bond at the London Stock Exchange (LSE). The bond is worth more than 4 billion shillings by Nairobi-based property developer Acorn Holdings.

The green bond now becomes the first Kenya shilling denominated corporate green bond to be listed in the United Kingdom at the London Stock Exchange.

“Kenya is one of the top ten fastest-growing economies on the continent and also one of the most pro-business nations in Africa,” said President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The green bond was first listed at the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) last week. The bond is aimed at helping Acorn Holdings to raise funds to construct environment-friendly accommodation for over 50,000 university students in Nairobi.

The President urged investors in the United Kingdom to use Kenya as a gateway to investing in Africa and a bridge to the emerging market of more than 1.2 billion people created by the African Continent Free Trade Area.

READ: EAIF Invests Kshs 1.3 Billion in Acorn Holdings’ Green Bond

Uhuru Kenyatta is in London, the United Kingdom to attend the UK-Africa Investment Summit that has brought together various African leaders to discuss the investment relationship between Africa and the United Kingdom.

“There is no better place to appreciate the realities of global economic activity and investment trends than this trading floor,” the President added.

More than 60 Kenyan companies are featured on the London Stock Exchange ranging from Fintech to the agriculture sectors.

African Leaders And Summits

The rate at which African leaders have been attending summits in other countries outside the continent is worrying and shows why the majority of them have no idea how economically viable Africa is and they can use her as leverage over other continents.

The African leaders have been invited to the United States of America (USA), Russia, China, India and now the United Kingdom which simply means that Africa has what other continents need.

READ: Kenya Issues First-Ever Green Bond Raising Ksh 4.3 Billion