British American Tobacco Kenya (BAT Kenya), listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE), has announced a 100 percent increase in its interim dividend after posting strong half-year results. The cigarette maker declared an interim dividend of Sh10 per share, up from Sh5 per share in 2024, following a robust financial performance that underscored its commitment to delivering value to shareholders.
The company reported a profit after tax of Sh2.983 billion, an improvement from Sh2.136 billion posted in the same period last year. According to BAT Kenya, the growth was driven by lower financing costs, stable net revenue, and operational efficiency gains, positioning the company among top performers at the NSE this week. The interim dividend will be paid on or about September 26, 2025, to shareholders registered by August 29, 2025, and will be subject to withholding tax.
BAT Kenya’s share price responded positively to the announcement, closing among the top five gainers at the NSE with a 5.08 percent rise to Sh398.50 on Friday. Chairperson Rita Kavashe, Managing Director Crispin Achola, and Philemon Kipkemoi, an executive director, were present during the announcement, signaling strong leadership confidence in the company’s strategic direction.
Meanwhile, Sameer Africa and Crown Paint Kenya extended their bullish run at the NSE for the third consecutive month. Both companies have benefited from solid financial performance and investor optimism. Sameer Africa recorded its highest profit since 2013, with a net profit of Sh259.89 million, representing a 5.6-fold increase compared to the previous year. Crown Paint Kenya resumed dividend payouts with Sh3 per share after rebounding to a net profit of Sh544 million in the year ended December 31, 2024. Analysts attribute Crown Paint’s performance to a stable Kenyan shilling, cost efficiency, and aggressive marketing campaigns.
The week also saw increased activity at the Nairobi Securities Exchange amid rising investor confidence, following government assurances on economic stability. President William Ruto boosted market sentiment by announcing plans to privatize the Kenya Pipeline Company through an Initial Public Offering (IPO) scheduled for September 2025, marking the beginning of Kenya’s long-awaited privatization program. Speaking during a bell-ringing ceremony for the listing of the Linzi 003 Infrastructure Asset-Backed Security, Ruto said, “Privatization is no longer optional,” a statement that spurred optimism among investors.
Following these developments, major NSE indices recorded notable gains during the week ending July 24, 2025. The Nairobi All Share Index (NASI) rose by 1.6 percent, while the NSE 25 and NSE 20 indices increased by 1.2 percent and 1.4 percent, respectively. Market capitalization surged by 1.6 percent, equity turnover jumped by 48.8 percent, and total shares traded grew by 4.4 percent, reflecting renewed buying activity.
Investor appetite for government securities also strengthened, despite marginal declines in Treasury bill rates. The July 24 Treasury bill auction received Sh40 billion in bids against an advertised Sh24 billion, representing a performance rate of 166.7 percent. Yields on the 91-day, 182-day, and 364-day Treasury bills declined slightly to 8.1 percent, 8.4 percent, and 9.7 percent, respectively. However, bond turnover in the secondary market dropped by 25.4 percent during the same period, indicating some profit-taking by institutional investors. The combined performance of blue-chip companies such as BAT Kenya, Crown Paint, and Sameer Africa, alongside the government’s renewed push for privatization, signals a positive outlook for the Nairobi Securities Exchange in the second half of 2025. Analysts project that increased foreign and local participation in the capital market, driven by policy reforms and strong corporate earnings, could boost the market capitalization and deepen liquidity
