The Kenya Capital Markets Authority has approved three investment banking licenses, all granted as upgrades from existing intermediaries. The approvals cover Cinemark Consult Limited and Fintrust Securities Limited, both previously licensed as Authorised Securities Dealers, and AIB-AXYS Africa Limited, previously licensed as a Stockbroker. The move expands the number of full-service investment banks in Kenya and broadens the range of capital markets services available to issuers and investors. Each approval extends the firm’s permitted activities beyond its existing business. Cinemark Consult plans to combine corporate advisory, securities dealing, underwriting, fund management and market-making within a single licensed entity, serving institutional, corporate, retail, diaspora and high-net-worth clients. Fintrust Securities will add corporate finance advisory, underwriting, debt and equity capital raising, wealth and asset management, research and stronger fixed-income trading. AIB-AXYS Africa will expand from equities and fixed-income brokerage into corporate finance advisory, capital raising, wealth management, underwriting and syndication, alternative investments and sustainable finance advisory, including digital access for retail and diaspora investors through its trading platform.
Kenya Capital Markets Authority2026-05-28
Kenya Capital Markets Authority approves three investment banking license upgrades for existing intermediaries
The Kenya Capital Markets Authority has approved three investment banking licenses, all as upgrades from existing intermediaries. Cinemark Consult and Fintrust Securities were upgraded from Authorised Securities Dealer status, while AIB-AXYS Africa was upgraded from Stockbroker status. The approvals allow the firms to broaden into full-service investment banking activities including corporate advisory, underwriting, capital raising and wealth management.