Baloobhai Patel Absa Kenya dividend

Kenyan billionaire investor Baloobhai Patel, known for his diverse investment portfolio, is set for a $1.6 million payday after the lender declared an interim dividend of roughly $78 million on the back of stronger earnings and customer growth.

Absa Bank Kenya raises dividend
Absa Bank Kenya, based in Nairobi, announced a dividend of Ksh10.05 billion ($77.81 million) for the full year ended Dec. 30, 2025, a 17% increase from the prior year’s figure.

The payout will come from the bank’s retained earnings, which rose by 15.72% to Ksh86.7 billion ($671.31 million), with shareholders set to receive Ksh2.05 ($0.012) per share (i.e a final dividend of Ksh1.85 per share and an interim dividend of Ksh0.2 per share) on May 19, 2026.

Patel holds a 1.84% stake in the bank, equivalent to 100 million shares, cementing his place as one of Kenya’s wealthiest investors. His holding will earn him Ksh205 million ($1.59 million), up from less than a million dollars that he received from last year’s interim dividend.

Absa Bank Kenya profit jumps 10% to $177.98 million
Absa Bank Kenya saw its profit rise 10% to Ksh22.91 billion ($177.98 million) for the period ended December 30, 2025, from Ksh20.9 billion ($162.2 million) a year earlier. The growth pushed the bank’s return on equity (ROE) to 22.8%, underlining its ability to deliver consistent returns for shareholders despite a complex operating environment.

However, net interest income declined 6% to Ksh43.29 million ($336.35 million), while non-interest income grew 12% to Ksh18.1 billion ($140.36 million), supported by growth in the bank’s payments and digital businesses.

Customer deposits climbed to Ksh372.4 billion ($2.88 billion), reflecting strong customer engagement and stable funding. The bank’s balance sheet showed resilience, with total assets rising 6% to Ksh537.6 billion ($4.16 billion).