Kenyan businessman Suresh Bhagwanji Shah set for Ksh394 million payout from I&M Group profits

Kenyan businessman Suresh Bhagwanji Shah is set to receive Ksh394 million ($3.02 million) in dividends from his stake in I&M Group, reflecting the lender’s strong financial performance for the 2025 fiscal year. Shah, a founding member and non-executive director of Nairobi-based I&M Group, owns 10.58 percent of the group, representing 174,947,573 shares.

Shah’s holdings highlight his longstanding influence in Kenya’s financial sector. Beyond I&M Group, he serves on several corporate boards, drawing on decades of experience in banking and other key industries. His upcoming dividend payment, scheduled for electronic transfer on Thursday, May 21, forms part of a broader dividend plan recommended by I&M Group’s board.

Dividends increase amid strong 2025 earnings

The board proposed a final dividend of Ksh2.25 ($0.017) per share, totaling Ksh3.92 billion ($30.2 million). Combined with an interim dividend of Ksh1.5 ($0.011) per share paid in January 2026, total payouts for the year reached Ksh6.52 billion ($50.25 million), up from Ksh5.02 billion ($38.7 million) in 2024. The dividends come as I&M Group posted a profit of Ksh18.78 billion ($145 million) for 2025, up from Ksh14.72 billion the previous year.

The growth was driven by higher income and reduced funding costs. Total operating income rose to Ksh60.32 billion ($464.9 million) from Ksh50.59 billion ($389.9 million), while non-interest income climbed to Ksh14.74 billion ($113.6 million) from Ksh10.99 billion ($84.7 million). Net interest income increased to Ksh45.95 billion ($354.2 million), supported by a drop in interest expenses to Ksh23.24 billion ($179.1 million) from Ksh30.54 billion.

I&M Group expands in East Africa, assets $5.3 billion

I&M Group serves more than 870,000 customers across Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, and Mauritius. In Kenya, I&M Bank operates 21 branches serving over 6,300 clients, alongside I&M Burbidge Capital Limited, which advises on capital raising, private equity, debt, and mergers. Total assets grew to Ksh688.88 billion ($5.3 billion) from Ksh580.9 billion ($4.47 billion), retained earnings increased to Ksh75 billion ($578.1 million) from Ksh62.4 billion.

Last week, I&M Bank opened a branch in Wote, the capital of Makueni County, marking its first presence there and expanding its network to 27 counties. The bank aims to improve access to financial services for underserved communities and support small businesses, agribusinesses, institutions, and retail clients. The expansion aligns with the group’s Imara 3.0 strategy, which targets growth of both physical branches and digital banking channels across Kenya.