CMA launches revised Capital market master plan

NAIROBI, Kenya Dec 15-The Capital Markets Authority (CMA) has completed the review of the Capital Market Master Plan (CMMP, 2014-2023), with the support of FSD Africa.

The blueprint was developed in close collaboration with capital markets industry stakeholders with the aim of mobilizing savings and stimulating investments to the levels necessary to realize the Vision 2030 aspirations.

“The CMMP was reviewed to realign it to emerging priorities following Covid-19 economic disruptions, changes in local and global environment and disruptions occasioned by technological developments in the capital markets,” said CMA Chief Executive Officer, Wycliffe Shamiah.

Shamiah explained that the impact of the full implementation of the revised Master Plan will be increased capital mobilization towards the real economy through the strengthening of regulatory frameworks and enabling the roll out of alternative products.

Some of the key changes in the revised Master Plan are: clarification of the complementary roles of CMA-Kenya and the Nairobi International Financial Centre Authority (NIFCA) in the promotion and regulation of the capital markets;

The plan will include guidelines for how the Authority and other financial sector regulators can work in harmony with NIFCA to align their regulatory frameworks to international best practice to be attractive to foreign investors.

Other changes include: measures to catalyze activity in private equity and debt capital by making the asset class more accessible to asset managers, retirement schemes and the general investor base for the benefit of investors and the businesses; and leveraging Environment, Social and Governance principles to attract green capital, with emphasis on the development of a green taxonomy for Kenya beyond climate finance to natural capital / conservation.

Shamiah added  that some of the new focus areas for implementation include; access to investment for retail and institutional investors leveraging mobile and other online technology; and a significant increase in the utilization of capital markets and listings by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

Other priority areas that have been re-emphasized in the revised CMMP are increased equity and debt market liquidity through the roll out of capital markets liquidity tools such as market making, short selling, margin trading, securities lending and borrowing, and over the counter (OTC) transactions.

“This review of the Capital Market Master Plan, supported by the UK Government, will help cement Kenya’s position as a financial services hub in the region, and bring in much-needed green finance to help Kenya build back from COVID-19, and tackle climate change,”  said Jane Marriott, the British High Commissioner to Kenya.

Mark Napier, Chief Executive Officer at FSD Africa on the other hand said that a refresh of the Kenya Capital Market Master Plan is timely as it enables market stakeholders to re-align their efforts towards capital market development with a focus on economic resilience and sustainable growth.

As part of the regional Africa Regulatory Support Programme, FSD Africa provided technical assistance for the revision of the Kenya CMMP.