Kenya has long positioned itself as a premier investment destination in Africa, leveraging its strategic location, advanced financial sector, and a progressive business environment to attract foreign direct investment (FDI). Private equity (PE) and venture capital (VC) funds investing in Kenyan lenders or businesses that provide goods and services to Kenyan consumers have played a pivotal role in financing critical sectors such as infrastructure, manufacturing, and financial services.
Insight type: Article
Foreign Land Ownership in Tanzania: Implications for Private Equity and Venture Capital Investors
Tanzania presents unique opportunities for Private Equity (PE) and Venture Capital (VC) investors, particularly in sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, and infrastructure. However, navigating the legal and regulatory landscape regarding foreign land ownership is a critical consideration for investors looking to enter the Tanzanian market.
Beyond Bricks and Mortar: Rethinking Permanent Establishment in Kenya’s Digital Age
An emerging trend in recent tax disputes in Kenya suggests that the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) is adopting an increasingly expansive approach to Permanent Establishment (PE) and profit issues. In several ongoing appeals, KRA has sought to assert PE based on minimal or indirect local activity, and to apply the Profit Split Method (PSM) to allocate a portion of global profits to Kenya—often with limited regard for the actual scale or nature of the local contribution.
Accelerating Kenya’s e-Mobility Sector: Key Fiscal & Non-Fiscal Incentives Needed for Growth
The Electric Mobility sector is a rapidly growing part of Kenya’s automotive industry, encompassing different types of vehicles: cars, motorcycles, two and three-wheelers, buses, bicycles, batteries, accessories and charging infrastructure. The sector has experienced significant growth, with data showing that electric vehicle (EVs) registrations have more than doubled over the past two years. Additionally, several EV companies have set up operations in Kenya. This growth is attributable to the efforts of key stakeholders in the sector, including the Government.
Global and African M&A Outlook 2025: Quality Over Quantity
In 2024 and early 2025, global and African M&A activity reflected a clear trend: quality over quantity. While the number of deals declined, the total value of transactions rose, pointing to a focus on high-value, strategic investments.
Balancing Tanzania’s Grid: Rethinking the Electricity Generation Mix
Tanzania has set ambitious targets as part of its commitment to the Paris Agreement, aiming to connect 8.3 million additional households to the grid, increase electricity access from 46% to 75%, and achieve a 75% renewable energy mix by 2030. Following the full commissioning of the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project in April 2025, the country’s energy capacity has seen a significant boost, with hydropower now accounting for 67.4% of domestic generation.
Navigating the Transition: Legal Options for Private Charitable Children’s Institutions Under the Children Act
By 2032, all privately run children’s homes in Kenya must close their doors. The Children Act, 2022 (the Act) has shifted the approach to child welfare in Kenya, and private institutions must adapt and comply with the provisions of the Act.
This article explores the legal pathways available to Charitable Children’s Institutions (CCIs) and outlines urgent reforms needed to make family-based care a reality.
Same Script, New Year? Avoiding missteps in the 2025 Finance Bill
In June 2024, Kenya found itself in a fiscal crisis of confidence. For the first time in recent memory, the President declined to assent to the Finance Bill — not with minor reservations, but with a sweeping rejection of all clauses. The move, dramatic and unprecedented, forced a national reckoning: had we taken the annual budget-making process too far from the people it is meant to serve?
Legal Considerations for Foreign Investors Executing Documents Outside Tanzania
Tanzania has experienced significant growth in foreign investments, largely due to the government’s efforts to create an investor-friendly environment. As a result, many legal and contractual documents are being entered into with foreign counterparties, some of which are executed outside of Tanzania. This article aims to highlight the legal formalities that must be followed to ensure that such documents are admissible as evidence in Tanzanian courts in the event of a dispute.
Sealing the Deal: Dominant Sectors that Drove Africa’s M&A in 2024
Africa currently accounts for 2–3% of the global M&A market value—a modest share that belies the continent’s immense potential. While foreign investors’ interest in Africa continues to grow, several structural challenges hinder the successful execution of deals. These include limited access to reliable information, currency volatility, diverse and often complex regulatory frameworks, lack of tax certainty, and, in some cases, local ownership requirements.