CMA APPROVES ADDITIONAL UNIT TRUST SUB-FUNDS AND AN ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENT FUND TO EXPAND INVESTOR CHOICE
Nairobi 12 August 2026… The Capital Markets Authority (CMA) has approved the registration of additional Collective Investment Scheme sub-funds and a new Alternative Investment Fund. The approvals broaden the range of regulated savings and investment options available to Kenyan investors, from money market and fixed income products to actively managed multi-asset and global strategies and climate-focused alternative investments, in line with the Authority’s ongoing efforts to deepen Kenya’s capital markets, enhance innovation and expand access to investment services across diverse investor segments.
Among the approvals, the Authority has authorised Britam Asset Managers Limited to register two new sub-funds under the existing Britam Unit Trust Funds umbrella scheme, the Britam Multi Asset Special Fund (KES) and the Britam Enhanced Global Equities Special Fund (USD). The Britam Multi Asset Special Fund pursues long-term capital growth and income through a diversified, actively managed portfolio spanning local and global equities, local and global fixed income, alternative assets and tactical overlay strategies, while the Britam Enhanced Global Equities Special Fund offers investors shilling-denominated exposure to global equity markets without the need to hold foreign currency accounts directly.
The Authority has also approved Zimele Asset Management to register additional sub-funds and sub-classes under the existing Zimele Unit Trust Funds. These comprise the Zimele USD Money Market Fund, the Zimele USD Fixed Income Fund, the Zimele Fixed Income Fund, the Zimele Education Plan and the Zimele Saving Plan, broadening the umbrella scheme’s range of shilling- and dollar-denominated options and goal-based savings plans for retail and institutional investors.
In further expanding the market, the Authority has approved Britam Asset Managers (Kenya) Limited to register the Green Investment Fund LLP as an Alternative Investment Fund established in accordance with the Capital Markets (Alternative Investment Funds) Regulations, 2023. The Fund will invest in growth-stage green and greening Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises based primarily in Kenya and the East African Community that contribute to climate change mitigation, adaptation and resilience and are aligned with Kenya’s national and international climate goals, deploying instruments such as direct equity, mezzanine financing, quasi-equity and other flexible financing structures.
Investors are reminded to familiarise themselves with any scheme before investing and to deal only with licensed and approved capital markets intermediaries. The list of licensed ones can be found on licensees.cma.or.ke
ENDS
BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE CAPITAL MARKETS AUTHORITY
The Capital Markets Authority (CMA) was set up in 1989 as a statutory agency under the Capital Markets Act Cap 485A. It is charged with the prime responsibility of both regulating and developing an orderly, fair, and efficient capital markets in Kenya with the view to promoting market integrity and investor confidence. CMA also regulates the commodity markets and online forex trading. The regulatory functions of the Authority as provided by the Act and the regulations include; Licensing and supervising all the capital market intermediaries; Ensuring compliance with the legal and regulatory framework by all market participants; Regulating public offers of securities, such as equities and bonds & the issuance of other capital market products such as collective investment schemes; Promoting market development through research on new products and services; Reviewing the legal framework to respond to market dynamics; Promoting investor education and public awareness; and Protecting investors’ interest. For more information, please contact: Antony Mwangi, Assistant Director Corporate Communications & International Relations on amwangi@cma.or.ke
