Kenya, one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa, is now a leading contender in the bid to become Africa’s Islamic finance hub. Efforts by Kenya’s financial regulators have paid off and paved the way forward for the country’s Islamic finance industry. With its much anticipated sovereign issuance, recently proposed CMA legislation promoting the use of Islamic financial products and the government’s commitment to position Kenya as a center of excellence for Shariah finance, the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector and REDmoney Events are pleased to announce that our inaugural IFN Kenya Forum will take place in Nairobi on 27th November.
With all eyes on Kenya’s progress in Islamic finance, the IFN Kenya Forum will host some of the most influential Islamic finance dealmakers from Europe, the Middle East and key African economies.
Keynote speakers:

Dr Kamau Thugge, CBS – Principal secretary, The National Treasury
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Luke Ombara – Director, Regulatory Policy and Strategy, Capital Markets Authority
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Geoffrey Odundo – CEO, Nairobi Securities Exchange
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Nzomo Mutuku – Acting CEO, Retirement Benefits Authority
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Presentation slides
Agenda
09:00 – 09:15 |
Welcome Remarks |
09:15 – 09:30 |
Welcome Address: Salah Babale – Division Head, Line of Finance Division – FIDD, Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector |
09:30 – 09:45 |
Keynote Address: Dr Kamau Thugge, CBS – Principal secretary, The National Treasury |
09:45 – 10:45 |
How will East Africa Find its Niche in the Global Islamic Finance Landscape?
Moderator: |
Imran Mufti – Partner, Hogan Lovells |
Panelists: |
Abdirahman Mohamed A Hashi – Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Federal Republic of Somalia Dan Omoro – CEO, DIB Kenya Hassan Yusuf – CEO, International Bank of Somalia Salah Babale – Division Head, Line of Finance Division – FIDD, Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector
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10.45 – 11.15 |
Coffee & Networking |
11:15 – 11:55 |
Growing Islamic Finance in Kenya and East Africa: Learning from Developments outside the East African Community Area
Moderator: |
Claire Matheson Kirton – Partner, White & Case |
Panelists: |
Hussein Khalif Jama – Former Advisor to CEO, Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC) Mamadou Barro – CEO, Tamweel Africa Holding Mohammad Farrukh Raza – Managing Director, IFAAS Samira Mensah – Senior Credit Analyst, S&P Global
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11.55 – 12.45 |
Corporate Financing Activity in East Africa: Players, Markets and Sectors From syndicated financing to corporate Sukuk, what are the key markets and sectors, what activity can we expect to see and how do Islamic and conventional financial solutions compare?
Moderator: |
Saad Rahman – Group Managing Partner, Amani Partners |
Panelists: |
Hussein Hassan – Global Head of Islamic Finance, JP Morgan Momar Gueye – Senior Investment Officer, Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector Mona K Doshi – Partner, Anjarwalla & Khanna | ALN Rahail Ali – Global Head of Islamic Finance, Hogan Lovells Shaikh Badru Jaffar – Head of Shariah, DIB Kenya
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12.45 – 13.15 |
Keynote Interview: Role of Exchanges and Regulators in Facilitating Islamic Capital-Raising
Interviewer: |
Jaafar Abdulkadir – Managing Director, Aqeel Consulting |
Interviewee: |
Geoffrey Odundo – CEO, Nairobi Securities Exchange
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13.15 – 14.30 |
Networking Luncheon |
14.30 – 15.00 |
Responsible Investing: The Shift toward Sustainable, Responsible and Ethical Fund and Financing in East Africa
Moderator: |
Mohammad Farrukh Raza – Managing Director, IFAAS |
Panelists: |
Luke Ombara – Director, Regulatory Policy and Strategy, Capital Markets Authority Olivier Deiters – Investment Officer, Africa & Middle East, Triple Jump Kenya Victor Nkiiri – Capital Markets Development Specialist, FSD Africa |
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15.00 – 15.30 |
Funding Infrastructure and Social Welfare Requirements in East Africa We discuss public-private partnerships, financing structures as well as opportunities in active sectors.
Moderator: |
Martin Botik – Consultant Solicitor, Norton Rose Fulbright Tanzania |
Panelists: |
Frank Kamthunzi – Head, Project and Infrastructure Finance, The Trade and Development Bank Jean-Pierre Labuschagne – Partner, Africa Lead Infrastructure and Capital Projects, Deloitte
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15.30 – 16.00 |
Examining Growth Drivers for Islamic Investments, Pension Funds, Insurance and Takaful in East Africa
Moderator: |
Anne Eriksson – Regional Senior Partner, East, PwC |
Panelists: |
Bilal Laving – Shariah Coordinator, re-Takaful, Kenya Reinsurance Corporation Hassan Bashir – CEO, Takaful Africa Group Mohamed Abdi – Shariah Manager, Islamic Banking, Barclays Kenya Nzomo Mutuku – Acting CEO, Retirement Benefits Authority
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16.00 – 16.15 |
REDTalk: Islamic Finance as an African Game-Changer
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16.15 – 16.30 |
REDTalk: How will Fintech Alter Africa’s Banking Landscape
Panelist: |
Ivan Mbowa – Co-Founder and CEO, Umati Capital |
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16.30 – 17.00 |
Financing Solutions for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in East Africa What funding options and commercial/corporate banking products are available to SMEs, and how do Islamic solutions compare to conventional equivalents?
Moderator: |
Mohammad Farrukh Raza – Managing Director, IFAAS |
Panelists: |
Jaafar Abdulkadir – Managing Director, Aqeel Consulting Limited Keneth Bichang'a – Research and Policy Analyst, Sacco Societies Regulatory Authority Mubarak Elegbede – Manager, Trade Finance Department, International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) Onyango Obiero – Head of Business Banking, DIB Bank (Kenya) |
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17.00 – 17.45 |
Coffee & Networking |
17.45 |
End of Forum |
Photo Gallery                                                                                                                                                            
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