CMA APPROVES NEW UNIT TRUST SCHEMES AND ADDITIONAL SUB-FUNDS TO EXPAND INVESTOR CHOICE

Nairobi, 06 July 2026…… The Capital Markets Authority (CMA) has approved the registration of two new umbrella unit trust schemes and additional sub-funds under four existing schemes, in exercise of the powers conferred on the Authority by section 30 of the Capital Markets Act and Regulation 15 of the Capital Markets (Collective Investment Schemes) Regulations, 2023. The approvals form part of the Authority’s ongoing efforts to deepen Kenya’s capital markets, enhance product innovation and expand the range of regulated savings and investment options available to Kenyan investors, from local shilling money market products to multi-currency and multi-asset special funds.

Among the approvals is the establishment of the Cinemark Unit Trust Fund, promoted by Cinemark Investment Bank Limited. The scheme is registered with seven sub-funds, namely the Cinemark KES Money Market Fund, the Cinemark KES Fixed Income Fund, the Cinemark USD Fixed Income Fund, the Cinemark USD Special Fixed Income Fund, the Cinemark KES Special Fixed Income Fund, the Cinemark KES Multi-Asset Special Fund and the Cinemark USD Multi-Asset Special Fund.

The Authority has also approved the establishment of the Karsis Unit Trust Scheme, promoted by Karsis Asset Managers Limited. The scheme is registered with twelve sub-funds spanning money market, fixed income, multi-asset special fund and private-debt special fund strategies, offered across Kenya Shilling, US Dollar, Euro and Sterling denominations, providing investors with a broad multi-currency choice under a single umbrella structure.

In further expanding investor choice under existing schemes, the Authority has granted approval to Absa Asset Management Limited to register the Absa Global Multi-Asset Special Fund (USD) and the Absa Global Multi-Asset Special Fund (KES) as additional sub-funds under the existing Absa Unit Trust Funds.