NSE Dividend Calendar Kenya 2026: Book Closure and Payment Dates

Updated 18 October 2026

Quick answer: this calendar lists every dividend announced by companies listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange, with the dividend per share, the book closure date (the day the share register closes) and the payment date. The upcoming list updates itself each morning from the Central Depository and Settlement Corporation’s corporate actions list. Use the calculator at the bottom to see what a dividend pays on your shares after tax.

What is coming up now

As of October 18, 2026, East African Breweries’ final dividend of KSh 8.70 a share closes its register on October 19 and is due to be paid on October 31. The last day to buy and still qualify was about October 14, so it is too late to buy for this one. KenGen’s first and final dividend of KSh 0.75 closes on October 29 and pays on January 21, 2027. KCB Group’s interim dividend of KSh 3.00, whose register has already closed, pays on November 10. Kenya Power’s final dividend of KSh 1.20 closes on November 27 and pays on December 31. Final dividends from East African Portland Cement (KSh 1.25) and Centum (KSh 0.78) still need shareholder approval, so they have no dates yet.

Data last checked: 18 Oct 2026. Upcoming dates update automatically from the depository's corporate actions list.

Upcoming NSE dividends

"Buy by" is three weekdays before book closure, because NSE trades settle in three working days (T+3). It ignores public holidays, so confirm the last trading day with your stockbroker.

Dividends paid in the last 12 months

Dividend yield and payout calculator

How to read the dates

Every dividend goes through four steps, and mixing them up is the most common mistake new investors make.

1. Announcement: the company declares or proposes the dividend, usually with its half-year or full-year results. A final dividend is only a proposal until shareholders approve it at the annual general meeting.
2. Last day to buy: NSE share trades settle three working days after the trade (T+3). To be on the register at book closure, your purchase must settle by then, so you need to buy at least three working days before book closure. The “Buy by” column estimates this date. It skips weekends but not public holidays, so check the exact day with your stockbroker.
3. Book closure: the share register closes and everyone on it qualifies. Buying on or after this day does not get you this dividend.
4. Payment: the company’s registrar sends the money to the bank account or M-Pesa number on your CDS or registrar record. If your details are out of date, the payment can bounce and end up unclaimed.

The share price often drops by about the dividend amount once the register closes, so buying a share only to collect one dividend rarely makes money on its own.

Interim, final and special dividends

An interim dividend is paid partway through the financial year, usually after half-year results. Banks such as KCB, NCBA, Absa, Stanbic and Standard Chartered declared interims in 2026. A final dividend comes after full-year results and needs shareholder approval. A first and final dividend means the company pays only once for that year, as KenGen and Kakuzi do. A special dividend is a one-off extra payment, so don’t expect it to repeat.

Tax on NSE dividends

Withholding tax is taken off before the dividend reaches you. For individuals resident in Kenya the rate is 5%. For non-residents it is 15%, unless a tax treaty between Kenya and their country sets a lower rate. The Finance Act 2026 removed the 5% rate that used to apply to citizens of other East African Community countries, so from July 1, 2026 they pay the 15% non-resident rate too.

For Kenyans in the diaspora, what counts is your tax residence, not your passport. If you have moved abroad and are no longer tax resident in Kenya, expect 15% unless a treaty applies. Ask your stockbroker or the company’s registrar which rate is on your record. The calculator below lets you switch between the two rates.

Dividend yield without live prices

Dividend yield is the dividends paid in a year divided by the share price, shown as a percentage. We don’t publish live NSE share prices, because they need a data licence. Instead, the calculator adds up each company’s dividends from the last 12 months and lets you type in the price you see on your broker’s app or in the newspaper. It then shows the yield at that price, the gross dividend on your shares, the tax and the cash you would receive.

Comparing yields this way is fairer than comparing the dividend per share alone. A KSh 60 dividend on an expensive share can be a lower yield than a KSh 1.50 dividend on a cheap one.

Where the figures come from

Each row comes from the company’s own notice or the depository’s corporate actions list. Our server checks that list every morning and adds any new dividend or changed date. Rows are never deleted, so the paid list builds a record of each company’s history. If a company changes a date, its notice wins, so always confirm with the company or your stockbroker before you trade.

Before you buy any share, check the broker is licensed using our CMA licence checker. Comparing dividends with other income options? The investment returns calculator sets shares against money market funds, treasury bills and bonds. Sacco members can work out their own payout with the Sacco dividend calculator. For what analysts made of this year’s bank results, read our report on the top bank stock picks.

Frequently asked questions

When do I need to buy shares to get a dividend?

At least three working days before the book closure date, because NSE trades take three working days to settle. Buying on the book closure date is too late.

What does book closure mean?

It is the date the company closes its share register to see who qualifies for the dividend. Shareholders on the register that day are paid.

How are NSE dividends paid?

The company’s registrar pays them into the bank account or M-Pesa number linked to your shareholding. Keep your details updated with your stockbroker or the registrar.

How much tax is deducted from dividends in Kenya?

5% for Kenyan residents and 15% for non-residents, unless a tax treaty sets a lower rate. The old 5% rate for East African citizens ended on July 1, 2026.

Which NSE company paid the biggest dividend per share in 2026?

BAT Kenya, with a final dividend of KSh 60.00 a share paid in June 2026, followed by KSh 10.00 at the interim stage. A large dividend per share does not always mean a high yield, so check the yield at today’s price.

What happens to dividends I never collected?

Unclaimed dividends stay with the company’s registrar for a period and are then passed to the Unclaimed Financial Assets Authority, where the owner or their heirs can claim them.