M-Akiba Post Issuance Survey

The M-Akiba bond, designed to broaden the investor base in Kenya via mobile money, saw high registration (303,534 people) but low conversion, raising only KSh 247 million against a KSh 1 billion target. While the product was well-received and reached new investors, uptake was hindered by poor timing coinciding with national elections, a confusing two-step purchase process, lack of follow-up reminders, and inadequate customer support. Most investors were formally employed, university-educated, and urban-based, primarily from Nairobi.

• M-Akiba achieved high registration levels but very low conversion to actual investment. Out of 303,534 total unique registrations, only 4% (11,697 people) purchased the bond, resulting in the government raising KSh 247 million (US$2.47 million) against a target of KSh 1 billion (US$10 million).
• The bond successfully attracted a new class of investors, with 85% of customers having no prior experience with government bonds. However, the actual buyer profile skewed toward those with higher education (59% university degrees), formal employment (61%), and urban residency, with 51% of buyers located in Nairobi.
• Poor timing significantly impacted uptake. The official 2017 launch coincided with national elections, which drowned out advertising and created political uncertainty. Additionally, changes in deposit regulations since the 2015 soft launch increased bank interest rates from 0% to 7%, reducing the bond's relative attractiveness.
• The purchase process was confusing and lacked immediate conversion triggers. While registration was simple, there was no 'click to pay' option, and the subsequent steps were complex. Over 60% of respondents received no reminder messages after registration, and 70% of non-investors did not know the investment closing date.
• Customer support and agent roles were insufficient for conversion. Agents focused on registration rather than encouraging investment, and the only available helpline was a landline, which was perceived as inappropriate for a mobile-based product.
• There was a significant gap in product understanding. Many who registered did not know the interest rate, tenor, or closing date. Even among investors, 47% did not know who to contact to retrieve their money, and very few (1.57%) identified the Nairobi Securities Exchange.

APA

FSD Africa (2018). M-Akiba Post Issuance Survey. https://fsdafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/18-06-20-M-Akiba-Post-Issuance-Survey.pdf

Chicago

FSD Africa. M-Akiba Post Issuance Survey. 2018. https://fsdafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/18-06-20-M-Akiba-Post-Issuance-Survey.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=FSD Africa |title=M-Akiba Post Issuance Survey |date=June 2018 |url=https://fsdafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/18-06-20-M-Akiba-Post-Issuance-Survey.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{fsdafrica2018makiba, author = {{FSD Africa}}, title = {{M-Akiba Post Issuance Survey}}, institution = {FSD Africa}, year = {2018}, month = jun, url = {https://fsdafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/18-06-20-M-Akiba-Post-Issuance-Survey.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }