This is the full NSE dividend calendar for 2026: who paid what, and when. In a strong payout year on the NSE dividend calendar, the biggest cash dividends came from BAT Kenya (KSh 70.00 a share), Standard Chartered (KSh 31.00) and Stanbic (KSh 18.55 final), while Equity Group set a record with a KSh 5.75 final. Below you will find every declared dividend, the record date that decides who gets paid, and the payment date, all in one table.
A quick note on timing. Most 2026 dividends were declared with full-year results early in the year and paid between May and June. A few are still to land, including Safaricom’s final dividend (payable on or about 4 September 2026) and EABL’s full-year payout. Figures below are gross, before the 5% withholding tax that residents pay. Always confirm the latest dates with each company, because schedules can change.
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Key takeaways
- The 2026 NSE dividend calendar was one of the richest in years, led by BAT Kenya at KSh 70.00 a share and a record KSh 5.75 final from Equity Group.
- KCB added a KSh 1.00 special dividend on top of its KSh 2.00 ordinary final, taking its full-year payout to KSh 7.00.
- Standard Chartered cut its dividend to KSh 31.00 from KSh 45.00, the biggest reduction among large caps this year.
- Residents pay just 5% withholding tax on NSE dividends, the lowest rate on any major African exchange. Non-residents pay 10%.
- Still to come in 2026: Safaricom’s final dividend (pay date around 4 September), plus EABL and DTB payouts.
The full NSE dividend calendar 2026
The table below lists every declared 2026 dividend with its amount, record date (the day you must be on the share register to qualify) and payment date. Amounts are in Kenya shillings per share, gross before the 5% withholding tax.
| Company | Ticker | Dividend (KSh/share) | Record date | Pay date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BAT Kenya | BAT | 70.00 | 11 May 2026 | 12 Jun 2026 |
| Standard Chartered | SCBK | 31.00 | ~May 2026 | ~Jun 2026 |
| Stanbic Holdings | SBIC | 18.55 (final) | 15 May 2026 | ~Jun 2026 |
| Equity Group | EQTY | 5.75 (final) | 2 Apr 2026 | ~22 May 2026 |
| NCBA Group | NCBA | 4.60 | ~May 2026 | ~Jun 2026 |
| KCB Group | KCB | 3.00 (2.00 final + 1.00 special) | ~30 Apr 2026 | ~22 May 2026 |
| I&M Group | IMH | 2.25 (final) | 16 Apr 2026 | 21 May 2026 |
| Safaricom | SCOM | 2.00 total (0.85 interim + 1.15 final) | 4 Aug 2026 (final) | ~4 Sep 2026 (final) |
| Absa Bank Kenya | ABSA | 1.85 (final) | 30 Apr 2026 | 19 May 2026 |
| Co-operative Bank | COOP | 1.50 (final); 2.50 total | 15 May 2026 | ~Jun 2026 |
Still to come in 2026
A handful of big names on the NSE dividend calendar had not fully paid out at the time of writing. Safaricom runs an April to March financial year, so its final dividend of KSh 1.15 (on top of the KSh 0.85 interim paid in March) is due around 4 September 2026, to shareholders on the register at 4 August. That takes Safaricom’s full-year payout to KSh 2.00, up sharply on the prior year.
East African Breweries (EABL) closes its financial year in June, so its full-year dividend usually lands in August or September. EABL paid a KSh 4.00 interim in January 2026, and the final depends on second-half trading. Diamond Trust Bank (DTB) confirmed a record date of 22 May and payment on 26 June, though the exact amount was still to be confirmed. Keep an eye on company announcements for these three.
Who paid the most, and the best yields
On the 2026 NSE dividend calendar, in absolute cash terms, BAT Kenya is in a league of its own at KSh 70.00 a share, followed by Standard Chartered at KSh 31.00 and Stanbic at KSh 18.55. But a big shilling figure is not the same as a big yield. Yield is the dividend divided by the share price, and because BAT trades in the hundreds while Safaricom trades in the tens, you have to do the maths for your own entry price.
BAT consistently offers one of the highest yield percentages on the exchange because tobacco firms pay out most of their earnings. The banks, led by Equity, KCB and Stanbic, offer strong and growing dividends backed by record profits. For the fuller picture of which shares combine a healthy yield with a reliable track record, see our guide to the best dividend stocks in Kenya.
How NSE dividends actually work
On the NSE dividend calendar, two dates decide everything. The record date (sometimes called the book-closure date) is the day the company checks its share register. If you own the shares by then, you get the dividend. Buy after it, and the dividend goes to the previous owner. The payment date is simply when the cash reaches you, usually a few weeks later.
The money lands automatically. Your dividend is paid straight into the bank account linked to your Central Depository System (CDS) account, with the 5% withholding tax already deducted. You do not need to file anything for that deduction. The one thing that trips people up is an old CDS account with no linked bank account, in which case the cash can sit unclaimed with the registrar. If you are unsure, check your CDSC portal or ask your broker before the record date.
Worked example: what a dividend pays you
The NSE dividend calendar turns real when you run the numbers. Say you owned 10,000 Safaricom shares in 2026. At the full-year dividend of KSh 2.00 per share, that is KSh 20,000 gross. After the 5% resident withholding tax (KSh 1,000), you receive KSh 19,000 net, paid directly to your linked bank account.
Now compare a high-payer. If you held 1,000 BAT Kenya shares at KSh 70.00 a share, that is KSh 70,000 gross, or KSh 66,500 net after the 5% tax. The same 5% rate applies across the board for residents, which is why Kenya’s dividend tax is so investor-friendly: on a JSE-listed South African share you would lose 20% to dividend tax instead.
When NSE dividends are paid: the 2026 timeline
Dividend season on the NSE dividend calendar clusters around results announcements. Most companies with a December year-end report their full-year numbers between February and April, then pay their final dividends in May and June. That is why the bulk of the 2026 NSE dividend calendar, from Equity and KCB to Absa, I&M, Stanbic and BAT, landed in that May-to-June window.
A few names march to their own drum. Safaricom closes its books in March, so its final dividend arrives in the second half of the year, around September. EABL closes in June and typically pays its final in August or September. Knowing these cycles helps you plan: if you want to qualify for a specific dividend, you need to hold the shares before that company’s record date, not just at some point during the year.
How to build a dividend income stream from the NSE
Dividends can turn a share portfolio into a source of regular income, but it takes a plan. The first step is to focus on companies with a consistent payout history rather than a single big year. Banks like Equity, KCB, Stanbic and Co-operative Bank have raised or maintained dividends through several years, while BAT is prized for its high payout ratio. Our guide to the best dividend stocks in Kenya ranks them on exactly this basis.
The second step is to think in yield, not just shillings. A KSh 70 dividend from a share that costs KSh 700 is a 10% yield, while a KSh 2 dividend from a KSh 20 share is also 10%. Compare the dividend to the price you actually pay. The third step is to decide what to do with the cash. Reinvesting your dividends by buying more shares lets your income compound over time, which is how small holdings grow into meaningful ones.
Finally, spread your holdings. Relying on one company, however generous, leaves you exposed if it cuts, as Standard Chartered did in 2026. A handful of solid payers across banking, consumer goods and telecoms is steadier than a single bet.
Dividends or a money market fund: a quick reality check
Dividend shares are attractive, but they are not the only way to earn income, and they carry more risk than many beginners expect. A share price can fall further than the dividend you collect, wiping out the income and more. A dividend is also never guaranteed: boards can cut or skip it, as this year showed.
If your main goal is steady, low-risk income rather than growth, a money market fund can be a calmer option, currently paying more in annual yield than most NSE dividend yields, without the price swings. Many investors do both: dividend shares for long-term growth and rising income, and a fund for stability. Compare the two using our roundup of the best money market funds in Kenya.
The NSE’s most reliable dividend payers
A single generous year on the NSE dividend calendar does not make a great dividend stock. What matters more is consistency: companies that pay, and ideally grow, their dividend through good years and bad. On the 2026 NSE dividend calendar, several names stand out for that track record. Stanbic Holdings delivered its fourth consecutive annual raise, taking its full-year payout to KSh 22.35. Equity Group has now lifted its dividend in each of the last four years, and KCB backed its ordinary payout with a special dividend on the strength of a KSh 68.4 billion profit.
BAT Kenya sits in a category of its own for sheer payout, routinely handing back the bulk of its earnings, which is why its yield is consistently among the highest on the exchange. The banks, as a group, have become the backbone of NSE dividends, supported by strong profits and healthy capital. For a deeper look at which shares have actually performed, not just paid, see our guide to the best performing NSE stocks.
Common dividend mistakes to avoid
The first mistake when reading the NSE dividend calendar is chasing yield blindly. A very high dividend yield can be a warning sign, not a gift. It sometimes means the share price has fallen because the market expects trouble, and a dividend cut may follow. Standard Chartered’s sharp reduction in 2026 is a reminder that even reliable payers can trim when they choose to preserve capital.
The second mistake is buying too late. If you purchase a share after its record date purely to grab the dividend, you will not qualify, and you may simply have bought at a temporary high. The third is forgetting the admin: an unlinked CDS account means your cash can end up unclaimed. Check your account details well before any record date.
Finally, do not treat dividends as guaranteed income. They depend on company profits and board decisions, both of which change. Build a diversified set of payers, reinvest where you can, and keep a portion of your savings in something steadier so a single cut does not derail your plans.
Frequently asked questions
What is on the NSE dividend calendar for 2026?
The 2026 NSE dividend calendar includes BAT Kenya (KSh 70.00), Standard Chartered (KSh 31.00), Stanbic (KSh 18.55 final), Equity (KSh 5.75), NCBA (KSh 4.60), KCB (KSh 3.00), I&M (KSh 2.25), Safaricom (KSh 2.00 total), Absa (KSh 1.85) and Co-operative Bank (KSh 1.50 final). Most were paid between May and June, with Safaricom’s final due around September.
What is a record date or book-closure date?
It is the day a company checks its share register to decide who receives the dividend. You must own the shares by the record date to qualify. If you buy after it, the dividend goes to the seller. The payment date, usually a few weeks later, is when the cash reaches your account.
How much tax do I pay on NSE dividends?
Resident shareholders pay a 5% withholding tax on dividends from NSE-listed companies, deducted automatically before the cash reaches you. Non-residents pay 10%, which may be reduced by a double tax agreement. Kenya’s 5% resident rate is the lowest of any major African exchange.
When will Safaricom pay its final 2026 dividend?
Safaricom’s final dividend of KSh 1.15 per share is payable on or about 4 September 2026, to shareholders on the register at the close of business on 4 August 2026. Combined with the KSh 0.85 interim paid in March, that brings the full-year payout to KSh 2.00.
How do I make sure I receive my dividend?
You need an active CDS account with a working bank account linked to it. Dividends are paid straight into that linked account. If your account has no linked bank details, the cash may be held as unclaimed by the registrar, so check your CDSC portal or contact your broker before the record date.
To receive these dividends you must hold the shares in a CDSC account. Here is how to open one.
Disclaimer: The content on Sarafu is for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, investment, or professional advice. Dividend amounts and dates mentioned are approximate and were sourced at the time of writing (April 2026 dividend tracker), and companies can amend payment schedules after publication. Past dividends are not a promise of future payouts. All investments carry risk; the value of your investment can go down as well as up. Always do your own research, verify current figures on a live source such as each company’s investor relations page or the NSE dividend tracker, and consider consulting a licensed financial advisor before making any decision.
