NAIROBI, Kenya Jul 28 – I&M Capital has challenged common misconceptions that investing is only for the wealthy or inherently risky, encouraging more Kenyans to begin their investment journeys with as little as Sh5,000.
Speaking on Capital in the Morning, Sameer Raja, Head of Investment Advisory at I&M Capital Limited, said many people confuse saving with investing, yet the two serve different financial purposes.
According to Raja, saving involves setting money aside for future needs or emergencies, while investing is about putting money to work to generate long-term wealth.
He likened the difference to owning a parked car versus using the same vehicle to generate income.
“If you have a car parked in your driveway, that’s saving. Investing is taking that same car and using it as a taxi or an Uber. It’s doing something for you to create long-term wealth,” he said.
Raja noted that Kenya’s investment landscape has broadened significantly in recent years, driven by growing financial literacy and increased access to both local and international investment opportunities.
He said investors can now choose from property, the Nairobi Securities Exchange, money market funds, fixed income products, unit trusts and offshore investments, including exposure to global companies and international markets that were previously difficult for ordinary Kenyans to access.
Addressing concerns that investing requires substantial capital, Raja dismissed the notion as one of the biggest barriers preventing many people from building wealth.
“Investing is not just for the wealthy; it is for everybody. Anyone who has a financial goal can access these investments. With as low as Sh5,000, you can start investing,” he said.
He also challenged the perception that investing is excessively risky, arguing that investment decisions should be guided by an individual’s financial goals and tolerance for risk.
Raja said I&M Capital works with clients to understand their objectives whether saving for education, a home, retirement or other milestones before recommending suitable investment options.
“We are not here to product-push. Our objective is to ensure you meet your goals,” he said, adding that the company regularly reviews clients’ portfolios to ensure investments remain aligned with changing financial objectives.
Among the firm’s offerings are Kenya shilling-denominated money market funds, fixed income funds with returns of up to 10 to 10.5 percent, and US dollar-denominated investments earning up to 5 to 5.5 percent. Raja said the products do not attract entry, exit or lock-in fees.
He added that the company also offers a British pound-denominated fund one of the few available in Kenya as well as offshore investment solutions spanning global equities and bonds.
Raja said interest in offshore investments has grown strongly over the past two to three years as investors seek to diversify across both asset classes and currencies.
He noted that many investors are increasingly looking to hold assets in hard currencies such as the US dollar and euro, while demand has also risen for investments linked to artificial intelligence following strong interest in gold and silver during the previous year.
To improve accessibility, Raja said I&M Capital’s On The Go (OTG) mobile application enables customers to open investment accounts, fund them, buy or redeem investments and access account statements digitally in about two minutes.
He also announced that I&M Capital will host an investment town hall at Strathmore University on Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., bringing together six panelists to discuss business, investment opportunities and economic growth.
The event, he said, is open to both existing and aspiring investors seeking insights into Kenya’s evolving investment landscape.
