I am encouraged by this post. I started investing in CBK way back in 2007 by selling my house in one of the Kenyan cities after realising that pre-and PEV were on the offing. I am just waiting for the redemption of that 1st bond in May. The interest has already surpassed the principal amount and I have been reinvesting the whole interest. There are however other bonds which I have bought all along which have matured and then reinvested. I now have a total of 30 bonds. This thing is becoming addictive.

Why?

Forget these over-glorified govt papers! They are no longer the best place to pack your money. "We" moved to Money Market Unit Trusts - they pay high rates (higher than T-Bills!), agents come to you to open the account (you don't have to leave your house!), you can deposit and withdraw funds online, you can withdraw any amount at any time without loss of interest.

I honestly don't know why private citizens bother with CBK Bills & Bonds...

A few years ago, T-Bills were earning higher than MMFs. I went to CBK to re-activate my CDS acc. Was told I need to open it afresh. Started the whole process (it's very bureaucratic!).
Checked every week for three months and they still hadn't opened it.
By that time T-B rates were no longer high.
Gave up & retained the money in MMF
On the fourth month, CBK sent me an SMS that CDS is open.
Ignored it and moved on!

Some of us are just happy to live with the money we have and manage it within our means. Triple mara 50%pa 100% plus plus plus doesn't appeal to everybody. More money more problems

I bet some of Amana funds are locked due to poor investment decisions(read collapsed Nakumatt commercial paper)

Thanks @ Murenju,

The secret to investing success, to me at least, is to DIVERSIFY.
When I first started, my allocations were:
- 20% Shares
- 30% Bonds
- 30% Real Estate
- 20% Emergency fund - in Current / savings accounts

However, as you grow older, your risk profile should change.
You don't have time on your side to ride the ups & downs of NSE.

So, now my portfolio is as follows:

- SHARES:
The shares I bought are still with me over the many years. I don't trade. I bought and held. 90% of my current holdings are in Safaricom, NIC, KCB,SCB, BBK & HFCK. All these shares have performed very well for me, and provided very good dividends.
The other 10% were in Total Oil, Uchumi, NBK, KQ, Kengen & Scan group. These haven't done as well. But I am OK with that.
I have not invested in shares since Safaricom, which was my 3rd. biggest investment after NIC & KCB.
Therefore, currently my share ratio is a LOT lower than 20% as at the start.

BONDS:
At a younger age, I was investing in 10/15 year Bonds, because the return is higher. However, as age catches up, you need to narrow that window to a maximum of 5 years, preferably 2 years. If these are not available, I go for 1 year T Bills.
Overall, I think I still have around 30% in Bonds / Bills.

REAL ESTATE:
This has done reasonably well for me.
I bought a 3 bedroom house in Lavington on half an acre way back in 1978. This was our residence for many years. Over the years we
extended it to more than double the size ( legally )to 2 master en-suite bedrooms, 2 other bedrooms sharing 1 and a half bathrooms. Also replaced the old small kitchen with an American style kitchen with a large breakfast counter. Also a very large pantry.
We also built patios front and back, and built a large banda in the garden for entertainment / parties.
The Estate with 69 houses became a gated community with 24 hour security.
However, after I retired, we bought a beach plot on the North Coast and built our "dream villa"
In the meantime, the house in Lavington has been rented to multinational companies etc.
So I reckon that my real estate invested are about the same as a %

Emergency Funds:
This has increased as a %, mainly because of age. You are more likely to require big money for unforeseen medical expenses.
Plus helping your family in case of need. Also paying the deposit for our children to get their own houses.

So this is my LONG story.
I have provided it in good faith. Hope you find it useful.
I am sure some people won't agree with my strategy. So be it.

Peace & Best wishes from the Beach. I am going to my rooftop bar for a very cold Tusker

I am encouraged by this post. I started investing in CBK way back in 2007 by selling my house in one of the Kenyan cities after realising that pre-and PEV were on the offing. I am just waiting for the redemption of that 1st bond in May. The interest has already surpassed the principal amount and I have been reinvesting the whole interest. There are however other bonds which I have bought all along which have matured and then reinvested. I now have a total of 30 bonds. This thing is becoming addictive.
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WB does not do bonds. I agree with him!
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Why?
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I am addicted to buying any bond whose coupon is 12% and above. I am also reinvesting all the interest earned as soon as the accumulated interest is more that 500k, i.e., I don't invest lesss that 500k.

Following you closely though you started saving when I was being born.

I have been burnt in NSE though the gains I made are higher than the loss I have, cumulatively. I also tried with BRITAM and Old Mutual, but I realized that those guys are making money for themselves. I realized that if you start small without an ambition of becoming exceedingly rich in a short time, you can live a happy life. Work hard, save, have holidays and cherish your family but avoid being taxed by parents, siblings or relatives and of cause, avoid slay-queens(kings).

Visit?

Submit?

What is wrong with hawa watu....? 😠😠😠😠

@AndyC, your view is a key reason why only God will help us Kenyans to reverse direction and force change for the better. Getting angry is a better reaction than unquestioningly doing it fast. Also getting angry is not mutually exclusive with doing it earlier..