Big Kenyan Banks Defy Bearish Market Outlook With Strong Q1 Earnings as Falling Rates Boost Profitability

Kenya’s top banks have posted stronger-than-expected Q1 2026 earnings, defying inflation fears and tightening regional liquidity conditions as lenders benefit from lower funding costs, improving loan recoveries, and resilient credit growth amid rising concerns that East African central banks could soon return to tighter monetary policy.