Nairobi, Aug. 19 -- Equity Group Holdings reported a 31.5 percent jump in the half-year to June 2026, but opted not to pay an interim dividend with an eye on capital for expansion.

The regional lender posted a profit after tax of Sh43.7 billion in the six months to June, up from Sh33.3 billion made in a similar period last year.

Equity retained a tradition of not issuing interim dividends even as other large lenders such as KCB, Absa, Standard Chartered Bank of Kenya and NCBA Group rewarded their shareholders with higher interim dividends, promising more returns in the future.

"The shareholders constantly remind me that I have to balance between dividend payments and acquisitions. That's what we do, and we are committed," said Equity G...