Nairobi, April 21 -- Multinational companies holding major stakes in Nairobi bourse-listed firms are repatriating Sh42.2 billion to parent companies, reflecting the importance of the Kenyan units to conglomerates' bottom lines.

Safaricom, BAT Kenya, and EABL and banks such as Absa Bank Kenya, Standard Chartered and Equity Group are among the companies that have raised their interim and final payouts this year.

Their parent firms will start receiving the billions of shillings from Tuesday, a boost to the multinationals who have also seen their shares gain at the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE).

The 11.7 percent rise in the dividend payouts to the foreign firms follows higher profits posted by their Kenyan units last year.

These impro...