Nairobi, Aug. 18 -- Shareholders of companies listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) will bank Sh74.95 billion from dividends in the weeks to October, reaping from a surge in share prices.

The dividend payouts have emerged as an important source of liquidity for individuals and businesses in an economy that is still grappling with costly credit and shrunken payslips.

While the dividends will offer a boost to the economy and demand for goods and services in corporate Kenya, 45 percent of the cash, or Sh33 billion, will be repatriated from the country by multinational shareholders with stakes in the firms.

Safaricom, East Africa Breweries Limited (EABL), KCB Group, BAT Kenya, Stanbic Holdings, Absa Bank Kenya and NCBA Group will...