Policy Monitor, Issue 8 No. 4, April-June 2017 Islamic Finance: New Opportunities for Driving Development Agenda

Abstract

Welcome to the April-June 2017 edition of KIPPRA Policy Monitor. The lead articles in this edition cover recent Kenya economic developments and prospects with a detailed focus on inflation dynamics given the prevailing drought conditions. The edition also looks at Islamic finance as an alternative source of financing the development agenda, minimization of costs in public infrastructure investments and the opportunities to lower transaction costs to boost intra-regional trade. There are highlights on key domestic and global policy news during the period, key ongoing KIPPRA research projects, as well as KIPPRA news and events. The recent data released by Kenya National Bureau of Statistics indicates that the economy grew by 4.7% in the first quarter of 2017, a slightly lower growth rate compared to 5.3% in the first quarter in 2016. Growth in the second quarter of 2017 may be slower due to prolonged drought, and slow uptake of domestic credit...