Kenyan banks make losses in South Sudan and why they stay on

Customers in a KCB banking hall in South Sudan capital, Juba. The lender cut its presence in the war-torn State. FILE PHOTO | NMG

Kenyan top retail banks are struggling to navigate the rough terrain in the war-ravaged South Sudan with Co-operative bank falling to an accumulated loss of Ksh3.29 billion ($28.85 million) in the last eight years of operation.

A review of the audited financial statements for KCB, Equity and Co-operative bank show that the latter has made losses amounting to about $28.85 million from the year 2014 to 2021, translating to a loss of Ksh411.78 million ($3.61 million) per annum.