How to Invest in Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) Treasury Bills
Treasury Bills (T-Bills) are short-term government debt securities issued by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) with maturities of 91 days, 182 days, and 364 days. They are a secure, high-yield investment option with returns backed fully by the government.
How to Start Investing in T-Bills Natively via DhowCSD:
- Register a DhowCSD Account: Download the CBK DhowCSD mobile app or log in to their web portal to open a Central Depository System (CDS) account instantly.
- Submit Your Bid: Choose your preferred T-Bill maturity (91, 182, or 364 days). The minimum investment amount is KES 50,000.
- Understanding Discounted Yields: T-Bills are sold at a discount. If you buy a KES 100,000 T-Bill, you will pay less up front (e.g. KES 85,000) and receive the full KES 100,000 at maturity, pocketing the KES 15,000 difference as interest.
- Taxation: Note that T-Bill interest earnings are subject to a flat 15% withholding tax at source before payouts.