By HERBLING DAVIDMore by this AuthorOnly one out of five financial and investment analysts in Kenya have been licensed to ply the trade by the industry regulator ahead of the June 7 deadline. The Institute of Certified Investment and Financial Analysts (Icifa) says it has so far only issued 170 persons with practicing certificates out of the estimated 1,000 professionals in the industry. The Investment and Financial Analysts Act (2015) — which came into operation on December 8, 2015 — was enacted to rein in rogue financial analysts, eliminate quacks and protect investor wealth. Job Kihumba, Icifa chairman, called on securities analysts, research analysts, equity analysts, portfolio managers and investment advisers to take advantage of the lax requirements during this transitional period to apply for licences. Currently, all those holding qualifications such as, Certified International Investment Analysts, Chartered Financial Analyst, Certified Investment and Financial Analysts, regardless of experience, can be admitted as members.

Source: Daily Nation April 26, 2017 18:56 UTC