The impact of on the capital structure of listed firms in Kenya

Abstract

The Nairobi Securities Exchange is considered one of the most developed stock markets in Sub-Saharan Africa. This development is attributed to the significant reforms that were made between the years of 1990 and 1999. The reforms include shifting from being self-regulated to having a regulatory body (Capital Markets Authority), elimination of "call-over" trading and "open outcry" trading through introduction of a Central Depository and Settlement System, tax concessions, relaxation of exchange controls and reduction of listing costs. The above reforms resulted in a development of the Nairobi Securities Exchange evidenced by the increase of the value of shares traded, market capitalization ratio and turnover ratio (Nyasha & Odhiambo, 2014).