EABL Dividend 2026: Payout Date, Book Closure & How Much You’ll Earn
The EABL dividend for 2026 totals KES 12.70 per share for the year ended June 30, 2026. That is a KES 4.00 interim (paid April 30) plus a KES 8.70 final dividend payable on or about October 31, 2026 to shareholders on the register at close of business on October 19, 2026. Under the NSE’s T+3 settlement rule, your last day to buy and still qualify is Wednesday, October 14.
Every Kenyan knows Tusker. East African Breweries PLC (EABL) sells beer, spirits and malt drinks that people keep buying in good times and bad, which is why its dividend is one of the NSE’s most closely watched. This guide covers the dates, your payout by holding size, and whether the dividend is likely to last.
EABL Dividend 2026 at a Glance
| Detail | Confirmed figure |
|---|---|
| Final dividend | KES 8.70 per share |
| Book closure (register closes) | Monday, October 19, 2026 |
| Last day to buy (T+3) | Wednesday, October 14, 2026 |
| Payment date | On or about October 31, 2026 |
| Interim dividend (already paid) | KES 4.00 (record date Feb 20, paid Apr 30) |
| Total FY2026 dividend | KES 12.70 (+59% vs KES 8.00 in FY2025) |
| Withholding tax (resident individuals) | 5% |
Note that October 31 falls on a Saturday, so the credit may show just before or just after that date. Confirm with your broker.
Why EABL Raised Its Dividend
EABL’s FY2026 results showed a record profit after tax of KES 18.2 billion (up 49%) on net sales of KES 146 billion (up 13%). Earnings per share rose to KES 18.99 from KES 11.97. Kenyan Wallstreet reports the KES 12.70 payout is the highest since FY2003.
Three things drove the jump:
- Volume growth across Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
- Mainstream spirits, led by Kenya Cane, which grew about 30%.
- Lower financing costs after the company cut debt by KES 6.2 billion.
EABL Book Closure and Payment Dates 2026
| Dividend | Per share | Record / book closure | Payment | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interim | KES 4.00 | Feb 20, 2026 | Apr 30, 2026 | Paid |
| Final | KES 8.70 | Oct 19, 2026 | ~Oct 31, 2026 | Upcoming |
Last day to buy: The NSE settles on T+3, so shares bought on Wednesday, October 14 settle on Monday, October 19. Anything bought from Thursday, October 15 settles after the register closes and misses this dividend. For a safety buffer, buy by Monday, October 12. Our NSE dividend calendar shows the buy-by date for every open payout.
Some data sites show October 21 as an “ex-dividend date”. Go by the company’s notice: the register closes on October 19. Also confirm the details on EABL’s investor page and the NSE before you trade.
How Much Will You Earn? (KES Payout by Holding Size)
Resident individuals pay 5% withholding tax, deducted before the money reaches you.
| Shares held | Final dividend (gross) | Tax (5%) | Net final dividend (Oct) | Total FY2026 net (interim + final) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | KES 870 | KES 43.50 | KES 826.50 | KES 1,206.50 |
| 500 | KES 4,350 | KES 217.50 | KES 4,132.50 | KES 6,032.50 |
| 1,000 | KES 8,700 | KES 435 | KES 8,265 | KES 12,065 |
| 2,000 | KES 17,400 | KES 870 | KES 16,530 | KES 24,130 |
| 5,000 | KES 43,500 | KES 2,175 | KES 41,325 | KES 60,325 |
The full-year column only applies if you also held the shares on the interim record date (February 20). Try your own numbers in our NSE dividend calculator.
EABL Share Price and Dividend Yield
EABL traded around KES 280–290 in early September 2026, so 100 shares cost roughly KES 28,500 and 1,000 shares roughly KES 285,000. At about KES 285, the full-year KES 12.70 is a gross yield of roughly 4.5%. The final dividend alone is about 3%.
Yield is the same percentage whether you hold 100 shares or 5,000. You can start small. Prices move daily, so check a live quote before you calculate.
How to Qualify: CDS Account Checklist
To get the dividend automatically:
- Hold shares in your own CDS account. New to this? Start with our NSE trading guide or the beginner’s guide to buying shares in Kenya.
- Link a valid KRA PIN. It is needed for the correct 5% resident tax rate.
- Keep your bank details current. Outdated bank details are the most common reason dividends fail. Update them through your broker or CDSC, and ask whether mobile-money payout is available on your account.
- Place your order early. The NSE closes at 3:00 pm, and a late order can roll to the next day and break your T+3 timing.
Should You Buy Before the Book Closure?
On the first trading day without the dividend, the share price usually drops by about the dividend amount. Illustratively, if EABL closed at KES 285 on October 14, it might open near KES 276 on October 15. A KES 285 purchase minus KES 8.27 net dividend is an effective cost of about KES 276.7, which is roughly what an ex-dividend buyer pays. This is an illustration, not a forecast.
If you’re holding for years, don’t chase the date. Ask whether KES 285 is a price you’d hold through a 10–20% dip, and whether a yield near 4.5% meets your income goal.
EABL Dividend History: 5-Year Track Record
| Financial year (to June 30) | Interim | Final | Total per share | YoY change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | KES 3.75 | KES 7.25 | KES 11.00 | n/a |
| 2023 | KES 3.75 | KES 1.75 | KES 5.50 | −50% |
| 2024 | KES 1.00 | KES 6.00 | KES 7.00 | +27% |
| 2025 | KES 2.50 | KES 5.50 | KES 8.00 | +14.3% |
| 2026 | KES 4.00 | KES 8.70 | KES 12.70 | +58.8% |
- It isn’t a straight line. The 2023 halving shows the dividend follows profit, and profit fell that year.
- Recovery is strong. From KES 7.00 in FY2024 to KES 12.70 in FY2026 is an 81% increase in two years.
- Payout ratio: EABL has paid out about two-thirds of earnings per share in each of the last two years.
Is the EABL Dividend Sustainable?
Strengths: People keep buying beer and spirits when budgets are tight. Profit grew faster than sales in FY2026, debt is falling, and the payout ratio leaves room for reinvestment.
Risks to watch:
- Ownership change. Diageo agreed to sell its 65% stake to Asahi for about USD 2.3 billion. As of early September, a High Court order froze completion pending a Capital Markets Tribunal appeal and a Competition Authority review. The October 19 register decides who is paid, so this doesn’t change your entitlement, but the outcome could shape future dividend policy.
- Currency swings. EABL took a foreign-exchange loss in FY2026, and a weaker shilling can squeeze margins.
- Illicit alcohol, excise tax and thin consumer budgets can all dent volumes.
The dividend looks well covered, but a jump of this size shouldn’t be extrapolated. Treat KES 12.70 as a strong year, not a new floor.
EABL vs Safaricom Dividend
| Metric | EABL | Safaricom (SCOM) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2026 total dividend | KES 12.70 | KES 2.00 (0.85 + 1.15) |
| Approx. share price | ~KES 285 | ~KES 35* |
| Approx. gross yield | ~4.5% | ~5.6% |
| Payments | April and October | March and September |
| Financial year end | June 30 | March 31 |
| Approx. cost of 100 shares | ~KES 28,500 | ~KES 3,500 |
*Mid-2026 quote; check the live price.
Safaricom is cheaper to enter and currently yields more, while EABL’s payout has grown faster this year. See our Safaricom dividends guide, the best dividend stocks in Kenya, and our blue-chip stocks guide to compare. To spread income across the year, read how to earn monthly dividends from the NSE. Bank shares work differently: see the KCB dividend guide. You can also browse all NSE stocks and dividends coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the EABL 2026 dividend payment date? The KES 8.70 final dividend is payable on or about October 31, 2026. The KES 4.00 interim was paid on April 30, 2026.
What is the EABL dividend per share for 2026? KES 12.70 in total: a KES 4.00 interim and a KES 8.70 final.
What is the EABL book closure date for 2026? The register closes at the close of business on October 19, 2026.
What is the last day to buy EABL shares to get the dividend? Wednesday, October 14, 2026, under T+3 settlement. Buying by October 12 gives you a safety margin.
Does EABL pay an interim dividend? Yes. It pays an interim in April and a final in October or November.
How much tax is deducted from EABL dividends? Resident individuals pay 5% withholding tax, deducted at source. On KES 8.70 that leaves KES 8.265 per share.
Will the Diageo–Asahi sale affect my dividend? Not for this payout. Whoever is on the register on October 19 is paid. The pending sale could affect future dividend policy, so watch company announcements.
How are EABL dividends paid? Into the bank account registered on your CDS account. Ask your broker whether mobile-money payout is available.
This article is for educational purposes only and is not financial advice. Dividends are subject to board and shareholder approval and can change, so confirm details on EABL’s investor page, the NSE and CDSC before investing.
