Sameer Africa was again judged the strongest performer in financial reporting in East Africa after taking the top prize at the 2018 FiRe awards in Nairobi on Monday, November 19, 2018 at 20:33.
The Nairobi Securities Exchange-listed company, which operates in manufacturing, agriculture and transport, led a field of 503 entrants in the annual competition that recognises excellence in financial reporting and promotes accountability, transparency and integrity in both public and private institutions.
The 2018 turnout was higher than the 456 companies that entered in 2017. Public sector participation rose to 408 from 362 the previous year, while private sector entries increased slightly to 95 from 92 in 2017.
Rwanda’s Auditor-General Obadiah Biraro, who was the chief guest at the gala night, said in a press statement: “Increased participation by the public sector underpins the commitment to more open accountability in the use of public funds and offers the entities an opportunity to be assessed against global standards.”
The awards were in their 17th edition and were jointly organised by the Capital Markets Authority (CMA), the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK), the Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (PSASB) and the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE).
Sameer Africa held on to first place in the industrial, commercial and services category as well as among listed firms, which lifted it to the overall top position in Kenya and East Africa.
Other winners included Diamond Trust Bank in banking, CIC Insurance Group in insurance, Kenya Tea Development Holdings Limited in agriculture, Faulu in microfinance, UN Sacco in the Saccos category, and Kenya Power Pension Fund Defined Contribution in the not-for-profit category.
NIC Bank won the governance category, while Stanbic Bank of Uganda took the Environmental and Social Reporting award and Stanbic Bank Kenya won in integrated reporting.
