The Kahawa Council: Bringing Practical Conversations to the Table

Earlier this month, we hosted the first edition of The Kahawa Council, a new initiative by DOB Equity and AHL Venture Partners bringing together experts to help our portfolio and pipeline companies tackle the real challenges of building and scaling businesses in East Africa.

In each edition, we go deep on one topic that keeps founders and their teams up at night.

For our inaugural session: Tax.

We were joined by Waithera Mugo (Ithera Africa), Brian Waruru (ALN), and Sharon Makena (KRA Large Taxpayers Office), with the discussion moderated by Cikü Mugambi (DOB Equity) and Kerry Nasidai Mruttu (AHL Venture Partners).

Key themes from the morning

• Invest in good tax advice early. The cost of getting it wrong compounds quickly, in more ways than one.

• Documentation is everything. Agreements, board resolutions, and filings must tell a clear, consistent story.

• Fundraising instruments carry tax implications that are often overlooked — from SAFEs and convertible notes to term loans and straight equity.

• Substance matters. KRA looks beyond legal form to understand commercial reality.

• Timelines are critical. Missing a statutory window can have serious consequences.

• When an assessment arrives, be strategic, not reactive.

• The Finance Act 2026 brings meaningful changes that growth-stage businesses need to get on top of.

This was the first of many conversations through The Kahawa Council, and we look forward to bringing together our community for future editions.