Mansa‑X Special Fund (Standard Investment Bank)
Overview & Strategy
Mansa‑X is a multi‑asset long/short strategy special fund licensed by the CMA. It trades across global and local instruments—equities, currencies, commodities, fixed income, and derivatives—using leverage and hedging to generate returns in any market climate Reddit+15sib.co.ke+15Kiihela+15.
Key Features
- Minimum investment: KES 250,000 (~USD 2,500); top‑up from KES 100,000 Reddit+2Kiihela+2Vocal+2
- Lock‑in: 6 months Soko Directory+4vasiliafrica.com+4Kiihela+4
- Fees:
- 5% annual management fee
- 10% performance fee above hurdle (25% for KES fund, 15% for USD fund) HCN Times+15sib.co.ke+15vasiliafrica.com+15
- Liquidity: withdrawals processed within 48–72 hours Reddit+1Soko Directory+1
Performance & Scale
- KES fund has averaged ~17.7% p.a. since inception; in 2024 it delivered a 19.53% net return (24.53% gross), with Q4 alone contributing 3.78% net sib.co.ke+2Soko Directory+2LinkedIn+2.
- USD fund returned 12.5% net in 2024 Reddit+9Soko Directory+9LinkedIn+9.
- AUM of KES 39.05 bn and USD 53 m by end of 2024–2025, making it Kenya’s largest special fund (~54.6% market share) Vocal+8Money254+8Soko Directory+8.
Advantages & Considerations
- Highly diversified with global exposure and active risk management via long/short strategies.
- Strong historic performance and institutional oversight.
– High fees and leverage increase volatility; minimum investment is steep.
🌳 Oak Special Fund (Faida Investment Bank)
Overview & Strategy
Oak is a USD‑denominated multi‑asset special fund, launched in 2024. It uses leveraged asset allocation across global sovereign/corporate bonds, derivatives, and other assets. The fund targets medium‑to‑high risk/return Vocal+2sib.co.ke+2vasiliafrica.com+2RedditReddit+2Kiihela+2Soko Directory+2.
Key Features
- Minimum investment: KES 500,000 (~USD 3,861); top‑up from KES 50,000 Reddit+4Kiihela+4sib.co.ke+4
- Lock‑in: 6 months; T+2 settlement Kiihela
- Fees:
- 6% annual management fee
- No performance fee Envestreet Financial+1vasiliafrica.com+1sib.co.ke+2Kiihela+2vasiliafrica.com+2
- Liquidity: settlement in 2 days post-withdrawal request
Performance & Scale
- Q1 2025 delivered 4.66% return (annualised ~18.6%) sib.co.ke+2Kiihela+2Soko Directory+2.
- For 2024 launched fund, Oak posted an impressive 29.38% net return, outperforming its 20% target sib.co.ke+2Soko Directory+2Kiihela+2.
- AUM reached KES 2.7 bn by Q1 2025, up from KES 0.927 bn at end-2024 Envestreet Financial+1Kiihela+1.
Advantages & Considerations
- Extraordinary returns in first year and strong early growth.
- Exposes investors to global assets with strong risk controls.
– Even higher fees than Mansa‑X, and its newer status means less long-term track record.
– High minimum investment; suitable only for more sophisticated investors Kiihela+1Soko Directory+1sib.co.keVocal+15HCN Times+15Kiihela+15.
📊 Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | Mansa‑X (SIB) | Oak (Faida) |
|---|---|---|
| Denomination | KES & USD | USD |
| Min Investment / Top-up | 250k / 100k KES | 500k / 50k KES |
| Lock-in | 6 months | 6 months |
| Mgmt Fee | 5% p.a. | 6% p.a. |
| Performance Fee | 10% above hurdle | None |
| 2024 Net Return | ~19.5% (KES); 12.5% (USD) | 29.38% (KES fund) |
| Q1 2025 Return | ~3.8% net | 4.66% (annualised ~18.6%) |
| AUM | ~KSh 39bn KES, USD 53m | ~KSh 2.7bn |
| Liquidity | 48–72h | T+2 |
| Target Investor | Sophisticated | Highly sophisticated |
✅ Which One Suits You?
- Go with Mansa‑X if you:
- Want a proven fund with multi-year performance.
- Prefer global diversification with active risk hedging.
- Can handle high fees and a KES 250k entry point.
- Consider Oak if you:
- Seek potentially higher returns and can tolerate higher risk.
- Prefer USD exposure with less performance fee drag.
- Have minimum investment capacity (KES 500k+).
- Diversification Tip: Some investors split capital between both funds—Mansa‑X for stability and Oak for growth upside.
📌 What to Do Next
- Request each fund’s latest fact sheets and full fee breakdowns from SIB and Faida.
- Assess how each fund aligns with your risk appetite, investment timeline, and currency preference.
- Contact fund managers directly or through your financial advisor to initiate investments (e.g., via KYC doc uploads, funding instructions).
- Monitor quarterly performance and liquidity terms regularly.
Both funds represent high-end investment options in Kenya’s evolving “special funds” segment. Mansa‑X offers a strong track record and global diversification, while Oak delivers eye‑catching early returns with aggressive strategies. Choose based on your risk tolerance and investment goals, or diversify across both for balance.