Kenya will inject an additional $25 million (Sh3.23 billion) into the Africa Finance Corporation as the infrastructure focused multilateral lender prepares to open its first office outside Nigeria in Nairobi. The announcement was made by President William Ruto during the Africa We Build Summit 2026, where the contribution was presented as a sign of confidence in African development finance institutions and a continuation of Kenya’s shareholding in AFC, which began in 2017.
AFC President and CEO Samaila Zubairu said the Nairobi office will bring the corporation closer to East African governments and partners working on infrastructure projects. He noted that the move will support opportunities across trade corridors, energy platforms, industrial ecosystems, pipelines, and domestic capital mobilisation.
The investment aligns with Kenya’s broader strategy of increasing its equity in regional financial institutions. These include the African Export Import Bank, the African Development Bank, Atidi, and the Trade and Development Bank Group. The approach comes at a time when African economies are facing tighter access to external development financing due to global shocks and shifting geopolitical conditions.
The corporation’s latest infrastructure report highlights concerns that domestic capital is still heavily concentrated in low risk assets such as government bonds. It points out that this limits the flow of funds into productive infrastructure that can generate jobs and unlock wider economic value.
For Kenya, the additional investment in AFC strengthens Nairobi’s position as a regional capital hub. It also supports institutions that are designed to finance Africa’s infrastructure using resources from within the continent, reflecting a growing focus on self driven development financing.
