The Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) has formally established its first regional office in Nairobi, Kenya, in a move set to accelerate infrastructure financing and industrial development across East Africa. The expansion is backed by a commitment to deploy and mobilise more than $2 billion in investments over the next three to five years.
The milestone follows the signing of a Host Country Agreement between AFC and the Government of Kenya, positioning Nairobi as a strategic base for the Corporation’s regional operations. The agreement was signed by Musalia Mudavadi, Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, and Samaila Zubairu, President and CEO of AFC. The ceremony was witnessed by William Ruto during the ongoing The Africa We Build Summit in Nairobi.
The new regional office is expected to strengthen AFC’s presence in one of Africa’s fastest-growing economic corridors, enhancing its ability to originate, structure, and execute cross-border infrastructure transactions while mobilising capital at scale.
Speaking at the event, Mudavadi underscored Kenya’s strategic importance in the region. “Kenya welcomes the entry of AFC into the country and in the East Africa region. Kenya continues to be not only the hub for the region but in the continent,” he said. He noted that Kenya’s economy is projected to grow by 5.3% in 2026, while the broader East African Community—home to over 400 million people—is expanding at an average annual rate of about 6%.
Nairobi’s established role as a regional hub for logistics, finance, and technology was a key factor in AFC’s decision. The office will serve as a full-service platform, supporting transaction origination, capital mobilisation, and execution of infrastructure projects across multiple sectors.
AFC’s planned investments will target high-impact sectors including logistics and trade corridors, power generation and transmission, special economic zones, digital infrastructure, and climate-resilient assets. The Corporation also aims to introduce structured local currency financing solutions to improve project bankability and attract institutional investors into the region.
The expansion builds on AFC’s growing footprint in Kenya. Since the country joined the Corporation in 2017, AFC has committed over $1.3 billion to projects spanning energy, transport, and industrial development. Ongoing initiatives include the development of the Dongo Kundu Integrated Industrial Park and the Naivasha Special Economic Zone II, in partnership with Arise Integrated Industrial Platforms, as well as continued support for the expansion of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
President Ruto described the development as a significant boost to Kenya’s economic ambitions. “This signing marks a pivotal moment in Kenya’s economic development journey. By deepening our partnership with AFC, we are reinforcing Kenya’s position at the forefront of infrastructure and industrial transformation in Africa,” he said. He added that AFC’s presence would contribute to job creation and enhance the country’s capacity to deliver large-scale development projects aligned with Kenya’s Vision 2030.
Ruto also highlighted Kenya’s improving macroeconomic environment, pointing to easing inflation and ongoing fiscal consolidation as factors strengthening investor confidence. He noted that the country continues to serve as a preferred base for pan-African and international institutions seeking regional growth opportunities.
For AFC, the Nairobi office represents a strategic step toward scaling its operations across interconnected African markets. Zubairu emphasized the importance of proximity to high-growth regions in driving impact. “Nairobi’s position as a logistics, finance and technology hub makes it a natural anchor for AFC’s East African operations. Establishing a Regional Office in Nairobi allows us to originate faster, structure more effectively, and deploy capital at scale across interconnected markets,” he said.
He added that AFC’s long-term focus remains on building investable infrastructure platforms capable of unlocking regional trade, strengthening industrial capacity, and supporting sustained economic growth across Africa.
