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The Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) has formalized plans to open its first regional office in Nairobi following the signing of a Host Country Agreement with the Government of Kenya, marking a new phase in infrastructure financing and industrial development across East Africa.
The agreement was signed by Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi and AFC President and CEO Samaila Zubairu.
President William Ruto witnessed the signing during the Africa We Build Summit in Nairobi, officially confirming Kenya as the host of the institution’s regional base.
The move brings the AFC closer to one of Africa’s fastest-growing economic regions, where demand for large-scale, bankable infrastructure projects continues to rise.
Nairobi’s position as a key centre for finance, logistics, and technology is expected to support the Corporation’s work in structuring and delivering cross-border investments.
Mudavadi described the development as a strong endorsement of Kenya’s role 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 added that the country remains a major growth corridor, with the economy projected to expand by 5.3 per cent in 2026, while the wider East African Community continues to grow at about 6 per cent annually.
AFC plans to mobilise and deploy more than $2 billion in East Africa over the next three to five years.
The investment focus will include transport and trade corridors, energy systems, special economic zones, digital infrastructure, and climate-related projects.
The Nairobi office will support deal origination, capital raising, and execution of projects across multiple markets, while also offering structured financing solutions designed to attract institutional investors.
The Corporation already has a footprint in Kenya, having committed over $1.3 billion since the country joined AFC in 2017.
Its current projects include industrial parks, special economic zones, and ongoing support for the expansion of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
President Ruto said the agreement strengthens Kenya’s long-term economic plans.
“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 the AFC’s presence would support job creation and help deliver projects linked to the country’s Vision 2030 development agenda.
He also pointed to improving macroeconomic conditions as a factor behind investor confidence.
“AFC’s decision to establish its first regional office here reflects Kenya’s role as a preferred base for institutions seeking regional growth. With inflation easing and progress in fiscal consolidation, Kenya offers a stable environment for long-term structured development finance,” Ruto said.
Zubairu said the Nairobi office will improve how AFC operates across the region.
“Nairobi’s position as a logistics, finance and technology hub makes it a natural anchor for AFC’s East African operations,” he said.
“Establishing a Regional Office in Nairobi allows us to originate faster, structure more effectively, and deploy capital at scale across interconnected markets.”
AFC, a pan-African development finance institution founded in 2007, focuses on closing the continent’s infrastructure gap through investment, advisory, and project development support.
Its expansion into Nairobi reflects a broader strategy to deepen its presence in high-growth markets and accelerate project delivery across Africa.
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