In a decisive move that highlights Kenya’s ambition to become a global financial gateway, the Nairobi International Financial Centre (NIFC) has officially been accepted as a full member of the World Alliance of International Financial Centers (WAIFC). The formal announcement was made on 29 September 2025, during WAIFC’s Annual General Meeting held in Frankfurt, Germany.
This milestone marks a major step forward in Nairobi’s efforts to cement its role among leading global financial hubs. By joining WAIFC, NIFC will gain access to collaboration networks, policy frameworks, and international best practices designed to foster cross-border capital flows, financial innovation, and institutional development.
As a member of WAIFC, NIFC will also be integrated into the WAIFC African Chapter, enabling deeper cooperation with other African international financial centers. Its membership aims to bolster regional integration, unlock investment opportunities across the continent, and promote Kenya as a premier gateway for investment into Africa.
The announcement coincides with the WAIFC Annual General Meeting taking place this week in Frankfurt, Germany, where NIFC CEO Daniel Mainda is engaging with international partners to shape the future of finance and investment.
The timing is strategic: aligning Kenya’s financial ambitions with the global community and showcasing Nairobi’s readiness to take on a central role in continental capital markets.
In the WAIFC press release, the organisation affirms that NIFC’s admission “reinforces the NIFC’s growing role on the global stage, linking Nairobi with other leading financial hubs worldwide and supporting its mission to position Kenya as a gateway to investment in Africa.”
Membership in WAIFC offers the Nairobi International Financial Centre a unique opportunity to integrate more deeply into the global financial system. It opens access to an expansive network of international financial centres, enabling partnerships, cross-border cooperation, and the exchange of knowledge that can drive innovation and growth.
The alliance also provides a platform for benchmarking Kenya’s policies and regulations against global best practices, helping to raise standards in transparency, sustainability, and governance. By leveraging WAIFC’s strong international reputation, NIFC is positioned to attract foreign investment more efficiently and credibly, particularly from institutional investors seeking exposure to Africa’s markets.
In addition, the collaboration fosters the development of Africa’s capital markets, with Nairobi benefitting from shared expertise in infrastructure, regulation, and financial technologies; key elements in building a competitive and resilient financial hub.
WAIFC itself is a key network of leading global financial centres, fostering collaboration, knowledge sharing, and joint initiatives to address shared challenges in the global financial ecosystem. By linking centres across continents, WAIFC helps its members design policies, standards, and mechanisms for sustainable growth.
Kenya’s vision for transforming Nairobi into a financial hub has been building momentum in recent years. The NIFC’s designation and related policy reforms have signaled Nairobi’s intent to offer a competitive environment for international financial services. However, membership in WAIFC significantly elevates that ambition from vision to international legitimacy.
NIFC’s new status places Kenya in dialogue with major financial centres such as London, Singapore, Dubai, Hong Kong, and others partners whose experience and influence can help Nairobi refine its regulatory environment, develop capital markets, and attract institutional investors.
For Kenya and the wider East African region, the benefits could extend beyond Nairobi’s borders. Increased foreign capital inflows, better institutional knowledge transfer, and enhanced connectivity with global markets may spur financial innovation, deepen regional bond and equity markets, and contribute to sustainable growth.
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