The Kenya Investment Authority (Invest Kenya) has signed a pivotal agreement with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private-sector arm of the World Bank Group, to build and publicise a robust “investable project pipeline” aimed at attracting quality foreign direct investment (FDI) into Kenya’s key growth sectors.
The collaboration will see IFC support Invest Kenya with technical capacity to systematically identify, structure, and promote high-value projects, transforming previously abstract opportunities into clear, bankable deals ready for private and institutional investors.
“Investors are eager to deploy capital in markets with clear, credible pipelines. IFC’s technical expertise enables us to respond to that demand by bringing forward high-quality, investment-ready projects in Kenya’s most promising sectors.” said Invest Kenya Chief Executive Officer John Mwendwa.
“This is a major step in ensuring Kenya remains the destination of choice for global investors looking for impact and opportunity.”
Under the partnership, IFC will lend its institutional expertise to help Invest Kenya screen, package, and promote projects across priority sectors including agriculture, energy, manufacturing, SMEs, and other areas central to Kenya’s economic agenda.
For investors, both international and local, the initiative promises a clearer roadmap of vetted opportunities, reducing uncertainty around risks, returns, and feasibility. With project proposals professionally structured and aligned with global investment standards, due diligence becomes more efficient, boosting investor confidence.
For Kenya, the pipeline could translate into significant inflows of foreign capital, support for private-sector expansion, and ultimately job creation and broader economic transformation.
According to IFC’s approach in Africa, investments channeled into strategic sectors like infrastructure, energy and agribusiness have historically boosted long-term growth by improving productivity and creating value through integrated supply chains.
Moreover, the support from IFC, an institution with strong global reputation signals to international financiers that Kenya is aligning itself with best-practice investment frameworks. That could help Kenya compete more effectively with other African economies vying for FDI.
The agreement comes at a critical moment. Across Africa, development institutions increasingly emphasize private-sector-led growth and sustainable infrastructure, as evidenced by recent IFC investments targeting renewable energy, transport, digital connectivity, and affordable housing in Kenya and beyond.
By tapping into IFC’s advisory capacity and global network, Invest Kenya appears to be doubling down on reforms and investor facilitation efforts, a shift from ad hoc outreach to a more institutional, pipeline-driven strategy.
This is in line with broader continental trends where investment promotion agencies standardize project packaging to meet international financing standards.
The pipeline approach also aligns with Kenya’s long-term development priorities, including job creation, boosting SMEs, enhancing infrastructure and energy access, sectors that have gained increasing investor interest in recent years.
In remarks during the signing, IFC’s Principal Country Officer in Kenya, Gillian Rogers, said that the organisation sees Kenya as a dynamic and diverse economy, with competitive industries ranging from agriculture to tourism, manufacturing, and financial services. She emphasised IFC’s commitment to support investment that creates jobs, builds industries, and fosters inclusive economic growth.
“IFC is a strong and longstanding partner with Kenya, a country with a dynamic and diverse private sector that is competitive in industries ranging from agriculture and manufacturing to tourism and financial services.
Working with the Kenya Investment Authority, IFC aims to strengthen Kenya’s economy further by helping attract investment that creates jobs and builds industries, contributing to long-term growth and opportunity.” She Said.
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