State Department for Investment Promotion-Kenya

The State Department for Investment Promotion successfully participated in a Tree Growing Exercise held at the Naivasha Special Economic Zone, where a total of 6,000 tree seedlings were planted in support of the National 15 Billion Tree Growing Programme.

This initiative is in line with the Government’s commitment to environmental conservation, restoration of ecosystems and climate change mitigation. As a Department, we remain dedicated to integrating sustainable practices within our investment promotion agenda, ensuring that economic growth goes hand in hand with environmental stewardship.

We extend our appreciation to all stakeholders and partners who participated in this important exercise and reaffirm our commitment to building a greener, more sustainable future for generations to come.

The State Department for Investment Promotion convened a stakeholder validation forum to advance discussions on strengthening public-private collaboration through the Draft Public-Private Engagement Policy and Bill.

Building on extensive public participation and consultations, the revised policy framework seeks to institutionalize8 structured engagement between Government and the private sector. The forum also benefited from insights shared by international chambers, reinforcing the value of global partnerships in shaping a competitive investment environment.

Deliberations highlighted the need to streamline engagement across business membership organizations (BMO's), whose fragmented representation often limits effective policy dialogue and emphasized the importance of coordinated, inclusive approaches.

As the policy moves toward finalization, the Department calls upon all stakeholders to submit their feedback and actively participate in shaping an inclusive, transparent and effective engagement framework.

The final day of Africa Green Industrialization Initiative (AGII) Forum reinforced a critical shift in Africa’s development trajectory- from climate ambition to investable, scalable green industrialization.

Graced by H.E. Deputy President Prof. Kithure Kindiki alongside Dr. Deborah Barasa Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, Ambassador Ali Mohamed special envoy for climate change, Abubakar Hassan Abubakar Principal Secretary for Investment Promotion, Juma Mukhwana Principal Secretary for Industry, Mutula Kilonzo Jnr, Governor for Makueni and Diana Dalton Deputy High Commissioner, British High Commission.

Kenya’s strong enabling environment continues to provide policy certainty and investor confidence, supported by an energy mix that is 93% renewable.

A major milestone was the introduction of the USD 40 million (Kshs 5 Billio) Green lnvestment Fund (GIF) under the Kenya Jobs Economic Transformation (KJET) Project, structured to de-risk early stage investments, support project preparation and crowd in an additional USD 160 million (Kshs 20 Billion) in private capital.

Key launches, including the Institutional Clean Cooking Sector Pack and circular economy investment opportunities, further demonstrated Kenya’s leadership in translating policy into practical investment platforms.

Kenya remains committed to working with partners to position Africa as a global hub for sustainable investment and green innovation.

Day 2 of the KIICO 2026, COMESA Investment Forum (CIF) underscored a unified regional ambition: to build a seamless, integrated market that unlocks Africa’s full investment potential.

Held under the theme “COMESA: The Single Market Leap,” the event was graced by the COMESA Secretary General H.E. Ms. Chileshe Mpundu Kapwepwe. The Forum advanced practical solutions to enhance investment flows, strengthen regional value chains and accelerate economic transformation across Member States.

A key highlight was the launch of the Investor’s Guide to Kenya by the Principal Secretary for Investment Promotion, Abubakar Hassan Abubakar providing clear insights into opportunities, incentives and the end-to-end investment journey.

In addition, the Forum featured the rollout of an interactive investment platform, designed to connect investors with a pipeline of bankable opportunities across the COMESA region.

The investment case for COMESA remains strong with a market access of over 600 million people and $ 1Trillion GDP presenting compelling opportunities for long-term investment.

Achieving these outcomes requires sustained focus on policy certainty, regulatory harmonization, and trade facilitation. Increasing intra-COMESA trade from 7.2% to 25% by 2026 remains a key priority, supported by reforms to streamline customs processes and reduce non-tariff barriers.

We encourage investors and partners to explore opportunities across COMESA and join us in driving a more integrated, resilient and prosperous Africa.

Kenya today successfully hosted the 4th edition of the Kenya International Investment Conference (KIICO 2026), reaffirming its position as a premier global investment destination.

Graced by H.E. President William Samoei Ruto and H.E. President Daniel Francisco Chapo of Mozambique, alongside Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries ambassadors, high commissioners, governors and global investors, the conference convened key stakeholders under the theme: “Unlocking investment opportunities to drive Kenya’s transformation.” The event underscored Kenya’s strategic role as a gateway to regional and continental markets, supported by ongoing reforms that enhance ease of doing business.

A major highlight was the signing of 20 strategic investment deals valued at USD 2.9 billion across seven priority sectors—agriculture, manufacturing, ICT, BPO, healthcare, energy and real estate—spanning investments in 10 counties. These commitments reflect strong investor confidence in Kenya’s stable, predictable and open business environment.

As KIICO continues, we invite investors and the business community to partner with us in advancing Kenya’s transformation agenda. Kenya is ready, safe, open and primed for business.

The State Department for Investment Promotion today convened the inception meeting of the Green Investment Fund (GIF) Fund Managers to chart the pathway toward full operationalization of the $ 200 million Fund under the Kenya Jobs and Economic Transformation Project (KJET).

Anchored under Component 3 of the KJET Project: Scaling up Green Financing and Strengthening Climatic Resilience for SMEs, the GIF is a strategic vehicle to crowd in private capital and expand access to green financing for SMEs and MSMEs.

The meeting, chaired by the Principal Secretary, State Depart for Investment Promotion, Abubakar Hassan Abaubakar, was to align on the roadmap for licensing, governance, pipeline development and capital mobilization. Present were the KJET Project Implementation Unit (PIU), the World Bank, Kenya Development Corporation (KDC) and Britam Asset Managers, appointed as General Partner in consortium with Wangara Green Ventures
The Green Investment Fund (GIF) under KJET is not just a financing instrument. It is part of a broader KJET-Project objective of increasing private investment, market access, sustainable finance and BETA priority value chains. KJET is a continuum of Reforms → Clusters → Green Finance → Jobs.

The Government of Kenya, through KDC has already committed $ 40 million as anchor capital to catalyse investment capital aligned to climate risk, productivity, and private sector growth.

The State Department for Investment Promotion welcomes collaboration with investors, development partners and private sector stakeholders committed to advancing sustainable finance and transformative economic growth.

Kenya Jobs and Economic Transformation Project-KJET

The State Department for Investment Promotion joined Del Monte Kenya, alongside Invest Kenya and Berkeley Energy Corporate Solutions (BECS), in commissioning a new $4 million Individually Quick Freezing (IQF) processing facility and an 800 kW solar PV plant, reaffirming Kenya’s position as a leading destination for sustainable and value-added investment.

The IQF facility processes up to 4 tons of pineapple per hour using advanced quick-freeze technology that preserves quality and nutrition, expands Kenya’s export capacity and opens new market opportunities for smallholder farmers, including mango producers. This diversification strengthens horticultural value chains, reduces post-harvest losses and enhances Kenya’s competitiveness in global markets. Del Monte Kenya, which employs at least 7,000 workers locally, continues to play a critical role in job creation, farmer livelihoods and the country’s agro-industrial growth.

The 800 kW solar plant, a $5 million investment developed and operated by BECS, generates approximately 1.2 GWh annually and employs over 50 technicians, engineers and installers. The project improves energy reliability, lowers carbon emissions-complementing Kenya’s 92% green powered economy by providing clean, sustainable power for industrial operations.

This expansion reflects strong investor confidence in Kenya and underscores the Government’s commitment to supporting existing investors through proactive investor aftercare, policy stability and targeted reforms, including reducing input VAT for export-oriented horticultural businesses. The Government will continue working closely with Del Monte Kenya to support certification processes, facilitate additional decarbonization solutions and resolve investor challenges to ensure long-term sustainability and competitiveness.

The project marks a significant milestone in advancing value addition, export diversification, clean energy adoption and inclusive economic growth, while reinforcing Kenya’s strategic position as a hub for sustainable agriculture and green industrial development.

The State Department for Investment Promotion participated in the U.S.–Kenya Trade and Investment Roundtable.

The Roundtable brought together senior government officials, development finance leaders and private sector representatives to strengthen U.S.–Kenya trade and investment cooperation including Principal Secretary for the State Department for Investment Promotion (SDIP) Abubakar Hassan Abubakar; Florizelle Liser, President and CEO of the Corporate Council on Africa (CCA); Admassu Tadesse, Chairman and Group Managing Director of the Trade and Development Bank (TDB) Group; Jas Bedi Chairman of the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) and John Mwendwa, CEO of Kenya Investment Authority (Invest Kenya).

Discussions focused on leveraging public capital to catalyze private sector investment in Kenya, with particular emphasis on mobilizing institutional investors through de-risking instruments, blended finance models and strengthened governance policy frameworks.

The engagement also reaffirmed the strength of U.S.–Kenya trade relations, with bilateral trade reaching $3.3 billion in 2024- an 18% increase from the previous year. Stakeholders emphasized the importance of advocating for an extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) beyond 2026 to provide long-term certainty for investors and exporters.

The State Department for Investment Promotion remains committed to advancing reforms, enhancing investor facilitation and working closely with strategic partners to position Kenya as the leading investment hub in Africa.

The State Department for Investment Promotion through Invest Kenya today officially launched preparations for the 4th Kenya International Investment Conference (KIICO) 2026, reinforcing Kenya’s commitment to attracting quality, sustainable and impact-driven investment.

KIICO 2026 will be held from 25–27 March 2026 in Nairobi, alongside the COMESA Investment Forum (CIF) and the Africa Green Industrialization Initiative (AGII)Forum, bringing together global investors, policymakers, development partners and the private sector for focused engagement and deal-making.

Central to Kenya’s investment facilitation efforts is the fully operational Digital One-Stop Centre, which integrates multiple government agencies and enables investors to access end-to-end services through a single platform. Through the Digital One-Stop Centre Portal, investors can register businesses, obtain tax registration, apply for work permits and submit required documentation seamlessly, significantly reducing the time and cost of doing business.

The Government aims to facilitate over USD 2 billion tgrough KIICO 2P26 in targeted, bankable investment deals, showcase high-impact opportunities across priority sectors and communicate progressive investment reforms that strengthen investor confidence.

The conference is supported by key partners including ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms (IIP), KCB Group, and the European Union, underscoring strong public-private collaboration in advancing Kenya’s industrialisation and investment promotion agenda.

KIICO 2026 reinforces Kenya’s position as a predictable, competitive and execution-focused investment destination, committed to translating investor interest into real capital inflows, job creation and inclusive economic growth.