<img src="https://africabusinesscommunities.com/assets/components/phpthumbof/cache/britishinternational<a href="https://bitcomme.com/ben-zinder-joins-pkf-investment-banking-as-managing-director-and-co-head-2/” title=”Ben Zinder Joins PKF Investment Banking as Managing Director and Co-Head”>investment%20-africa-business-communities.5d1980509d902384ff1c11754ca09153.jpg” alt=”BII unveils $6.7bn investment strategy in Kenya” loading=”lazy”>
04-11-2026
By Michelle Waweru | Channel: finance
| Tags: East Africa
Government
Investment
Kenya
BII unveils $6.7bn investment strategy in Kenya
British International Investment (BII) has launched its 2026–31 strategy in Kenya, building on the $1.2 billion committed across East Africa during its previous five-year strategy period.
Under the new strategy, BII aims to deploy about $6.7 billion of its own capital and mobilise up to $5.3 billion in private capital to invest across Africa. In Kenya, BII will combine investment in businesses and infrastructure with a greater focus on attracting additional institutional capital and creating the conditions for more investment to flow.
BII targets greater mobilisation of Kenya’s domestic capital
During the strategy launch, BII CEO Leslie Maasdorp convened a roundtable titled Progressive Capital Partnerships: New Models for Unlocking Local Capital. The meeting brought together key stakeholders to explore ways of directing more domestic institutional investment towards Kenya’s development priorities.
The discussions focused on Kenya’s pension industry, whose assets reached KSh3.167 trillion in June 2026. However, only 0.02 per cent of these assets were allocated to infrastructure debt instruments, while 0.62 per cent went to Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs).
BII explores financing mechanisms for infrastructure investment
Participants examined ways to unlock more domestic capital through local-currency financing, blended finance, risk-sharing mechanisms and capital-market instruments. These approaches aim to manage investment risks and attract private capital into infrastructure and other productive sectors.
BII also intends to build on Kenya’s established financial sector and active capital markets to strengthen its position as an investment hub for East Africa. With regional economic growth projected at around 6 per cent in 2026–27, the institution sees opportunities to extend successful investment approaches to neighbouring markets.
Investment strategy targets opportunities across East Africa
Beyond Kenya, BII will explore opportunities to apply its investment models across the region, including frontier markets such as Uganda, Ethiopia and Tanzania, which are identified by the United Nations as Least Developed Countries (LDCs).
The institution’s regional engagement will also include its 2026 Innovation for Impact Summit, which will bring together venture capital investors, fund managers and entrepreneurs from Africa and South Asia. Now in its fourth edition, the summit will provide a platform for discussing cross-border investment opportunities and the role of venture capital in supporting business growth.
BII summit to examine AI and climate investment opportunities
The summit’s agenda will cover venture capital collaboration between Africa and South Asia, artificial intelligence and responsible innovation, capital mobilisation and changes in the investor landscape. Discussions will also explore climate innovation and emerging investment opportunities across both regions.
Kirsty McNeill, UK Minister for International Development and Africa: “Kenya is one of Africa’s most dynamic economies, with huge potential to create jobs and drive growth. I am proud that British International Investment’s new strategy is helping the UK to build a new kind of development partnership with Kenya and countries across the continent, focused on unlocking private investment, strengthening financial systems, and working with local partners to deliver on our shared goals.”
Leslie Maasdorp, BII CEO: “Our new strategy is about doing more than investing BII’s own capital. We want to use our capital, experience and partnerships to unlock investment from others and help build markets that can attract capital at greater scale. Kenya has a significant pool of domestic capital, and we are calling on local capital providers to partner with us to find practical ways to channel more of it into productive businesses and infrastructure.”
Are you interested in having your interview published on our website,click here.
Become a member of Africa Business Communities
Events
2 – 6 November 2026 | Africa Cyber Defense Forum 2026 | Nairobi
9 – 11 November 2026 | African Summit on Entrepreneurship & Innovation | Pretoria
10-11 November 2026 | Africa Women Innovation & Entrepreneurship Forum | Cape Town
