British International Investment (BII), the UK's development finance institution and impact investor, has launched its 2026–2031 strategy in Kenya, outlining plans to deploy approximately $6.7 billion of its own capital and mobilise up to $5.3 billion in private investment across Africa.

The new strategy follows BII's commitment of $1.2 billion across East Africa during its previous five-year strategy period.

In Kenya, BII will focus on investing in businesses and infrastructure while expanding efforts to attract institutional capital, strengthen financial markets and address barriers to private investment.

The strategy places greater emphasis on mobilising third-party capital alongside BII's own investments, including through partnerships with local financial institutions and institutional investors.

As part of the launch, BII CEO Leslie Maasdorp convened a roundtable in Kenya focused on unlocking domestic institutional capital for infrastructure and productive businesses.

The discussions brought together local stakeholders to explore financing approaches, including local-currency lending, blended finance, risk-sharing arrangements and capital-market instruments.

Kenya's pension assets reached KSh3.167 trillion in June 2026, according to the country's Retirement Benefits Authority. However, only 0.02% of pension assets were allocated to infrastructure debt instruments, while 0.62% was invested in real estate investment trusts (REITs).

BII sees an opportunity to channel a greater share of these domestic savings into long-term investments supporting economic development.

“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,” said Maasdorp.

“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.”

BII also intends to use Kenya as a regional investment hub, exploring opportunities to extend financing approaches developed in the country to other East African markets, including Uganda, Ethiopia and Tanzania.

The African Development Bank projects economic growth in East Africa of approximately 6% in 2026 and 2027, providing a backdrop for investment in infrastructure, financial services and private sector development.

Alongside the strategy launch, BII is convening its fourth Innovation for Impact Summit, bringing together venture capital investors, fund managers and entrepreneurs from Africa and South Asia.

The summit will examine opportunities for cross-border venture capital investment, artificial intelligence, climate innovation and new approaches to mobilising private capital.

UK Minister for International Development and Africa Kirsty McNeill said the strategy would support a broader development partnership with Kenya focused on private investment and financial sector development.

“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,” she said.

Seema Dhanani serves as BII's Regional Director for East Africa and Head of Office in Kenya.