Kenya launches KIICO 2026, targets over $2bn in investment deals

Kenya has officially launched the Kenya International Investment Conference (KIICO) 2026, a flagship investment forum expected to mobilise more than Sh260 billion ($2 billion) in new investment commitments as the country steps up efforts to position itself as a regional investment hub.

The conference, scheduled for March 25–27, 2026, will be held in Nairobi alongside the COMESA Investment Forum (CIF) and the Africa Green Industrialization Initiative Forum (AGII), bringing together global investors, policymakers and development partners.

Speaking at the launch held in Nairobi, Principal Secretary for Investment Promotion Abubakar Hassan Abubakar said the conference would focus on delivering concrete outcomes rather than policy dialogue alone.

“KIICO 2026 will not be a talk shop. It will be a platform for commitments, execution and measurable impact,” Abubakar said.

He said the government aims to facilitate the signing of bankable, advanced-stage investment deals worth over $2 billion, targeting sectors including agriculture, manufacturing, renewable energy, ICT and business process outsourcing.

PS Abubakar added that the conference would also be used to communicate key investment reforms, including measures on VAT refunds, transfer pricing, land leases, and incentives on Export Processing Zones and Special Economic Zones, as part of broader efforts to improve Kenya’s business environment.

Invest Kenya Chief Executive Officer John Mwendwa said the forum comes amid steady investment momentum, noting that Kenya closed $1.7 billion in investments in 2023.

“Our role is to make Kenya easier to invest in by providing end-to-end support through a one-stop centre for investors,” Mwendwa said.

Officials and Journalists attending the briefing were taken on a tour of the Kenya Digital One-Stop Centre, which is now fully operational, enabling investors to access business registration, tax services, work permits and approvals through an integrated digital platform

KIICO 2026 is supported by partners including ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms (IIP), KCB Group and the European Union Delegation to Kenya, underscoring growing private sector and development partner backing for Kenya’s investment drive.