Treasury CS John Mbadi today presided over the bell ringing ceremony marking the official listing of the Spearhead Africa Infrastructure Fund (SAIF) at the Nairobi Securities Exchange, a milestone aimed at strengthening Kenya’s capital markets and expanding infrastructure financing channels.
The ceremony was attended by NSE Chairman Kiprono Kittony and British High Commissioner to Kenya Matt Baugh, reflecting deepening collaboration between Kenya and international partners in advancing financial market development.
CS Mbadi commended the United Kingdom for its continued strategic partnership, particularly through the UK MOBILIST programme, which played a catalytic role in anchoring the listing of SAIF.
Infrastructure at the Core of Economic Growth
Mbadi underscored that transport systems, energy networks, water infrastructure, and digital connectivity remain the backbone of economic transformation.
He pointed out that Africa faces an annual infrastructure financing gap estimated between 68 billion USD and 108 billion USD, which cannot be met through public financing alone.
To bridge this gap, the CS called for a deliberate shift toward market-based financing models that crowd in private capital, institutional investors, and pension funds.
CS Mbadi emphasized that capital markets must evolve from being purely equity-raising platforms into engines of long-term development financing.
Kenya’s Financial Depth Strengthens
The CS highlighted that Kenya’s pension assets, now exceeding KES 2.8 trillion, present a significant opportunity to scale infrastructure investment if effectively channelled through structured products such as infrastructure funds and listed investment vehicles.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to deepening capital markets reforms, improving regulatory frameworks, and positioning Nairobi as a leading African hub for infrastructure finance.
The listing of SAIF is expected to broaden participation in infrastructure financing while providing investors with diversified exposure to long-term, stable returns.
