Kenya positions itself as Africa’s financial hub

• At Davos 2026 talks, Kenya says that through the Nairobi International Financial Centre, the country is building markets, not experiments, anchored in regulatory clarity, strong institutions and real economic outcomes.
• Nairobi is positioning itself as Africa’s trusted platform for capital, innovation and regulated digital assets, offering active facilitation, sandbox support and targeted incentives for regional headquarters, holding companies, venture capital and private equity funds, and high-growth startups.
• Davos talks see medical supply and investment fund ChainBLX SPC and SCC Fund SP confirm plans to establish operations in Kenya.

 The Nairobi International Financial Centre Authority (NIFC) has successfully concluded a series of high-level engagements at the World Economic Forum in Davos, reinforcing Kenya’s emergence as a leading African hub for financial services, digital innovation, green finance, and regulated virtual assets.

At a private leadership breakfast hosted by SCC Fund SP, ChainBLX SPC, and Digital.Davos, global investors and technology leaders engaged with NIFC on the deployment of compliant blockchain infrastructure, institutional-grade digital platforms, and scalable innovation aligned with global regulatory standards.

The engagements marked a significant step forward in Kenya’s investment agenda, with ChainBLX SPC and SCC Fund SP confirming plans to establish operations in Kenya, supported by the Nairobi International Financial Centre Authority. ChainBLX SPC  is a medical supply and investment fund structured in the United States and the Cayman Islands, focused on compliant pharmaceutical supply chains.

Nairobi: ‘We are building markets, not experiments’

Speaking in Davos, Mr Daniel Mainda, Chief Executive Officer of the Nairobi International Financial Centre Authority, stated: “Kenya has made a deliberate shift from momentum to architecture. Through the Nairobi International Financial Centre, we are building markets — not experiments — anchored in regulatory clarity, strong institutions and real economic outcomes.

He added, “Nairobi is positioning itself as Africa’s trusted platform for capital, innovation and regulated digital assets, offering active facilitation, sandbox support and targeted incentives for regional headquarters, holding companies, venture capital and private equity funds, and high-growth startups. We will compete on regulatory quality, not regulatory arbitrage — and we are open for serious business.”

The Nairobi International Financial Centre Authority is a statutory government authority mandated to position Kenya as a leading international financial hub for Africa through regulatory certainty, institutional credibility, and future-ready policy.

Digital.Davos is an independent leadership platform convening global decision-makers across finance, technology, healthcare, and policy during Davos week, focused on practical, cross-border frameworks and long-term institutional cooperation.

Discussions also highlighted Kenya’s progress in establishing a clear regulatory framework for digital and virtual asset service providers, following the enactment of the Virtual Asset Service Providers Act and subsequent regulations. This framework positions Nairobi as a competitive base for international digital asset firms seeking to serve African markets from a stable and well-governed jurisdiction.

Mr. Karl Seelig, Founder and Managing Partner of ChainBLX SPC, welcomed the engagement, noting: “Kenya’s approach combines regulatory certainty with a strong innovation ecosystem. The collaboration with NIFC reflects a shared commitment to building compliant, scalable digital infrastructure with real commercial relevance.”

Davos 2026: Nairobi International Financial Centre Authority seeks long-term capital

Commenting on Kenya’s broader positioning, SCC Fund SP Fund CEO Dr Yutaka Niihara added: “Kenya is demonstrating how forward-looking regulation and digital infrastructure can support trusted innovation at scale. The discussions in Davos reflect growing confidence in Nairobi as a regional platform.”

In parallel, NIFC engagements underscored Kenya’s advancing work on national capital platforms, including the National Infrastructure Fund and sovereign investment frameworks, aimed at mobilising long-term private capital and strengthening project delivery.

The Nairobi International Financial Centre Authority reaffirmed that Nairobi is open to international firms across financial services, fintech, digital assets, carbon markets, and green finance, offering regulatory clarity, deep talent, and strategic access to African markets.

As global capital increasingly prioritises jurisdictions that combine innovation with trust, Kenya continues to position itself as a credible and competitive partner for long-term investment.

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