Kenya Development Corporation (KDC) has cemented its role in the country’s development finance sector by disbursing a KES 57 million dividend to the National Treasury and launching a KES 500 million SACCO-based recovery facility, both unveiled during the inaugural Next Frontier Africa 2025 Summit.
Hosted by KDC at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), the three-day Summit marked a pivotal step in promoting inclusive and sector-driven investment strategies. Held under the theme Catalyzing Inclusive Growth through Strategic Sector Investments and Innovation, the event drew over 700 leaders from government and private industry to explore a reimagined investment future for Africa.
Dr. Albert Mwenda, Director General of Budget, Fiscal and Economic Affairs at the National Treasury, received the dividend on behalf of the Government and lauded KDC’s approach to delivering both financial returns and national development value. “This dividend reflects not only financial growth but also developmental impact. KDC is demonstrating that development finance can be both commercially sound and socially responsive, channeling capital to sectors that matter most to our future,” he said.
In a major financial move, KDC signed a KES 500 million agreement with Boresha SACCO under the SAFER (SACCO Financial Empowerment and Recovery) Programme. The facility aims to support micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) still recovering from COVID-19-related economic disruption. It is set to widen access to affordable credit, especially in underserved regions, while deepening financial inclusion and supporting local economic resilience.
Patrick Kilemi, Principal Secretary at the State Department for Cooperatives, praised the facility, noting the strategic role SACCOs play in grassroots development. “SACCOs like Boresha are transforming financial access for ordinary Kenyans. With strategic support from institutions like KDC, we are embedding cooperatives into the national recovery agenda, empowering communities and building economic resilience from the ground up,” said Kilemi.
Sectoral forums during the Summit addressed key investment themes including manufacturing, climate resilience, healthcare, tourism, and the digital and creative industries. These engagements explored how development finance institutions (DFIs) can collaborate with the public and private sectors to unlock value chains, foster innovation, and catalyze scalable investments across the continent.
KDC Board Chairman Dr. Sakwa J. Bunyasi underscored the Corporation’s priority on supporting innovation, youth entrepreneurship, and high-potential industries. “We must fund what matters—solutions that address climate change, generate decent jobs, and build regional competitiveness. KDC is boldly stepping into that space,” he said.
Director General CPA/FA Norah Ratemo reaffirmed KDC’s resolve to drive Africa’s next phase of growth through targeted investments that foster inclusive and sustainable development. “This Summit has given voice to a new kind of development finance, one that is inclusive, strategic and future ready. At KDC, we are deploying capital to sectors that unlock value chains, empower communities and create resilient livelihoods. From SACCOs to tech startups, from agribusiness to creative hubs, we are financing the next frontier of Africa’s growth,” Ratemo stated.
She emphasized that the Summit outcomes align with Kenya’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), Vision 2030, and the African Union’s Agenda 2063. KDC, she said, will continue partnering with government, investors, and development stakeholders to channel impactful capital. “This is not just an event. It is the beginning of a movement to make capital more accessible, inclusive and impactful by design. We are just getting started,” Ratemo concluded.