Africa Finance Corporation, in partnership with the Government of Kenya, will convene Africa’s leading infrastructure financiers, fund managers, investors and industry leaders in Nairobi for the inaugural Africa We Build Summit.
This marks the first time such a high-level platform is being held in Kenya with a focus on unlocking domestic capital for large-scale industrial transformation across the continent.
Scheduled for 23 to 24 April 2026, the summit will be held under the theme Infrastructure as the Engine of Industrialisation and is expected to bring together top decision-makers to originate and advance bankable projects, strengthen regional integration, and accelerate Africa’s industrial development.
Organisers say the summit is designed to move beyond isolated projects and instead promote integrated infrastructure systems capable of driving industrialisation, trade and job creation.
Discussions will centre on regional transport corridors, expanded rail and port networks, cross-border energy systems, and strategic minerals value chains aimed at building stronger industrial ecosystems across Africa.
William Ruto is expected to deliver the keynote address, underscoring Kenya’s commitment to regional integration and large-scale infrastructure-led economic development.
A major focus of the summit will be mobilising a larger share of Africa’s domestic capital base toward competitive infrastructure and industrial investment opportunities, with organisers noting that substantial capital exists within the continent but remains underutilised in productive sectors.
The summit will also feature the launch of the State of Africa’s Infrastructure Report 2026, described as the most comprehensive assessment yet of Africa’s cross-continental investment landscape.
The report will analyse investment gaps, capital flows and priority project pipelines to guide future capital deployment and project execution under the Africa We Build agenda.
Commenting ahead of the summit, AFC President and Chief Executive Officer Samaila Zubairu said Africa must redirect available capital into productive infrastructure and industry to unlock long-term prosperity.
“Africa is not capital-poor; it is capital-trapped. The opportunity now is to channel that capital into infrastructure and industry at scale—transforming resources into productivity, jobs, and long-term prosperity,” he said.
Organisers note that the summit is anchored on execution-focused partnerships and investable project pipelines, highlighting initiatives such as the Lobito Corridor and the proposed Kenya National Infrastructure Fund as examples of how policy, capital and projects can be aligned to create integrated economic ecosystems.
Given the strategic role of the East African Community, the summit will also spotlight regional priority corridors including the Northern Corridor, which connects Port of Mombasa to Uganda, Rwanda, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan.
Key discussions will examine road and rail connectivity, upgrades along major cross-border highways, and progress toward a broader East African railway master plan.
Energy and minerals will also feature prominently, with emphasis placed on value addition rather than raw extraction, as stakeholders seek to ensure infrastructure investments generate long-term industrial and economic transformation across Africa