President William Ruto on Wednesday intensified Kenya’s push for stronger global investment ties during his ongoing working visit to the United States, holding high-level talks with the leadership of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Ruto said Kenya’s new approach to development financing — anchored on the proposed Infrastructure Fund — has gained “strong interest” from international partners, opening fresh avenues to support major national projects.
“Our innovative approach to development financing, including the establishment of an Infrastructure Fund, is drawing strong interest from partners,” the President noted, adding that the model is designed to “accelerate the realisation of our national development goals.”
In Washington, he held talks with IFC Managing Director Makhtar Diop, where discussions centred on investment opportunities in energy and infrastructure. According to the President, the IFC has already expressed confidence in the design of the Infrastructure Fund and signalled readiness to participate once it is operationalised.
“We welcome the IFC’s confidence in the proposed Infrastructure Fund and appreciate their interest in investing,” Ruto said after the meeting.
The Head of State further confirmed that Kenya will host a high-level IFC delegation early next year, led by Mohamed Gouled, the corporation’s Vice President for Industries. The team will advance negotiations on potential investments in energy generation and transmission, as well as airport modernisation.
Among the key proposals on the table is the redevelopment of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. The government is also keen to attract private capital into geothermal, hydro and wind power generation, alongside expansion of major roads.
Ruto’s US tour also featured a meeting with IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, which he described as “productive”. The discussion touched on Kenya’s reform agenda, fiscal stability and long-term cooperation between Nairobi and the Bretton Woods institution.
“The International Monetary Fund has, over the years, proven to be a reliable and constructive partner in Kenya’s journey of economic transformation,” Ruto said, crediting the IMF with “invaluable expertise in the management of our external debt” and technical assistance across various sectors.
He emphasised that support from international partners had contributed to Kenya’s improvement in Africa’s economic rankings, saying: “Kenya’s economy has recorded notable progress, rising from the eighth to the sixth-largest on the continent in just two years.”
Ruto said his administration is committed to deepening engagement with the IMF to reinforce economic resilience and maintain growth momentum.
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“We have agreed to forge a forward-looking partnership, built on transparency, mutual understanding, and a shared commitment to sound economic governance,” he said.
The President’s meetings come as Kenya courts more concessional financing and private investment to ease pressure on public debt and fast-track key infrastructure projects.
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