Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi during a high-level consultative meeting with senior officials from the World Bank Group to advance the development and operationalisation of Kenya’s National Infrastructure Fund (NIF) in Nairobi on February 23, 2026/HANDOUTTreasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has stepped up plans to launch Kenya’s National Infrastructure Fund (NIF), holding high-level talks with senior World Bank Group officials in Nairobi on Monday.
The meeting brought together key figures, including IFC Vice President for Global Industries Mohamed Gouled, IFC Regional Vice President for Africa Ethiopis Tafara, World Bank Vice President for Eastern and Southern Africa Ndiamé Diop, and Sujoy Bose, founding CEO of India’s National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF).
At the heart of the discussions was how to structure the NIF to attract private capital, tighten governance and fast-track major infrastructure projects.
Mbadi described the fund as a potential game-changer, saying it would mobilise financing beyond traditional public resources. He said the government aims to build a transparent and well-governed platform capable of unlocking private investment in roads, energy and other priority sectors.
World Bank Vice President Diop said the institution views the NIF as a strategic tool to bridge financing gaps and accelerate development, adding that global lessons would be adapted to Kenya’s needs.
Drawing from India’s experience, Bose emphasised that strong governance, accountability and investor confidence would be critical to the fund’s success.
The meeting forms part of ongoing efforts by the National Treasury to strengthen Kenya’s infrastructure financing framework, with the NIF expected to play a central role in attracting long-term investment.
