American companies have announced investment commitments worth more than Ksh 77.5 billion in Kenya, with projects expected to be rolled out over the next year.
The commitments were announced at the AmCham Business Summit 2026 in Nairobi and cover manufacturing, technology, data centres and healthcare.
AmCham Kenya Board President Angela Ng’ang’a said more than $600 million in pledges and commitments had been secured in a single day.
“We did see just in one day over $600 million of pledges and commitments from US-American firms,” Ng’ang’a said.
Coca-Cola announced a Ksh 22.6 billion investment, adding to its existing operations in Kenya. Mars Wrigley also unveiled a $103 million Ksh 13.3 billion) production line as the company expands its manufacturing activities in the country.
The technology sector attracted significant investment, with Oracle selecting Kenya for its first public cloud region in Africa through a partnership with African Data Centres.
The facility is expected to increase access to cloud services and strengthen Kenya’s digital infrastructure. Digital Realty, which acquired Kenyan data centre operator iColo, also announced an $80 million investment in a Nairobi data centre.
Healthcare was another area targeted by US companies. SC Johnson plans to establish a factory in Kenya capable of producing up to two million malaria-related units daily.
Pfizer is also preparing to introduce 15 pharmaceutical products in the Kenyan market, including cancer treatments.
Trade and Investment Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui said Kenya-US trade in goods and services reached Ksh 439.3 billion in 2025.
He said the relationship between the two countries was expanding beyond traditional trade to include technology, healthcare, critical minerals and development finance.
Kinyanjui said apparel remains a major component of Kenya’s exports to the US, accounting for about 70 per cent of shipments. Most apparel exports benefit from duty-free access under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
The extension of AGOA to December 31, 2028 has provided additional certainty for Kenyan manufacturers supplying the US market.
President William Ruto said Kenya needed to maintain an environment that encourages companies to commit long-term capital to the country.
“Capital goes where there is opportunity, but it stays where there is confidence,” Ruto said.
The government has identified manufacturing, agriculture, digital economy, energy and infrastructure, healthcare, critical minerals and the creative economy as key areas for investment.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, however, said the commitments would only have an impact if they were implemented.
“Promise what you can deliver and deliver what you promise,” Mudavadi said.
The latest announcements add to Kenya’s efforts to attract foreign capital and position the country as a regional base for international companies seeking access to East African markets.
Leave a comment