Kenya and Japan have opened a new chapter in a longstanding partnership anchored on shared prosperity, industrial transformation, and sustainable economic growth.
Speaking during the signing ceremony of the Samurai Bond facility at State House on 22nd June 2026, H.E. Dr. William Samoei Ruto emphasized that Kenya–Japan collaboration extends beyond financing; it is a strategic partnership focused on building people through technical cooperation, skills development, training, and technology transfer.
The KES 22.1 billion mobilized under the facility will support key national development priorities, with a strong focus on advancing Kenya’s National Automotive Policy and accelerating industrial growth.
In his remarks, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry, Hon. Lee Kinyanjui, noted that access to capital has remained a major constraint to the expansion of Kenya’s automotive industry. The Samurai Bond financing is expected to unlock investment and provide the momentum needed to scale the sector.
The CS further underscored that policy certainty and stability are essential in attracting long-term investment into the automotive ecosystem, highlighting the forthcoming National Automotive Bill as a critical step toward creating a predictable and competitive operating environment.
The facility is expected to support automotive parts and component manufacturers to expand production capacity and increase local content to at least 40 percent. This will strengthen Kenya’s competitiveness within the East African Community and the African Continental Free Trade Area by promoting domestic value addition, reducing import dependence, and supporting sustainable industrial development.
Additionally, KES 5 billion has been allocated toward reducing energy losses across the power network. Lower technical and commercial losses will contribute to more affordable energy, a more reliable national grid, and improved competitiveness for the Kenyan industry.
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