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European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to Open Africa Headquarters in Nairobi
In a significant development for Kenya’s economic landscape, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has announced plans to establish its African headquarters in Nairobi. President William Ruto welcomed the decision during his official visit to Spain, terming it a major win for Kenya’s economic diplomacy and a boost for regional financial integration.
The announcement was made during the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development held in Seville, Spain, where President Ruto held bilateral talks with EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso. According to a State House statement issued on June 30, 2025, the new office will drive key economic initiatives in Africa, particularly targeting support for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and enhancing public-private partnerships.
The partnership will also focus on climate financing, promotion of green investments, and the organisation of an investor conference to be held in Nairobi later this year. These engagements are part of a broader strategy to strengthen the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which the bank has formally aligned with.
“The establishment of EBRD’s regional hub in Nairobi is a bold endorsement of our role as East Africa’s financial gateway. It will catalyse sustainable investments and deepen our economic transformation agenda,” President Ruto stated.
The ratification of the agreement to formalise EBRD’s presence in Kenya is currently before Parliament. Once approved, it will pave the way for structured and long-term engagement between the bank and the Kenyan government.
The EBRD is a multilateral developmental investment bank headquartered in London. It is owned by 75 countries and institutions, including the European Union. The United States is the bank’s largest single shareholder, while Nigeria became its newest member in February 2025.
Although EBRD has a global membership spanning North America, Africa, Asia, and Australia, it only lends in designated countries of operation. The Nairobi headquarters marks a strategic expansion into sub-Saharan Africa.
Earlier in the day, President Ruto also held discussions with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, focusing on food security, ICT collaboration, education exchanges, and the regional distribution of commodities through the port of Mombasa. Both leaders emphasized the importance of peacekeeping and multilateral diplomacy in fostering global stability.
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European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to Open Africa Headquarters in Nairobi