Nairobi: African countries have been urged to deepen and integrate their capital markets to mobilise long-term financing, attract private investment, and accelerate economic transformation across the continent. The call was made on Monday during the launch of Africa Capital Week (AfCW) 2026 at the Kenya School of Monetary Studies in Nairobi.
According to Kenya News Agency, the forum, which will be held from August 31 to September 4, 2026, seeks to bring together policymakers, regulators, investors, development finance institutions, and private sector leaders to explore solutions to Africa’s financing challenges and advance the continent’s economic sovereignty. Speaking during the launch, Principal Secretary for Economic Planning Dr. Boniface Makokha emphasized the need for Africa to strengthen its financial systems and develop innovative financing mechanisms to support sustainable development and reduce dependence on external funding.
Dr. Makokha stated that Africa is not seeking sympathy but investment, highlighting the continent as a land of opportunity whose risks have often been mispriced and misrepresented. He pointed out the issues of limited access to affordable long-term financing and the overpricing of sovereign risk, which increase the cost of funding development projects. He further noted Kenya’s economic growth of 4.6 percent in 2025, with a nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of about Sh17.58 trillion, showcasing the country’s resilience and investment potential.
Acting Director General of the Vision 2030 Delivery Secretariat, James Maina, remarked that Africa possesses abundant resources, entrepreneurial talent, and investment opportunities but requires stronger partnerships and efficient capital markets to unlock sustainable growth. He expressed that Africa Capital Week would serve as a platform for transforming policy commitments into practical investments by linking investors with viable projects across the continent.
Capital Markets Authority Chairman Ugas Mohamed highlighted that the inaugural forum would reinforce Kenya’s position as a regional financial hub while strengthening capital markets across Africa. Held under the theme ‘Deepening Capital Markets to Advance Africa’s Economic Sovereignty,’ the event is expected to attract over 500 participants from Africa and beyond. Mohamed noted strong growth in Kenya’s capital markets, with the NSE 20 Share Index rising by nearly 60 percent and market capitalization increasing significantly, driven by improved macroeconomic stability and growing investor confidence.
Principal Secretary for Public Investments and Asset Management, Cyrell Wagunda, stressed the need for stronger governance, transparency, and accountability to attract greater investment flows. Wagunda pointed out that the challenge is not just capital availability but the collective ability to develop bankable projects, strengthen institutions, and build investor confidence.
Kenya Association of Stockbrokers and Investment Banks Chief Executive Officer and President of the Africa Stockbrokers and Securities Dealers Association, Willie Njoroge, stated that limited access to African capital markets remains one of the continent’s biggest investment barriers. Njoroge called for stronger linkages among African stock exchanges and innovative platforms to facilitate cross-border investments.
Africa Capital Week 2026 is anticipated to provide a platform for governments, investors, and businesses to forge partnerships, mobilize capital, and unlock opportunities in infrastructure, industrialization, technology, and other strategic sectors critical to Africa’s long-term economic growth.
