Kenya Mobilises Trillions in Pension Savings for Infrastructure and Property Deals

Kenya’s pension assets, now valued at roughly Sh2.8 trillion, are being positioned as a major source of long‑term capital for national development. The government’s National Infrastructure Fund Act, slated for 2026, seeks to channel pension savings into projects such as roads, railways, power plants and affordable housing, moving funds away from a heavy bias toward government securities.

At the same time, Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) has purchased two staff‑pension‑scheme properties – the eight‑storey Pension Plaza 1 and the twelve‑storey Pension Plaza 2 – for Sh1.92 billion. The deal trims the pension fund’s property exposure to meet Retirement Benefits Authority limits and frees cash to meet retirees’ obligations. Industry leaders, including Retirement Benefits Authority chief Charles Machira and Financial Sector Deepening Africa CEO Mark Napier, view the shift as a way to boost productive investment while preserving contributors’ retirement security.