Arise Integrated Industrial Platforms Ltd (Arise IIP) plans to invest more than US$3 billion in Kenya over the next five years, the company said Friday, as it expands its footprint across Africa’s industrial ecosystem.
The investment will fund the development of three export-oriented industrial parks along Kenya’s coastline and in the Naivasha region, aiming to boost manufacturing, create jobs, and attract international investors, executives said.
Speaking to Reuters, Nikhil Gandhi, Arise IIP executive director overseeing special economic zone development, said the company would finance 30 to 40 percent of the total investment through equity, with the remaining funding provided by lenders, including development finance institutions and commercial creditors.
In parallel, Arise IIP plans to establish an US$800 million financing facility in partnership with KCB Group and Afreximbank. The facility will provide capital to investors seeking to set up operations in the industrial zones once they become operational, executives said.
Part of a broader African strategy
The Kenya initiative is part of Arise IIP’s broader strategy to accelerate industrialization across Africa through the creation of special economic zones (SEZs) and integrated industrial platforms.
The company already operates Gabon Special Economic Zone, Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone in Benin, and the Adétikopé Industrial Platform in Togo. It is also developing industrial zones in Côte d’Ivoire, Chad, Nigeria, Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Malawi, Rwanda, and Cameroon.
Arise IIP’s model focuses on building modern industrial zones with shared infrastructure, streamlined customs and administrative processes, and efficient logistics connections to global markets. The platforms host companies across multiple sectors, offering a combination of operational support and investment opportunities.
According to the African Development Bank (AfDB), Arise IIP’s existing platforms in Gabon, Benin, and Togo host more than 400 companies spanning 47 sectors, have created nearly 50,000 jobs, and attracted over $7 billion in investments from tenant companies.
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Strong financial backing
Over the past two years, Arise IIP has accelerated fundraising to support its expansion. In May 2025, the AfDB invested US$100 million in the company. In March 2025, Arise IIP secured a US$450 million facility from Afreximbank to support industrial park development in Nigeria, Chad, Kenya, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Malawi.
Earlier, in October 2024, Arise IIP raised US$443 million from shareholders, including Africa Finance Corporation, FEDA’s investment vehicle, and Emirati group Equitane, strengthening its capacity to expand industrial zones across Africa.
Executives said the Kenya parks will be export-oriented, linking local manufacturing to regional and global markets, and are expected to attract investors seeking access to Africa’s growing industrial base.
Gandhi said the initiative would support the shift of value chains to Africa, aligning with the continent’s industrialization agenda and efforts to increase manufacturing output and create sustainable employment.
Arise IIP’s expansion in Kenya underscores a broader trend of pan-African industrialization, where special economic zones are leveraged to attract investment, foster industrial clusters, and enhance Africa’s participation in global value chains.
The company said construction timelines and project operational dates would be announced in due course.
