British International Investment (BII), the UK’s development finance institution, will provide $100 million in Tier 2 capital to KCB Bank Kenya Ltd.
This funding will enhance KCB’s lending capacity for climate-focused projects and women-led businesses across Kenya.
The investment is strategically designed to address systemic barriers faced by women entrepreneurs, particularly those in the informal sector, including discriminatory policies and cultural limitations that impede access to credit.
The capital injection will bolster KCB’s ability to finance businesses adopting innovative climate technologies within renewable energy, green mobility, and sustainable agriculture value chains.
This aligns with KCB’s commitment to UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 5 (Gender Equality), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and 13 (Climate Action).
The funding will be channelled through KCB’s Female-Led and Made Enterprises (FLME) proposition, aimed at dismantling gender-related financial obstacles.
“This new facility will enable us to expand credit to women-owned and women-led SMEs, particularly in the informal sector, by addressing systemic challenges, discriminatory policies, and cultural barriers that restrict access to financing,” KCB stated.
This investment also meets the criteria of the 2X Challenge, a global initiative to mobilize capital for women-focused businesses, of which BII is a founding member.
Chris Chijiutomi, Managing Director and Head of Africa at BII, emphasized the institution’s commitment to strengthening Africa’s banking sector through strategic partnerships.
“Kenya is a key market for BII. By providing capital to KCB, we are scaling investments in climate projects and expanding opportunities for women-owned businesses—both critical to Kenya’s economic growth and green development agenda,” he said.
KCB has committed Ksh50 billion annually to support women-led enterprises through the FLME initiative, having disbursed at least Ksh150 billion since its launch in 2022, thereby driving entrepreneurship and job creation.
KCB Group CEO Paul Russo stated, “This partnership represents a significant advancement in our sustainability efforts. It will allow us to expand our lending to climate-aligned businesses and women-led enterprises, while simultaneously strengthening our capital base. Our goal is to scale support for sustainable economic growth.”
