By Joshua Otieno | March 10, 2026
President William Samoei Ruto has said the government’s privatisation programme is helping unlock immense value from mature public assets while supporting the country’s long-term economic transformation.
Speaking during the bell-ringing ceremony marking the start of share trading for the Kenya Pipeline Company Initial Public Offering (IPO) at the Nairobi Securities Exchange, the President noted that the IPO has enabled the government to raise KSh106 billion, significantly higher than the KSh5 billion the state had been receiving annually in dividends from the company.
President Ruto explained that the funds raised will play a key role in financing major infrastructure projects through the National Infrastructure Fund, whose enabling law he assented to earlier this week.
According to the President, the government will leverage the KSh106 billion to attract additional private investment and raise up to KSh1.2 trillion for the development of large-scale transformative infrastructure projects across the country.
“Through this innovative funding model, we are easing pressure on the national budget, reducing taxes, and cutting on sovereign debt. This is how we will transform Kenya in our lifetime,” President Ruto said.
The bell-ringing ceremony officially marked the beginning of share trading for Kenya Pipeline Company at the Nairobi Securities Exchange, a move the government says will enhance private sector participation and strengthen Kenya’s capital markets.
