Kenya’s investment promotion agency, Invest Kenya, is revisiting a residency‑by‑investment scheme that would grant permanent residency to foreign investors. The proposal, first mentioned in 2019, has not yet been legislated and remains in an exploratory stage.
Existing investor route
- Class G Investor Permit: Requires a minimum investment of US $100,000 in an active Kenyan enterprise.
- Permit holders must retain the visa for seven years before they can apply for citizenship by registration.
- The citizenship route also demands three years of continuous residence.
- The current system involves periodic renewals and annual fees associated with work permits.
Proposed permanent‑residency track
- No specific investment threshold or qualifying sectors have been set.
- The plan would eliminate the need for repeated renewals and annual charges, aiming to simplify long‑term commercial ties.
- Implementation would require new legislation, as immigration policy lies outside Invest Kenya’s remit.
- Invest Kenya’s chief executive, John Mwendwa (in office since January 2025), emphasizes that thresholds and sector criteria are still undecided and that any legislative drafting would fall to other government bodies.
Regional context
- Kenya attracted an estimated US $3.2 billion in foreign direct investment in 2025, a 37.7 % year‑on‑year increase (UNCTAD).
- Several African countries already offer investor‑residency programs:
- Ethiopia – recently announced a ten‑year golden visa with a US $10 million investment threshold.
- South Africa and Mauritius – operate existing investor‑residency routes.
- A survey of active African programs indicates that a Kenyan version would align with a broader regional trend of linking residency rights to tax incentives.
Current status
- No formal proposal has been published by Invest Kenya.
- No bill has been introduced to Parliament, leaving thresholds, timing, and procedural details undefined.
The revival of the residency‑by‑investment concept reflects Kenya’s effort to attract high‑impact foreign investors by offering more stable residency options, pending legislative approval.
Source article: www.imidaily.com
