The Nairobi International Financial Centre (NIFC) welcomed the city’s inclusion in the Oxford Economics Global Cities Index 2026, which ranks Nairobi among Africa’s top five cities to watch alongside Accra, Cairo, Dakar, and Luanda. The report places Nairobi 327th globally out of 1,000 cities but ranks it 26th for human capital, underscoring its talent pool and economic dynamism. Oxford Economics projects that these five African cities will account for one-third of the GDP growth from African cities over the next 25 years, with Nairobi positioned as East Africa’s commercial hub and gateway to the East African Community’s expanding markets.
Nairobi’s economic significance is reinforced by its concentration of financial activity, with over 75% of Kenya’s financial operations based in the capital. The city’s digital infrastructure, technology talent, and innovation ecosystem—fueled by fintech investment—have earned it the moniker ‘Silicon Savannah.’ The report forecasts 5.5% average annual growth in information technology and 4.1% in finance over 25 years, alongside industrial output exceeding $38 billion by 2050, driven by a 4.4% annual real growth rate. Urbanization pressures and infrastructure demands are also highlighted, with Nairobi’s population projected to reach 12 million by 2050, creating opportunities for housing, consumer services, and investment.
The NIFC is prioritizing initiatives to convert Nairobi’s growth potential into productive capital, including establishing investment funds for technology, artificial intelligence, and financial services. It is also fostering a responsible digital-assets ecosystem in collaboration with regulators and advancing sustainable finance through partnerships with the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) on carbon-market regulations. The center aims to support the National Infrastructure Fund (NIF) by structuring project-specific investment vehicles to connect infrastructure projects with domestic and international investors. ‘Our ambition is to build Nairobi into Africa’s Capital of Capital,’ said Daniel Mainda, NIFC’s CEO. ‘Oxford Economics has identified the talent, technology, and industrial momentum. Our task is to mobilize the investment that turns this potential into jobs and lasting prosperity.’
The report emphasizes the need for institutional resilience to manage rapid urbanization while capitalizing on Nairobi’s trajectory. With its strategic positioning and targeted investments, the city is poised to play a pivotal role in Africa’s economic transformation, according to the analysis. The findings align with NIFC’s vision to position Nairobi as a global financial nexus, leveraging its unique assets to drive regional and continental growth.