The Kenya Investment Authority (KenInvest) is developing a residency-by-investment framework aimed at attracting high-impact foreign investors.This initiative, which revives a 2019 proposal that stalled over concerns of misuse, would grant permanent residency to wealthy foreigners in exchange for measurable economic contributions like job creation and export generation.KenInvest CEO John Mwendwa emphasized that eligibility criteria will be tied to concrete outcomes rather than mere capital inflows.

The program seeks to complement existing incentives such as tax exemptions in Special Economic Zones but diverges from the current seven-year permit renewal model.Global trends show governments increasingly compete for investment through residency perks instead of relying solely on tax breaks.

While specifics like investment thresholds and qualifying sectors remain undetermined, formalizing such a program requires legislation involving multiple government agencies.

The 2019 proposal faced resistance from the Interior Ministry due to safeguard concerns, but renewed interest reflects Kenya's strategy to boost economic growth via strategic foreign capital.