Nairobi, Kenya (April 2026) – We have successfully onboarded of Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) as an equity investor. The investment forms part of AFC’s approved commitment of up to US$20 million in capital, with an initial tranche of US$10 million in Dhamana’s core capital.
AFC’s entry into Dhamana’s shareholder structure reinforces growing institutional confidence in innovative guarantee structures as a catalyst for mobilizing domestic capital. With a strong track record in infrastructure investment and credit enhancement, AFC’s participation is expected to strengthen Dhamana’s capital base, governance, and market positioning.
Dhamana is designed to bridge the gap between demand and available financing by enabling institutional investors (such as pension funds) to participate in diverse assets through risk-mitigated instruments. By improving credit quality and investor confidence, Dhamana supports the development of liquid and resilient local debt markets.
Commenting on the partnership, Chris Vermont, Board Chair of Dhamana, said:
“AFC’s investment signals a strong alignment on infrastructure financing for Africa, which is increasingly driven by domestic capital and innovative risk-sharing mechanisms. This partnership strengthens our ability to scale impact, while reinforcing Dhamana’s ability to unlock long-term funding for the region’s critical infrastructure needs.”
Echoing this sentiment, Chris Olobo, Dhamana’s CEO, said:
“We are delighted to welcome Africa Finance Corporation as a shareholder in Dhamana. AFC’s investment marks a major institutional endorsement of our mandate to unlock long‑term, local currency financing for infrastructure and priority sectors across East Africa. Drawing on AFC’s deep experience with credit enhancement platforms such as InfraCredit Nigeria, this partnership strengthens our capital base, governance and strategic capability as we scale our guarantee operations. We look forward to working closely with AFC to mobilise domestic institutional capital, deepen local debt markets, and deliver transactions that combine strong risk discipline with measurable developmental impact.”
Commenting on the investment, Banji Fehintola, Executive Board Member and Head of Financial Services at Africa Finance Corporation, said:
“Dhamana represents a strategic opportunity to deepen domestic capital markets in East Africa by linking long-term institutional savings to bankable infrastructure investments. Building on our experience with InfraCredit in Nigeria, AFC is pleased to support the establishment of another credit enhancement facility focused on East Africa that will help unlock local-currency financing, strengthen investor confidence, and accelerate infrastructure delivery across the region.”
We continue to build a diversified pipeline of infrastructure transactions across key sectors, including energy, transport, and social infrastructure. Dhamana remains committed to delivering localized solutions that balance developmental impact with strong risk management.
This partnership builds on the growing momentum behind credit enhancement facilities across Africa, reflecting their critical role in mobilizing institutional capital, enhancing financial sustainability, and accelerating infrastructure delivery.
