The European Investment Bank (EIB) has partnered with Family Bank to launch a Ksh 14.7 billion ( €100 million) financing initiative for business, mainly targeting women and youth entrepreneurs in
In the deal, EIB’s development arm, EIB Global, will provide €50 million, while Family Bank will provide another €50 million.
The financing initiative, announced during the European Union-Kenya business forum in Nairobi, aims to strengthen the working capital and investments of Kenyan small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and Mid-Caps, particularly those in the agriculture and trade sectors. A minimum of 50% of the financing will be directed to businesses owned or run by women, while at least 30% will target youth entrepreneurs.
“SMEs represent over 80% of our customer base. As a result of our growth efforts, our market revenue from this segment continues to increase, further underscoring the sector’s strong growth potential,” said Nancy Njau, Family Bank CEO.
“This partnership not only supports our 2025–2029 strategy to scale SME lending and deepen market segmentation but also enables us to better address the specific needs of SMEs across various value chains for sustainable growth and long-term value,” she added.
Beyond the credit line, EIB Global will offer Family Bank technical assistance to improve its product offering and gender strategy. This includes a potential qualification under the 2X Challenge, a global initiative focused on investing in women.
The agreement aligns with the EU’s Global Gateway strategy to promote trade, agriculture, manufacturing, climate action, and services, which are key priorities in Kenya. It also supports a European-led initiative called Investing in Young Businesses in Africa, which has continent-wide operations designed to create sustainable jobs and expand business opportunities.
“Investing in women and youth entrepreneurs is not only the right thing to do but also the smart thing to do. It holds much promise to bring growth and prosperity to the Kenyan economy. This is a cause that is very important to us,” said EIB Vice-President Thomas Ostros.
EIB Global is a specialized development of the EIB Group and a key partner of Global Gateway. The EU-Africa Global Gateway initiative provides investments to accelerate Africa’s green and digital transition, strengthen health systems, and support sustainable job growth.
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