Mekelle/Tel Aviv/Nairobi/Pretoria/London
By Chekole Alemu
DFC appoints Kenya-based managing director to oversee East Africa investments
The United States International Development Finance Corporation has appointed Selam Demissie as its new Regional Managing Director for East Africa, based in Kenya, in a move aimed at expanding the agency’s investment footprint across the region.
The appointment was announced in Nairobi on January 29, 2026, during a visit by US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau. The timing highlighted Kenya’s role as a key hub for US economic and diplomatic engagement in Africa.
In her new position, Demissie will oversee DFC-supported projects across East Africa and coordinate the use of the agency’s financial instruments, including debt financing, loan guarantees, political risk insurance, and equity investments. Her mandate includes supporting projects that promote sustainable economic growth while aligning with broader US foreign policy and national security objectives.
DFC said Demissie will also build on the work of the agency’s East Africa Investment Advisor by drawing on existing research, partnerships, and active investment pipelines to refine regional investment strategies. Priority sectors include energy, agriculture, infrastructure, health, and technology.
DFC Chief Executive Officer Ben Black described Kenya as a strategic partner and a regional anchor for advancing US interests in East Africa. He said a stronger DFC presence in the country would help identify investment opportunities that benefit both sides and deepen bilateral economic ties.
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said the DFC plays a central role in mobilising private sector capital in strategically important partner countries. He noted that an expanded presence in Kenya positions the agency to deliver long term development outcomes that support stability and economic growth in the region.
Demissie has experience in development finance and private sector engagement across emerging markets. Since joining the DFC, she has worked on energy and agriculture projects in Africa and Latin America, focusing on using debt facilities and loan guarantees to attract private capital. Before joining the agency, she led programmes aimed at strengthening private sector frameworks to expand access to energy.
According to the US Embassy in Kenya, Sub Saharan Africa is currently the second largest region in the DFC’s global portfolio, with more than 10 billion dollars in exposure. Kenyan media reports note that the scale of investment reflects the continent’s growing importance in advancing the DFC’s development mandate and broader US foreign policy goals.
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