Kenya Moves to Expand Investor Incentives With New Laws

President William Ruto has signed three economic reform bills into law, in a move aimed at easing corporate restructuring, strengthening investor incentives and expanding Kenya’s technology and industrial policy framework, according to a Kenyans.co.ke report.

The laws include the Income Tax (Amendment) Bill, the Special Economic Zones (Amendment) Bill and the Technopolis Bill. Together, they form part of the government’s broader push to lower barriers for investors and improve the business environment.

The Income Tax changes are expected to make it easier for companies to reorganise ownership structures and transfer assets within corporate groups without automatically triggering tax penalties. The report says the law also addresses capital gains tax treatment for non-resident vendors and strengthens Kenya Revenue Authority registration requirements for foreign investors.

The Special Economic Zones (Amendment) Bill, 2026 focuses on expanding Kenya’s SEZ framework, including provisions linked to upstream and midstream petroleum and energy operations. The reforms are tied to efforts to attract large-scale capital into strategic projects such as the South Lokichar Basin in Turkana.

Ruto’s administration has previously framed SEZs as central to investment, jobs and industrial growth, with the presidency saying the zones are intended to support skills transfer, competitiveness and inclusive economic development through targeted reforms.

The Technopolis law creates a governance framework for Konza Technopolis, including an authority to oversee the city and a dispute resolution tribunal. It also sets rules for technology parks, incentives and penalties.

The new laws now shift attention to implementation, including how tax agencies, SEZ regulators and Konza authorities apply the reforms in the coming financial year.