From Partnership to Ownership: What the KCDF–Kagiso share transfer means for communities in Kenya

In Nairobi, a quiet but significant moment unfolded for community development and philanthropy in Africa.

The Kenya Community Development Foundation and Kagiso Africa Investments formally completed a strategic transfer of shares that signals a deep shift in how development work can be financed, governed, and sustained on the continent.

The handover ceremony held  on February 17, 2026 at the Serena hotel, brought together leaders from philanthropy, investment, civil society, and diplomacy.

At its heart was a simple but powerful idea. African communities are best served when development resources are locally owned, locally governed, and designed to last.

The transfer marked the conclusion of a long partnership between KCDF and Kagiso Africa Investments, a subsidiary of South Africa’s Kagiso Trust.

More importantly, it marked the beginning of a new phase in which KCDF strengthens its ability to finance community development using its own assets.

For many in attendance, the event represented more than an institutional milestone. It was a statement about the future of philanthropy in Africa.

One where community foundations are not just implementers of donor projects, but owners of capital, decision-makers, and long-term partners to the people they serve.

“This transfer symbolises a new chapter for KCDF,” said Grace Maingi, the foundation’s Executive Director.

“It reflects our shared belief that locally owned investment structures are critical to achieving lasting social and economic impact. This milestone strengthens our ability to secure long-term financial independence in support of community-driven development.”

Her words captured the mood of the evening. Pride in what has been achieved. And determination about what lies ahead.

KCDF: Building permanent resources for Kenyan communities

KCDF is widely recognised as the first homegrown community foundation in East Africa. It was established to respond to a long-standing challenge in development work. Communities were receiving support, but that support often depended on short-term external funding. When donors shifted priorities, programmes stalled and gains were lost.

KCDF was created to offer a different path. One built on the belief that lasting change happens when communities shape their own priorities and have access to permanent resources to pursue them.

Over the years, KCDF has supported community-driven initiatives across Kenya. Its work spans education, livelihoods, climate resilience, health, social justice, and civic participation.

But beyond the sectors, its defining feature has been how it works. KCDF invests in people and institutions. It provides grants, but also strengthens governance, leadership, and financial systems within communities.

This approach reflects a philosophy that development is not something done to communities. It is something built with them.

At the Nairobi event, Maingi spoke about this shared understanding between KCDF and Kagiso Trust.

“This evening is a celebration of a shared heartbeat between KCDF and Kagiso Trust,” she said. “Two organisations that have long understood that development is not something you do to a community, but something you build with them.”

She added that the partnership was never simply about financial transactions.

“When Kagiso and KCDF joined hands, it was not merely a joint venture. It was a meeting of minds,” Maingi said.

“From Kenya to South Africa, this partnership represents a bridge built on the belief that local resources, local wisdom and local leadership are the most sustainable engines of change.”

KCDF’s long-term vision is rooted in sustainability. The foundation has been working to reduce dependence on restricted donor funding and increase flexible resources that allow communities to respond to emerging needs. The share transfer strengthens that vision by expanding KCDF’s capacity to generate its own income and reinvest it into community priorities.

For grassroots organisations, this matters deeply. Flexible and predictable funding allows them to plan, innovate, and remain accountable to the people they serve, rather than to shifting donor cycles.

Kagiso Trust: A legacy of sustainability and partnership

Kagiso Trust’s journey provides important context to this moment. Established during South Africa’s struggle against inequality and exclusion, the Trust was built to support communities navigating political and social transition. From its earliest days, it recognised that financial independence would be essential to its mission.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mankodi Moitse, Chief Executive of Kagiso Trust, reflected on this history.

“We are established in the midst of assisting communities deal with the transition, deal with exclusion, deal with restoring their dignity,” he said. “We also acknowledged that there is still a disproportion between the promises that democracy made and the transition of our everyday lives.”

He explained that Kagiso Trust deliberately invested in building its own investment arm so it could fund development work with greater freedom and consistency.

“Our advantage was that we had an investment arm that allowed us to decide on the type of programmes that we would pursue,” Moitse said.

“Financial sustainability gave us the freedom to conceptualise our own programmes and design them in ways that are transformative.”

Moitse emphasised that development takes time and patience.

“Transformation is not an overnight initiative,” he said. “It requires patience, concerted effort, and financial independence.”

He also underscored the centrality of partnerships.

“We recognised that we can only achieve impact through strengthened collaboration,” Moitse said. “Partnership has always been at the centre of our implementation process.”

The decision to transfer shares to KCDF reflects this philosophy. Rather than holding on to ownership indefinitely, Kagiso Trust chose to strengthen a partner institution by placing long-term assets directly in its hands.

For African philanthropy, this act carries symbolic and practical significance. It demonstrates trust. It demonstrates commitment to local leadership. And it demonstrates confidence in African institutions to steward capital responsibly for public good.

Why this moment matters for communities in Kenya

While the share transfer may appear technical, its implications for communities are tangible and far-reaching.

First, it strengthens the availability of long-term funding for community priorities. Many local organisations operate in environments where funding is uncertain and short-lived. Income generated through locally owned investments offers a more stable base from which to support education initiatives, livelihood programmes, and social justice efforts.

Second, it deepens local ownership and accountability. When development resources are owned by a Kenyan foundation, decisions about how those resources are used are more closely aligned with local realities. Communities have a stronger voice. Programmes are shaped by lived experience rather than distant priorities.

Third, it reinforces the role of civil society. KCDF has long invested in strengthening community-based organisations so they can engage effectively in governance, service delivery, and accountability.

Sustainable funding ensures that this work continues, even when political or economic conditions shift.

Fourth, it sends a powerful signal about the future of philanthropy in Kenya. It shows that local institutions can mobilise, manage, and grow capital for social impact. This has the potential to inspire Kenyan individuals, families, and businesses to give locally, knowing their contributions are being stewarded by trusted, accountable institutions.

The importance of this moment was echoed by Ernest Kgopa, Acting South African High Commissioner to Kenya.

“Today’s official handover of shares speaks to a mutually beneficial partnership,” Kgopa said. “It demonstrates how locally owned investment structures can support long-term community development.”

He linked the partnership to broader cooperation between Kenya and South Africa, noting that both countries share a commitment to social justice, dignity, and inclusive development.

“Without organisations such as Kagiso Trust and KCDF to complement government efforts, many rights risk remaining ideals on paper,” Kgopa said.

His remarks reinforced a key message of the evening. Philanthropy and civil society are not substitutes for government. They are essential partners in turning constitutional promises into lived realities.

A future shaped by local capital and shared values

As the evening drew to a close, one message stood out clearly. The KCDF–Kagiso share transfer is not an end point. It is a foundation for the next phase of community-led development.

KCDF now carries greater responsibility, but also greater opportunity. With increased financial independence, the foundation is positioned to expand support for vocational skills, social enterprises, and grassroots leadership. It can take calculated risks, pilot new approaches, and respond quickly to community-identified needs.

Maingi captured this forward-looking spirit in her closing remarks.

“Community development is a marathon, not a sprint,” she said. “Tonight, we celebrate the power of local. We celebrate the idea that when we invest in people, the returns are infinite.”

For communities across Kenya, the significance of this moment will not be measured by speeches or ceremonies. It will be seen in schools that stay open. In youth who gain skills and livelihoods. In community organisations that endure and grow. And in a development ecosystem that increasingly trusts African institutions to lead, own, and sustain their own progress.

In an era when philanthropy is being asked to rethink power, ownership, and impact, the KCDF–Kagiso partnership offers a compelling example. It shows what is possible when long-term vision, patient capital, and respect for community agency come together.

For Kenyan communities, that combination may prove transformative.

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