Cross-border investment risks exhibit clear structural characteristics, reflected in transmission chains and stage-specific differentiation. Traditional approaches centered on compliance and ex post remedies are insufficient to address risks arising from institutional divergence, organisational governance, and stakeholder interactions. This study proposes the Cross-Border Risk Governance Framework (CBRGF), comprising four dimensions, structure, model, capability, and decision, forming an integrated analytical chain from risk identification and transmission mapping to capacity building and strategic decision-making under uncertainty. Applied to Chinese enterprises investing in Kenya, the framework demonstrates practical relevance in key risk areas, including labour, land tenure, tax compliance, and regulation. The findings suggest that cross-border risk governance should shift from case-based to structural, from static to dynamic, and from single-tool to integrated approaches. The CBRGF offers an interpretable, operational, and replicable framework, supporting the accumulation of cross-border capabilities as organizational assets.