Kenyan officials have reaffirmed the nation’s strategic economic partnership with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), highlighting it as a key gateway for investment into East Africa during a high-level trade mission.
The event, part of the UAE–East Africa Investment and Trade Mission, served to strengthen the robust bilateral ties, which are anchored on growing trade, investment, and strategic partnerships. The UAE currently stands as Kenya’s sixth-largest source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), with capital flowing into critical sectors like infrastructure, logistics, energy, and technology.
Invest Kenya, the nation’s investment promotion agency, took center stage at the session, presenting the country’s value proposition as a premier regional hub to a visiting UAE delegation.
“The event brought together key leaders to showcase Kenya’s investment landscape, priority opportunities, and emerging partnerships driving Kenya-UAE economic cooperation,” a statement from the organizers noted.
The high-level meeting brought together distinguished leaders from Kenya’s public and private sectors, underscoring the country’s commitment to advancing collaboration and innovation. Among the notable attendees were Ms. Regina Ombam, Principal Secretary for Trade, who represented the Cabinet Secretary, Lee Kinyanjui; Dr. James Mworia, MBS, Group CEO and Managing Director of Centum Investment Company Plc; and Ambassador Philip Thigo, MBS, Kenya’s Special Envoy for Technology.
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Also present were Mr. James Mureu, Chairman of the Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA), and Captain William K. Ruto, Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya Ports Authority, reflecting a diverse representation of leadership driving Kenya’s economic and technological transformation.
In her remarks, Principal Secretary Ombam reinforced the government’s commitment to deepening its economic cooperation with the UAE. She pointed to the steady growth in Kenyan exports, particularly in meat and horticultural products, as a sign of a healthy and expanding trade relationship.
Ombam also highlighted the significant progress in finalizing the Kenya-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), a pact expected to further boost trade and investment flows between the two nations.
The gathering underscores a concerted effort by Kenya to leverage its strong ties with the UAE, which currently sees bilateral trade standing at approximately $3.4 billion, a figure that continues to grow as Kenya increases its export share.
