Kenya and the United Kingdom have pledged to strengthen cooperation across key sectors, including the economy, security, climate, science, and technology, following a landmark visit by Kenyan President William Ruto to London.
The visit culminated in the signing of trade and investment agreements valued at over £1 billion, reinforcing the UK government’s “Plan for Change,” which prioritizes job creation and shared prosperity.
Central to this partnership is the ambitious Nairobi Railway City redevelopment project.
Modeled on London’s King’s Cross transformation, British firm Atkins UK has been appointed to design Nairobi’s new central station and public square.
The project could be financed through UK Export Finance, promising to generate employment in the UK’s engineering and specialist services industries.
On security, both nations committed to intensify collaboration against transnational criminal networks, focusing on disrupting migrant smuggling routes throughout East Africa.
Given Kenya’s geographical proximity to countries such as Eritrea, Sudan, Somalia, and Ethiopia — major sources of migration to the UK — the joint effort aims to enhance surveillance across land, sea, and air corridors.
Defense ties are also set to deepen with plans for joint training initiatives and the establishment of a specialised counterterrorism and insurgency centre.
The UK has already sold military equipment worth more than £70 million to Kenya, a move supporting British defence industries across multiple counties.
Kenya hosts the UK’s primary military base in Africa, where approximately 3,000 British soldiers receive training annually.
Financial collaboration saw a major breakthrough with Lloyd’s of London confirming its integration into the Nairobi International Finance Centre. This move could unlock a £500 million opportunity for East Africa’s insurance market.
Looking ahead, both governments expressed intent to negotiate a bilateral agreement on digital trade, harnessing Kenya’s rapidly expanding tech sector — dubbed the “Silicon Savannah” — which is projected to reach a value of £11.5 billion by 2032.
This multifaceted partnership reflects a shared vision to foster economic growth, bolster security, and drive innovation between the UK and Kenya for years to come.
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