More than 180 British and Kenyan companies convened in Nairobi for the inaugural UK–Kenya Business Forum 2026, a high-level gathering aimed at accelerating trade, investment, and policy reforms to strengthen Kenya’s business climate.
- •The forum was jointly hosted by the British High Commission Nairobi and the British Chamber of Commerce Kenya (BCCK).
- •The event underscored the growing economic ties between the two countries, with bilateral trade surpassing GBP 2 billion (KES 340 billion) for the first time last year.
- •The renewed Kenya–UK Strategic Partnership, signed in July 2025, targets a doubling of trade by 2030, positioning the forum as a key platform for unlocking new commercial opportunities.
Discussions focused on digital trade, services, green manufacturing, SME growth, and inclusive enterprise, with dedicated attention to women- and youth-led businesses. Alongside deal-making and exhibitions, business leaders also called for reforms to address high energy costs, regulatory unpredictability, and corruption risks that continue to hinder private sector growth.
Three major partnerships were unveiled during the forum.
- •Scotland’s Forth Valley College signed an MoU with Kenya’s National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) to collaborate on technical skills development.
- •UK water treatment firm Scotmas partnered with Kenyan agribusiness supplier Elgon Kenya to expand safe crop-protection solutions across East Africa.
- •The UK also launched the Climate Finance Accelerator (CFA) Kenya, which will help local low-carbon projects become investment-ready and connect with global financiers.
The forum highlighted the scale of ongoing UK-backed investment programmes in Kenya. Manufacturing Africa has supported 21 deals reaching financial close, unlocking over KES 103.5 billion (GBP 600 million) in FDI and creating more than 35,000 jobs.
With more than 150 British companies employing over 250,000 Kenyans, and duty-free access to UK markets guaranteed under the UK–Kenya Economic Partnership Agreement, officials described the relationship as a modern, innovation-driven partnership anchored in green growth and long-term capital flows.
