Ruto Promises Stability and World-Class Talent as He Woos American Investors
President William Ruto has launched a charm offensive in New York, fronting Kenya as a safe and secure investment destination for American corporations seeking business opportunities in Africa. Speaking at the United States–Kenya Business and Investment Roundtable on the sidelines of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, Ruto assured investors that Kenya’s stability, strong macro-economic fundamentals, and investor-friendly reforms make it the ideal location for bold ventures.
“Kenya is a safe and secure destination for your investments,” President Ruto said. “We offer stability, world-class talent, green energy, and dependable connectivity—just the qualities investors seek. Above all, we bring the resolute commitment to be your trusted partner in building bold ventures that deliver strong returns and lasting impact.” His message aimed to position Kenya as a dependable gateway for American businesses expanding into Africa.
Highlighting Kenya’s economic resilience, the president pointed to low inflation, a stable exchange rate, and Standard & Poor’s recent upgrade of Kenya’s rating from B- to B as signals of stronger fundamentals. Kenya is now the sixth-largest economy in Africa, with diaspora remittances topping $5.1 billion in 2024 and pension assets hitting $18 billion, providing long-term capital for investments. Additionally, the Nairobi Securities Exchange was ranked Africa’s best-performing exchange in 2024 and remains among the top performers globally.
President Ruto also showcased Kenya’s ambitious capital markets agenda, including 40 planned new listings by 2029 and the landmark $1.15 billion initial public offering (IPO) of the Kenya Pipeline Company later this year. He added that the recently launched Nairobi International Financial Centre would host global financial players, cementing Kenya’s growing status as a regional financial hub.
To boost competitiveness, Ruto explained that his government has enacted a series of investor-friendly reforms. These include zero-rating VAT on exported services, allowing companies to offset claims against future liabilities, and removing the 30 percent domestic equity requirement for ICT companies—reforms expected to spur significant growth in Kenya’s digital economy. Investors are further safeguarded by Kenya’s strong legal and institutional frameworks, including constitutional guarantees against expropriation, effective dispute resolution mechanisms, and robust contract enforcement.
The president urged American investors to leverage Kenya’s 55-million-strong population, its strategic position as a gateway to East and Central Africa, and the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area, which opens access to a $3.7 trillion market of 1.4 billion people. He also highlighted Kenya’s privileged trade agreements, giving duty-free, quota-free access to markets in the U.S., U.K., EU, UAE, and most recently China—collectively worth over $50 trillion.
Citing Nairobi’s rise as a fintech and investment hub, Ruto pointed to multinational firms such as BUPA Health, Lloyd’s of London, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, alongside three upcoming UN agencies, choosing Kenya as their base. “Kenya’s role as a hub of finance, technology, and trade grows stronger at every turn,” he affirmed. The Business Roundtable was organised by the Corporate Council on Africa (CCA), the Kenya Investment Authority, and the Kenya Private Sector Alliance, underscoring the country’s deliberate strategy to court American investors with a promise of stability, talent, and growth.
