Kenya and the United Kingdom have renewed their bilateral ties to enhance mutual cooperation over the next five years. This announcement came after a meeting between President William Ruto and British High Commissioner Neil Wigan at State House, Nairobi.
President Ruto stated that the review of the Strategic Partnership Agreement for 2025–2030 aims to strengthen economic collaboration, technology, innovation, and research between the two nations. The discussions also focused on advancing key projects such as the Nairobi Railway City and promoting climate action through the Africa Green Industrialisation Initiative. Additionally, they addressed regional peace and security, particularly in the Great Lakes region and the Horn of Africa.
The Kenya-UK relationship dates back to 1963, and since then, the two countries have maintained uninterrupted diplomatic ties. The UK has been a significant trade and development partner, ranking as Kenya’s largest foreign investor. Currently, more than 100 UK investment companies operate in Kenya, with investments exceeding £2 billion. Key British investors include Barclays Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, GlaxoSmithKline, ACTIS, De La Rue, and Unilever.
Trade relations between the two nations remain strong, with the UK being Kenya’s second-largest export destination. Kenya exports tea, coffee, and horticultural products, accounting for 27% of the UK’s fresh produce imports and 56% of its black tea market. Conversely, Kenya imports motor vehicles, printed materials, machinery, and chemicals from the UK.
Beyond trade, the UK is a key contributor to Kenya’s tourism sector, being the largest source market for international visitors. The British Royal Family has historically shown a deep interest in Kenya’s wildlife conservation efforts, supporting initiatives such as Tusk and the Duke of Edinburgh International Awards Trust, which promotes environmental conservation and has its regional office for Africa in Nairobi.
The partnership extends to people-to-people relations, with approximately 250,000 British nationals residing in Kenya and over 200,000 Kenyans living in the UK. The renewed commitment between the two countries is expected to bolster economic, social, and diplomatic cooperation for years to come.
