Nairobi hosted the first-ever UK-Kenya Business Forum on January 22, 2026, drawing more than 180 business leaders and senior government officials from both countries for a day of dialogue, innovation, and collaboration.
The event, jointly organised by the British High Commission in Nairobi and the British Chamber of Commerce Kenya (BCCK), showcased the evolving economic relationship through exhibitions, B2B matchmaking, and expert panels.
Trade between Kenya and the UK has recently crossed a milestone, breaking the £2 billion (Sh340 billion) mark for the first time last year.
The renewed Kenya-UK Strategic Partnership, formalised in July 2025, aims to double trade by 2030, a goal the forum intends to accelerate.
Ed Barnett, Acting British High Commissioner to Kenya, emphasised the potential of the partnership.
“Kenya and the UK are running together in a modern partnership rooted in innovation. But to unlock full potential, we must clear hurdles, unpredictable costs, regulatory uncertainty, and corruption. The Business Forum is our chance to accelerate reforms, boost trade, and create jobs. We go further, and faster when we go together.”
The forum also offered a candid platform to address persistent challenges such as high energy costs, regulatory unpredictability, and corruption risks that hamper investment and job creation.
Sonal Tejpar, Chair of the British Chamber of Commerce Kenya, highlighted the strong foundation of UK-Kenya relations.
“Kenya and the UK share strong trade and people-to-people links, and bilateral trade exceeding Sh336 billion reaffirms the deepening UK–Kenya partnership. With the right infrastructure and a more predictable, business-friendly environment, we expect even greater growth. We remain committed to driving investment, empowering businesses, and supporting sustainable economic development.”
The forum announced several new partnerships to strengthen economic development.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Scotland’s Forth Valley College and Kenya’s National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) to collaborate on skills development, innovative curriculum, and future projects such as a regional Competency Excellence Centre.
In trade and innovation, UK water treatment specialists Scotmas partnered with Kenyan agricultural supplier Elgon Kenya to expand safer crop-protection solutions across East Africa.
Their products provide effective control of plant pathogens with low toxicity, improving safety for workers and environmental outcomes.
Additionally, the UK launched the Climate Finance Accelerator (CFA) Kenya at the forum to support innovative low-carbon projects.
The CFA will assist Kenyan climate businesses in becoming investment-ready, aiming to build on a global record of nearly Sh64.5 billion secured for over 200 projects worldwide.
Applications are open until March 11, 2026, with selected projects pitching to investors in October.
The UK-Kenya economic relationship is marked by significant private sector investment and job creation.
The Manufacturing Africa programme, designed to de-risk manufacturing investments, has supported 21 deals worth over Sh103.5 billion in foreign direct investment, creating more than 35,000 jobs.
The Sustainable Urban Economic Development Programme (SUED) invested Sh1.3 billion in seed capital to support agribusiness in Kenyan towns, generating over 14,000 jobs and attracting Sh7.9 billion in private investment.
Financial Sector Deepening Africa (FSDA) supports innovation through initiatives like the BimaLab Insurtech Accelerator, which operates in 25 countries, aiding over 100 startups that serve 6 million customers and have mobilised Sh3.8 billion (USD 30 million).
This has improved insurance access for farmers, boda-boda riders, and healthcare providers.
Trade between Kenya and the UK now exceeds Sh350 billion, supported by more than 150 British companies employing over 250,000 Kenyans.
The UK–Kenya Economic Partnership Agreement guarantees duty-free access for Kenyan exports to the UK, further cementing this growing relationship.
The forum included participation from high-level figures such as His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Africa John Humphrey and Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Trade and Investments Lee Kinjanjui, alongside major Kenyan business bodies including KEPSA, KNCCI, and KAM.
The UK-Kenya Business Forum 2026 demonstrated a commitment to fostering a modern, green, and innovative partnership that supports sustainable development and economic transformation on both sides.
