Beyond the discussions and high-level engagements at the Kenya Investment Forum on 1^st July 2025, in London, U.K., the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) solidified its commitment to tangible action, outlining key pledges to facilitate post-event investor engagement. These commitments underscore KEPSA's crucial role in bridging the gap between strategic discussions and real-world investment, ensuring that the momentum generated at the forum translates into concrete economic growth. From coordinating follow-up sectoral roundtables for KEPSA members with interested UK and diaspora investors, to liaising with relevant government agencies to fast-track Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project opportunities, KEPSA is actively working to streamline the investment process.

KEPSA will also provide member support in due diligence and investor compliance, as well as promote investment-ready projects via KEPSA platforms and Private-Public Dialogue (PPD) mechanisms. This proactive approach highlights KEPSA's central position in orchestrating private sector engagement and facilitating significant inward investment, thereby reinforcing Kenya's appeal as a dynamic and reform-driven investment destination.

The forum itself commenced with Invest Africa CEO Chantelé Carrington affirming the UK's strong interest in Kenya as a strategic gateway for trade and investment. This sentiment was echoed by KenInvest CEO John Mwendwa, who provided a comprehensive overview of Kenya's investment opportunities, highlighting recent reforms under the Investment Promotion and Facilitation Act and showcasing high-growth sectors such as infrastructure, green energy, the digital economy, housing, and agribusiness. Mwendwa also detailed investor incentives and simplified regulatory processes, all designed to attract and streamline investment. A key focus was the Nairobi Railway City Central Station project, a flagship smart-city initiative, presented by Hon. Davis Chirchir, Philip Mainga, and Charles Hinga. They emphasized its PPP opportunities, aligning it with Kenya's Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) and Vision 2030, and actively encouraged investor participation.

High-level engagement continued with H.E. Catherine Karemu, the High Commissioner to the UK, underscoring the strategic investment relationship and encouraging diaspora-led investments. A defining moment was the signing of four transformative investment deals and a strategic cooperation agreement, collectively securing $105 million (KES 13.7 billion) in investments. These included Bupa Global establishing a regional health insurance hub, Africa Specialty Risks aiming to unlock $2 billion in de-risked capital for FDI, Africa Finance Corporation partnering with Nairobi International Financial Centre (NIFC) on infrastructure, and Flamingo Group's $15 million expansion in Naivasha and Nanyuki, projected to create 3,000 jobs. Additionally, the Kenya Investment Authority and Invest Africa forged a new partnership to boost UK investments in Kenya's priority sectors. Hon. Lee Kinyanjui, Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade and Industry, further highlighted Kenya's stability and vibrant young population as attractive factors for investors, reaffirming the government’s commitment to reducing bureaucratic red tape and strengthening the investment climate.

The forum culminated in a powerful keynote address by H.E. Dr. William Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya. The President extended a clear invitation to global investors, highlighting key policy reforms aimed at predictability and competitiveness, emphasizing infrastructure-led growth through strategic partnerships, and detailing expanded diaspora engagement. He affirmed Kenya's commitment to ESG principles in public investments and outlined opportunities in infrastructure, digital services, clean energy, and agro-industrial value chains, noting Kenya's leadership in renewable energy with 90% of its power from clean sources. The President specifically pointed to the Nairobi Railway City Central Station project as a vibrant 24-hour hub designed to ignite innovation and sustainable growth, inviting global partners to collaborate under the UK-Kenya Strategic Partnership 2025-2030.

Crucially, KEPSA's instrumental role in shaping the investment agenda was evident throughout the forum, particularly in the thematic panel discussion on "Next-Generation FinTech & Digital Infrastructure." Moderated by Carole Kariuki, CEO of KEPSA, the discussion brought together industry leaders including Daniel Mainda (NIFC), Modupe Diyaolu (meCash), Charlie Robertson (Equity Bank), and Heike Harmgart (EBRD). This panel delved into critical areas such as Kenya's leadership in mobile money and lending platforms, the essential role of digital infrastructure for government and SME services, the implementation of regulatory sandboxes, digital ID, and API ecosystems, and the potential for BPO sector growth and youth employment. KEPSA's active moderation ensured a focused and impactful dialogue, demonstrating its dedication to exploring and leveraging technological advancements for economic progress.

In conclusion, the Kenya Investment Forum successfully positioned Kenya as a compelling investment destination, with KEPSA emerging as a vital catalyst for this success. Its proactive engagement in public-private dialogue, its leadership in key sector discussions, and its concrete commitments to follow-up and investor support underscore its critical role in facilitating meaningful private sector participation in national development and fostering an enabling environment for sustainable investment and economic growth.