Slovakia taps Kenya as gateway for East Africa investment and business partnerships

Slovakia is accelerating its economic push into East Africa, with a high-level government and business delegation visiting Nairobi to forge direct partnerships with over 60 Kenyan firms in high-growth sectors.

The move signals a deliberate strategy to use Kenya as a gateway to the wider region. A business-to-business forum organised by SARIO (the Slovak Investment and Trade Development Agency) and the Slovak Embassy in Nairobi, and facilitated by Equity Bank, was central to that push.

Among the sectors represented at the forum were renewable energy, ICT and digitalisation, healthcare and telemedicine, agri-tech and food processing, defence and cybersecurity, green technology and water management, and construction and consultancy.

"The first Slovak mission to Kenya came in 2022. Now in 2026, we are bringing a big part of government, which confirms that Slovakia's interest is truly rising," he said.

Daniela Koladová, Director at Slovakia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, further affirmed the strategic importance of the relationship and noted that Kenya is one of the most dynamic economies in Africa with great potential for cooperation in energy, renewable energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, agriculture, digital solutions, and financial services.

"We believe this strong economic partnership is a signal, not just for this moment, but for the future. This is a continuation project, and we believe our collaboration will be fruitful," she said.

As host, Equity Bank Kenya Managing Director Moses Nyabanda framed the bank’s role as the commercial bridge into the region’s market of over 300 million people.

"If you're a Slovak entrepreneur asking how to get into this market, Equity has already done that for you," he told delegates. " East African region is the fastest growing in the world, averaging at least 5% growth. You are in the right room."

The recently concluded EU-Kenya Economic Partnership Agreement provides a clear legal and trade framework for these new partnerships. To help businesses navigate this, Equity’s Group Director of Trade Finance, Brendan Du Preez, affirmed that the bank’s role extends beyond basic banking to complex trade facilitation.

“We have the expertise across Africa and understand these markets very well," Mr. Du Preez said. "We tailor solutions to your specific needs, and across every market we operate in, we have dedicated specialists on the ground. We are a trusted partner."

The strategic ambition of the day was most evident on the ground, where Slovak delegates managed to connect with their Kenyan counterparts.

A prime example was Klara Richtarechova, CEO of security tech firm Desyre. Her firm is seeking a local Kenyan partner to co-develop mobile detection systems. Her goal, as she stated, is to "build together a mobile detection system for Kenyan law enforcement agencies," a proposition that directly addresses Kenya's ongoing security modernization and creates a clear opportunity for high-level technology transfer.

Similarly, Michal Choma of Barani Design Technologies, a specialist in meteorological hardware, was focused on execution. His firm's weather-sensing technology offers direct solutions for Kenya’s vital agricultural sector as it grapples with climate change.

Having already initiated contact with development bodies like the UNDP, Choma’s objective for the forum was clear and immediate. "Our priority now is to find a local distributor," he said, signalling a move to commercialize this critical technology within the Kenyan market.

From the Kenyan perspective, the forum validated a new strategic direction. Engineer Martin Kiere, CEO of ICT firm Inform Systems Limited, saw the meeting as more than just a new business lead. "They are looking for serious distributors and manufacturing companies in Kenya," he noted, framing the relationship as a two-way street. "We look forward to those engagements."

These planned ventures highlight a tangible shift from diplomatic pleasantries to the formation of concrete commercial partnerships, aimed at solving specific market challenges with advanced European technology.