UK-Kenya Business Forum convened in Nairobi to unlock business opportunities

The forum, convened by the British High Commission Nairobi and the British Chamber of Commerce Kenya (BCCK), focused on unlocking new investment opportunities, accelerating green growth and advancing reforms aimed at improving Kenya’s business environment.

During the forum, discussions centred on key growth sectors including digital trade, services, green manufacturing and the expansion of small and medium-sized enterprises, with particular attention to women and youth-led businesses. 

The event also featured business exhibitions, B2B matchmaking sessions and expert-led panel discussions.

The meeting comes as trade between Kenya and the UK surpassed £2 billion (approximately Ksh.350 billion) for the first time. Under the renewed Kenya–UK Strategic Partnership signed in July 2025, both countries committed to doubling bilateral trade by 2030.

Speaking at the forum, Acting British High Commissioner to Kenya Dr Ed Barnett said the partnership must be matched with concrete reforms to unlock its full potential.

“Kenya and the UK are running together in a modern partnership rooted in innovation,” Dr Barnett said. “But to go further and faster, we must tackle high costs, regulatory uncertainty and corruption, which continue to constrain investment and job creation.”

BCCK Chair Sonal Tejpar said the strong trade and people-to-people links between the two countries provide a solid foundation for future growth, noting that British companies operating in Kenya employ more than 250,000 people.

The forum also saw the announcement of three new Kenya–UK partnerships aimed at boosting skills, innovation and clean growth. 

Scotland’s Forth Valley College signed a memorandum of understanding with Kenya’s National Industrial Training Authority to collaborate on skills development and training. 

UK water treatment firm Scotmas partnered with Elgon Kenya to expand safer crop-protection solutions across East Africa, while the UK launched the Climate Finance Accelerator Kenya to support investment-ready low-carbon projects.