Ruto Pitches Kenya as Africa’s Investment Gateway at AmCham Business Summit
NAIROBI, Kenya — President William Ruto has positioned Kenya as a leading gateway for investment into Africa, calling on global businesses to produce, innovate and expand their operations from the country to wider African markets.
Speaking at the 2026 American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) Business Summit in Nairobi, President Ruto said Kenya offers investors access not only to its domestic market, but also to a wider regional market of more than 300 million people in the East African Community (EAC) and about 700 million people in the COMESA region.
He further highlighted the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which provides access to a continental market of approximately 1.4 billion people.
President Ruto said Kenya's proposition to investors was clear: “Produce here, innovate here and serve Africa and the world from Kenya.”
He said the government had implemented more than 50 business-enabling reforms over the past three years covering areas such as finance, taxation, regulation, licensing and special economic zones.
According to Ruto, the reforms are aimed at removing barriers to investment, strengthening investor protection and creating a more competitive business environment.
The President also pointed to incentives introduced in areas including manufacturing, green investment, electric mobility and agricultural value addition.
He identified several sectors as having significant investment potential, including the digital economy, renewable energy, critical minerals, agriculture, healthcare, manufacturing and the creative economy.
Kenya is also seeking additional investment in digital infrastructure, agro-processing, pharmaceuticals, advanced manufacturing, music, film, fashion and sports, areas which the government believes can create jobs and increase economic activity.
The remarks come as Kenya seeks to deepen its commercial relationship with the United States and attract more international capital. The AmCham Business Summit, running from September 9–10, 2026, in Nairobi, brings together government officials, investors and business leaders to explore trade and investment opportunities across seven major sectors.
Recent figures cited by Ruto indicate that Kenya's foreign direct investment has increased from $1.5 billion in 2022 to a record $3.2 billion, equivalent to about KSh414.1 billion. The President said the growth reflects investor confidence in Kenya's renewable energy potential, digital economy and manufacturing sector.
The summit therefore provides Kenya with an opportunity to showcase its investment opportunities while strengthening partnerships between Kenyan, American and other international businesses.
Ruto said the government would continue creating an environment that encourages investment and enables businesses operating in Kenya to access markets across Africa and beyond.