Mogadishu (Dawan Africa) – Kenyan President William Ruto is set to depart today for official visits to Spain and the United Kingdom, where he will sign a renewed Kenya-UK Strategic Partnership and advocate for global finance reform at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development.
In London, President Ruto will join UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to sign the Kenya-UK Strategic Partnership 2025-2030. This renewed agreement focuses on four key pillars: trade, climate, technology, and security. The partnership aims to double trade between the two countries by 2030, enhance Kenya’s digital skills, and improve regional stability through collaboration on counterterrorism, cyber threats, and climate action.
A major highlight of the partnership is the completion of significant infrastructure projects, including the Nairobi Railway City, which is expected to transform Nairobi’s Central Business District into a modern, transit-oriented urban hub. The UK has pledged to mobilize up to £1.5 billion in investments to support growth across priority sectors in Kenya by 2030.
The partnership also includes a strong emphasis on climate action, with both nations committing to unlocking green finance from a variety of sources, as well as advancing Kenya’s science and technology agenda. This will focus on supporting start-ups, digital SMEs, and the development of AI and other emerging technologies.
Additionally, President Ruto will witness the announcement by Lloyd’s of London to establish a regional underwriting hub in Nairobi under the Nairobi International Financial Centre (NIFC), reinforcing Nairobi’s position as a financial gateway for Sub-Saharan Africa.
Before heading to the UK, President Ruto will begin his tour in Seville, Spain, where he will participate in the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development. The high-level forum aims to redefine principles for development financing in light of ongoing global challenges such as poverty, inequality, economic instability, climate change, and biodiversity loss. At the summit, President Ruto will co-chair a session and hold bilateral talks with key leaders, including Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and King Felipe VI, focusing on deepening cooperation in clean energy, youth empowerment, and climate resilience.
This series of engagements highlights Kenya’s continued push to strengthen international relations and promote its economic transformation agenda on the global stage.
