Karibu magazine 2nd Edition

Kenya is the eighth largest economy in Africa and
also the most diversified in the sub-region. It is the
leading non-mineral based economy in sub-Saharan
Africa and is emerging as one of the top destinations
for investment. It is also a gateway to East and Central
Africa offering access to the large EAC (140 million)
and COMESA (400 million) markets. Kenya has
therefore, made tremendous efforts to ensure that
it fully integrates into the global value chain and the
Multilateral Trading System.
How would you describe the political and
economic relations between Kenya and the United
Kingdom?
Kenya and the United Kingdom enjoy warm and
cordial relations. The shared history, language, legal
system, culture, and values characterize these bilateral
ties. We have mutually beneficial links in trade,
investments, tourism as well as cooperation in areas of
defense, security and education among others. In this
regard, we have had several Ministerial visits in recent
years and high-level talks aimed at strengthening
these bilateral relations.
It is worth noting that the United Kingdom is one of
Kenya’s key strategic development partners and the
single largest source of Foreign Direct Investment
from Europe. Currently, there are about 100 British
investment companies based in Kenya, valued
at more than STG £2.0 billion. Significant British
investors include Vodafone, Standard Chartered Bank,
GlaxoSmithKline, ACTIS, De La Rue, Barclays Bank and
Unilever, among others.
The UK is also Kenya’s third largest export destination.
We mainly export tea, coffee, and horticultural
products including floriculture, with the country
accounting for 27% of the fresh produce and 56% of
the black tea market in the UK. On the other hand,
motor vehicles, printed materials, machinery, and
chemicals form the bulk of imports from the United
Kingdom. Last year, Kenya’s exports amounted to
Ksh.40.67 billion while imports amounted to Ksh.42.97
billion. Of course, this is still below our optimum
potential, and it is our desire to expand and increase
the volume and value of our bilateral trade.
As you may be aware, tourism is the third largest
source of foreign currency in Kenya after diaspora
remittance and tea exports. The United Kingdom
continues to be the biggest source market for Kenya’s
tourism arrivals.
Kenya, therefore, considers the United Kingdom as a
friendly country, as well as a significant development
trading and investment partner.
What are the main functions and priorities of the
Mission in the promotion of Kenya’s interest in the
UK?
As stated earlier, Kenya and the UK enjoy longstanding,
friendly and broad-based bilateral relations
which the Mission is committed to guard and deepen.
The High Commission also promotes and protects
the interest of Kenya and its citizens in the UK and
Intergovernmental organizations in the country.
We are keen on promoting economic relations by
attracting more FDI to Kenya, increasing the volume
and value of bilateral trade and actively marketing the
positively unique tourist attractions in Kenya.
Additionally, we aim at facilitating Kenyans abroad
to participate in national development, providing
responsive and efficient consular services and
promoting access to the international labour market
by Kenyans.
The Mission also promotes partnerships between
Kenya and the UK in various sectors of the economy
such as education, science, and technology, energy,
peace and security, among others.
The look East policy – which the Kenyan
government introduced in favor of the Chinese
government, was a tough decision for our country.
How did this affect our relationship with the UK?
Let me take this opportunity to clarify that Kenya
has not adopted a policy that favours China at the
expense of other development partners. In pursuit of
our national interest to transform Kenya into a newly
industrialized, middle-income country providing
a high quality of life to all its citizens by 2030 in a
clean and secure environment, the Government
seeks to consolidate and expand beneficial relations
with its traditional partners as it also develops new
partnerships with emerging economies. Kenya is
also committed to promoting sub-regional & regional
integration and cooperation with emphasis on intra-
African trade as charity begins at home. You would
appreciate that China is the 2 nd largest economy
trading with and investing in many countries across
the globe.
What is the Government agenda for Kenyans in the
diaspora?
Significantly on people to people relations, there
is a considerable population of UK nationals living
in Kenya and Kenyan nationals living and studying
in the UK. There are approximately 25,000 British
nationals who are permanent residents in Kenya, and
over 159,000 Kenyans living in the United Kingdom.
1ST EDITION | JULY 2016 7