Kenya and the United Kingdom have renewed their longstanding Strategic Partnership, marking a significant milestone during President William Ruto’s official visit to London. The renewed agreement, announced on Monday, aims to enhance collaboration in trade, investment, green growth, climate change, and regional peace and security.
In a high-level meeting with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, President Ruto witnessed the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) targeting health, finance, and education. Among the key highlights was the inclusion of the University of Nottingham and King’s College London in the Kenya-UK Health Alliance. The collaboration will establish Centres of Health Education and Research Excellence in Kenya, positioning the country as one of only three in Africa to host such hubs.
Ruto also oversaw the signing of an MoU with the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine to support local pharmaceutical manufacturing under the BRITE initiative at the BioVax Institute. These initiatives are set to strengthen Kenya’s Universal Health Coverage goals through enhanced research, innovation, and healthcare accessibility.
In the financial sector, Ruto welcomed the signing of a partnership between the Nairobi International Financial Centre Authority and Lloyd’s, the world’s leading insurance and reinsurance market. The move is expected to pave the way for Lloyd’s to establish a regional underwriting office in Nairobi. “This agreement will offer Kenyan businesses access to specialised risk solutions, boost economic resilience, and unlock new growth opportunities,” Ruto said.
He also addressed the Kenya Investment Forum hosted by The Law Society of England and Wales on the sidelines of the Africa Debate. There, he highlighted investment opportunities in sectors such as energy, infrastructure, the digital economy, and financial markets.
President Ruto emphasized Kenya’s readiness to position itself at the heart of the global economic transition. “We will not be on the sidelines but at the centre of the shifts in the global economy. This will create more economic opportunities, generate inclusive growth and sustainably unlock our prosperity,” he affirmed.
With a shared goal to double bilateral trade in the next five years, the renewed Kenya–UK partnership is expected to deliver tangible economic impacts for both nations.
