Investing in Kenya
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Political stability | Dynamic
private sector | Harmonious industrial
relations |
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Preferential market access | Qualified
work force
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1. Political stability
Kenya has maintained remarkable stability since independence
despite the changes in its political system and crisis in neighboring
countries. In December 2002, Kenyans held democratic and open
elections which were judged free and fair by international
observers. The country's stable political background has enabled
a business-friendly environment. Added to that should be the
advantageous strategic location, access to target markets,
attractive incentives, as well as a liberalized economy with
a well established private sector.
The relative calm was however punctuated
by a short span of the violence occasioned by the disputed
December 2007 polls that led to over 1,000 deaths and displacement
of over 500,000 people. This was settled through efforts of
Kofi Annan and a Coalition government was formed.
2. Dynamic private sector
The private sector has played an important role in the economic
development of the country and has participated extensively in
all economic sectors.
3. Harmonious industrial relations
Kenya has enjoyed decades of stable and harmonious industrial
relations in all sectors of the economy, with trade unions existing
in every sector.
4. Preferential market access
Kenya has the benefit of being geographically positioned centrally
in Africa, hence being the hub of the rest of Africa and to rest
of the world. Kenya is an active member of most regional and
international trade agreements.
Kenya's major trading partners are the COMESA and the EAC members,
the European Union, Japan, the United Arab Emirates and the United
States. The East African market has a strength
of more than 93 million consumers. Investing in Kenya provides investors with access to
the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), which
has a population of over 400 million consumers, and the EAC market.
5. Qualified work force
Kenya has highly developed human resources, which are
considered the best asset in the region. The
Kenyan workforce is regarded as able and enterprising with the
professionals being trained both within the country and at institutions in Europe,
North America, Australia and other parts of the world. Kenya
has the highest number of university and college-educated, English-speaking
professionals in Africa.
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