Why Ruto will net investors in US visit

He says that Kenya’s political stability, skilled human capital, and status as the region’s aviation hub solidify the country’s chances in the race for American foreign investments.

Declan adds that shifting policy positions has been a major worry for foreign investors, coupled with tax regimes that discourage business and “opaque and contradictory” regulations that startups face.

“Last year, and the year before, we got a lot of taxes that got snapped into place, and aggressive revenue targets…if we revise those rapidly as opposed to phasing them out, that creates a certain degree of uncertainty, and that’s a difficult thing for businesses,” he explained.

Despite the policy setback, Declan says that American companies looking to invest in Kenya are more excited about the digital economy, and the agriculture and export sectors that are in direct alignment with President Ruto’s priority areas.

Further, he argues that Kenya is more investment-ready compared to her peers in the continent and needs to brand itself as a moderate-risk investor destination to counter countries like Nigeria which attracts high-risk investors in its oil and gas industry.

An official invite from President Biden in February to President Ruto indicates that he will be hosted at the White House on May 23 to mark sixty years of Kenya – US diplomatic ties.