President William Ruto on Saturday, May 6, wooed a group of high-profile dignitaries in a bid to secure foreign investment into the country.
The President, during his European tour, engaged with notable figures such as the former United States Deputy Chief of Staff, Jim Messina, who was widely acclaimed as former President Barack Obama's fixer during his ten-year tenure. Messina has over the years advised over 13 presidents and 5 prime ministers on five continents.
Another billionaire involved in the high-stakes meeting included Globeleq CEO Michael Scholey, whose company secured Ksh8.9 billion to develop a 35-megawatt power plant in Nakuru County in January 2023.
Australian Engineer Michael Sort, who is among the stakeholders in the high grand falls dam in Tharaka Nithi County, was also in the meeting.
Other investors included United Kingdom's Nick Candy, Paul Kempe, Severing Luyali, Onur Kizilot and Afsher-Nejad whose company, United Green is set to invest Ksh51 billion in an agricultural project in Kisumu County.
Flanked by Kenya High Commission to the United Kingdom, Ruto necessitated the importance of cultivating a vibrant framework that would create confidence for investors to be part of revolutionary projects in the country.
"Kenya is cultivating a vibrant, predictable and stable institutional framework with irresistible incentives and guarantees that will stimulate the flow of foreign investments into the country.
"In the long run, this will introduce world-class technologies and expertise, create more jobs for the youth and spur our economic growth. In London, wooed a group of investors from the United Kingdom who have shown interest in putting their funds in agriculture, energy, water and housing sectors in Kenya," Ruto stated.
Ruto's European tour began in London on Saturday, May 6, and proceeded to the Netherlands on Sunday, May 7, where he met King Willem-Alexander. Thereafter, he will tour Israel at the invitation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
During the meetings, the primary agenda will be new ways of cooperation and strengthening existing partnerships between the countries in key areas such as trade, investment, agriculture, and innovation among others.
Recently, the president received over 14 global leaders within one week. Among these included Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the World Trade Organization (WTO) Director General, the Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva.
Others included UN Deputy SG, Amina Jane Mohammed, Doreen Bogdan, the SG of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Canadian Foreign Minister, Melanie Joly, AfriExim Bank President, Benedict Oramah and International Fund of Agricultural Development (IFAD) president Alvaro Lario.
