The President of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI), Dr. Erick Rutto, today hosted Kenya’s incoming High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, Ambassador Maurice Makoloo, ahead of the commencement of his new diplomatic assignment.

During the meeting, Ambassador Makoloo engaged with the Chamber to gain insights into the key opportunities and priorities the Kenyan private sector is pursuing in the UK market, particularly in trade, services, and potential areas of collaboration. He emphasized the importance of establishing a strong and strategic partnership between the Kenyan Embassy in London and KNCCI to advance bilateral trade and investment relations.

In his remarks, Dr. Rutto outlined several opportunities available to Kenyan enterprises in the UK market, including export expansion for tea, coffee, horticultural products, fruits, and vegetables. He further noted the potential for joint value addition ventures through partnerships between Kenyan and UK firms, which can enhance competitiveness and create jobs locally.

Dr. Rutto also highlighted Kenya’s interest in exploring the UK’s financial ecosystem for enhanced access to finance and investment capital, given its position as a global financial hub. Additional areas of mutual interest identified include  where both countries can benefit from shared expertise and sustainable investment models.

The meeting also discussed plans for a Kenya–UK Trade Mission scheduled for 2026, to be spearheaded by KNCCI in collaboration with the Kenyan Embassy in London. The mission aims to deepen trade relations, open new export markets, and strengthen business partnerships between enterprises from both nations.

The engagement underscored KNCCI’s commitment to strengthening public-private diplomacy and ensuring that Kenya’s private sector remains a driving force in advancing the country’s trade and investment agenda globally.