Ruto Secures Sh15.3 Billion EU Digital Investment Deal to Boost Kenya’s Digital Economy
President William Ruto has secured Sh15.3 billion (€102 million) in new investments under the EU–Kenya Digital Partnership aimed at accelerating digital transformation, expanding connectivity, and creating economic opportunities for youth and businesses.
In a statement shared on social media, President Ruto said Kenya also welcomed €37 million in support for the Blue Raman submarine cable’s Africa extension, which will connect Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya, and Tanzania. The project is expected to strengthen regional connectivity, lower bandwidth costs, and reinforce Kenya’s position as a leading digital hub in Africa.
“We welcome €102 million (approximately Sh15.3 billion) in new investments under the EU–Kenya Digital Partnership to accelerate digital transformation, expand connectivity and create opportunities for our youth and businesses,” Ruto said.
The President made the remarks following talks with the Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, Henna Virkkunen, focused on deepening cooperation between Kenya and the European Union in trade, innovation, and the digital economy.
He said the discussions also reviewed progress in implementing the EU–Kenya Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), under which Kenya’s exports to the European Union have increased by more than 20 percent since its entry into force, supporting job creation and expanding markets for farmers and manufacturers.
“We also welcomed progress under the EU–Kenya Digital Partnership, particularly on the Digital Dialogue and the Data Adequacy process, which will strengthen digital trade, attract investment and enhance Kenya’s position as a leading digital hub and the world’s 11th-ranked Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) destination,” he added.
President Ruto said the partnership with the European Union continues to drive investment, innovation, and shared prosperity.
In a separate statement, the European Commission said the European Union and Kenya are deepening their strategic partnership on trade, digital transformation, and sustainable investment under the Global Gateway strategy, aimed at boosting mutual economic growth and strengthening Kenya’s role as a key EU partner in Africa and globally.
The EU said the commitments were announced in Brussels during meetings between Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy Henna Virkkunen and President Ruto.
As part of the cooperation framework, the EU and Kenya will invest in clean transport and trade facilitation along the Northern Corridor, which links Mombasa to Kisangani, and expand high-speed internet connectivity to more than 3,000 public offices, schools, health centres, and digital hubs across the country.
The discussions also advanced cooperation under the EU–Kenya Strategic Dialogue, including progress on the Data Adequacy process intended to enable safe cross-border data flows and support digital trade and innovation. The EU noted positive progress and expressed its intention to conclude the process soon.
Both sides reaffirmed commitment to the EU–Kenya Economic Partnership Agreement, calling for resolution of outstanding trade issues to ensure full implementation and maximum benefit for businesses in both regions.
On digital policy, the EU proposed deeper cooperation in areas including artificial intelligence, digital identity, and secure connectivity.
The EU also announced additional funding under the Global Gateway initiative, including €17 million to modernise the Northern Corridor into a cleaner and more efficient trade route, €15 million to expand Kenya’s national fibre-optic network, €12 million to support digitalisation of land registration systems, €10 million to strengthen Kenya’s Digital Transformation Centre, and €16 million to support the transition of refugee camps into integrated communities.
The European Union remains Kenya’s largest export market and a key partner in security, investment, and development cooperation.
President Ruto departed the country on Saturday, June 7, for official visits to Belgium and Norway, as well as a State Visit to Finland.