The European Union and Kenya are strengthening their strategic partnership to accelerate cooperation in trade, digital transformation and sustainable investment, aiming to
unlock shared economic growth and deliver tangible benefits for businesses and citizens in both regions. The renewed engagement underscores Kenya’s growing importance as a key EU partner in Africa and in global multilateral cooperation.
The commitments were announced today in Brussels during a high-level meeting between the European Commission’s Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, Henna Virkkunen, and the President of the Republic of Kenya, William Ruto.
Advancing infrastructure, trade, and digital connectivity under Global Gateway
Under the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, both partners agreed to scale up investments in sustainable infrastructure and digital connectivity. Key initiatives include support for clean transport and improved trade facilitation along the Northern Corridor—one of East Africa’s most important logistics routes—as well as the expansion of high-speed internet connectivity to more than 3,000 public institutions across Kenya, including schools, health facilities and digital innovation hubs.
The discussions also advanced cooperation under the EU–Kenya Strategic Dialogue, particularly in digital policy, and welcomed progress in the ongoing EU–Kenya data adequacy process. This step is expected to enable secure and trusted cross-border data flows, strengthening digital trade and innovation. The EU noted the positive trajectory of the assessment and its intention to conclude the process as soon as possible.
Strengthening trade and economic cooperation
Both sides reaffirmed their strong commitment to the implementation of the EU–Kenya Economic Partnership Agreement, emphasizing the importance of resolving outstanding issues to ensure full benefits for businesses on both sides.
The EU also proposed deepening cooperation in emerging digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, digital identity systems, and secure connectivity infrastructure, as part of a broader effort to enhance innovation and competitiveness.
New EU investment package for Kenya
As part of the reinforced partnership, the European Union announced a new investment package under Global Gateway, including:
€17 million to modernise the Northern Corridor into a cleaner, more efficient trade and transport route linking Mombasa to Kisangani, including support for cold-chain logistics, modal shift from air to sea transport, and trade facilitation reforms.
€15 million to expand Kenya’s national fibre-optic backbone and extend high-speed connectivity to underserved regions.
€12 million to support the digitalisation of land registration systems, improving secure access to land ownership records for households, farmers and businesses.
€10 million to strengthen the Digital Transformation Centre Kenya, fostering AI development, digital skills, and an enabling regulatory environment for innovation and digital trade.
€16 million to support the transformation of refugee-hosting areas into integrated communities, reflecting Kenya’s continued role in regional stability and humanitarian leadership.
Background: a long-standing strategic partnership
The European Union and Kenya maintain a deep and longstanding partnership across trade, development, security, and innovation. The EU remains Kenya’s largest export market and a key partner in regional development and investment.
The EU–Kenya Economic Partnership Agreement was concluded on 19 June 2023, signed on 18 December 2023, and received European Parliament consent on 29 February 2024.
A data adequacy dialogue was launched on 7 May 2024 to facilitate trusted personal data flows between the EU and Kenya, supporting participation in the EU’s digital economy, projected to exceed €800 billion by 2025.
More recently, on 18 March 2026, the EU and Kenya launched the EU–Kenya Digital Dialogue, focusing on telecommunications infrastructure, artificial intelligence ecosystems, and digital public infrastructure, further deepening cooperation in the digital sphere.
Together, these initiatives reflect a shared ambition to build resilient value chains, strengthen economic sovereignty, and position Kenya as a key regional hub for trade, innovation and investment under the Global Gateway framework. Photo by DEMOSH from Nairobi, Kenya, Wikimedia commons.