Kenya stakes claim as Africa's next innovation and deal-making capital
Enterprise
By
James Wanzala
| Dec 03, 2025
Kenya is fast emerging as Africa’s premier innovation and business execution hub as global investors, financiers and policy leaders increasingly view Nairobi not just as a market gateway, but as a centre where ideas are converted into deals and regional business strategies.
This shift was pronounced during the Trade and Investment Roadshow in Nairobi last week, where more than 300 participants from 35 countries converged to discuss new pathways for enterprise growth across East Africa.
The event, hosted by Equity Bank, highlighted Kenya’s evolution from a promising frontier economy to a sophisticated ecosystem of entrepreneurship, financing and cross-border connectivity. Equity Group CEO James Mwangi set the tone by urging participants to treat East Africa as a region ready to do business at scale, not merely a developing market waiting for maturity.
He cast Kenya as a breeding ground for young talent and digital-first economic engagement. “Africa is on a journey of very rapid growth for a prolonged period,” said Mwangi.
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“More than 75 per cent of our population is under 35. They are digital natives. They will be your customers and partners for the next two decades.” Rather than passive investment exploration, Mwangi encouraged the summit to function as what he called a “transactional arena.” “Please don’t go home with your idea,” he said. “It may not be the winning idea, but it may trigger the winning idea. Spend more time in the one-on-one meetings, not just having a cup of tea, but signing agreements, and shaking hands as you agree.”
A key message repeated throughout the forum was that Kenya’s business appeal extends beyond geographic positioning.
With its networked financial systems, Nairobi has become a platform for executing deals affecting companies across Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, DRC, and South Sudan.
“We are systemic in six markets, and our influence will open doors for you,” Mwangi said, noting that Equity’s shareholder base, including IFC and the Norwegian sovereign wealth fund, gave it depth to facilitate serious capital flows. The country’s economic reputation also drew praise from Lord Hugo Swire of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, who pointed to Kenya’s institutional evolution.
“Kenya and its growth never cease to amaze me. The opportunities are enormous, and I am astonished by what this country has become,” said Swire.
Swire additionally urged investors to leverage Commonwealth trade efficiencies, remarking that business within the bloc benefits from a documented cost advantage.
“It is cheaper for one Commonwealth company to do business with another, an audited advantage of 19 per cent. Don’t forget the Commonwealth. Look closely at the opportunities within it,” he said.
The conversation eventually widened to Africa’s continental role in the coming decades.
IFC’s Regional Industry Director Aliou Maiga said Africa’s economic future will be shaped not only by its demographic strength, but by its willingness to cultivate bold thinkers and innovators.
“Africa needs people who think big and make things happen,” he said. “If we are able to create the right conditions and enable people to realise their potential, the future of this continent will be secured.”
He lauded East Africa’s position as a hub for tech-driven enterprise and breakthrough startups, describing it as a driver of continental modernisation and job creation. “East Africa is at the forefront of innovation, leading the way in technology, entrepreneurship, and creative solutions across Africa,” he said.
The Nairobi roadshow is part of an expanding programme of regional investment connectivity, coming on the heels of a successful trade mission in Rwanda earlier this month.