WASHINGTON, US — President William Ruto has reinforced Kenya’s position as a premier destination for investment, innovation, and sustainable economic growth, hosting a high-level dinner with executives from some of America’s leading companies.
The meeting, led by Kendra L. Gaither, President of the US–Africa Business Center, brought together a diverse group of business leaders, including John Nevergole (CEO, ABD Group), Brian Kelly (CEO, Anzana Electrical Group), John Burns (Founding Partner, The Burns Brothers), Selina Hayes (CEO and President, Hayes International Group), and Tucker Foote (Chief Government Affairs and Policy Officer, Mastercard).
Other notable attendees included Jay Kimmelman, CEO of NewGlobe Education; Nick Lagunowich, President of Emerging Markets at Pfizer; Kwabena Osei-Sarpong, CEO of RIFE International; Adam Cortese, CEO of Sun Africa; Andrew Dabalen, Chief Economist for Africa at the World Bank; and Caitlin Burton, CEO of Zipline Africa.
During the dinner, President Ruto encouraged the business community to expand engagement in public–private partnerships across priority sectors such as energy, ICT, agriculture, health, and climate resilience.
He highlighted Kenya’s young, skilled, and dynamic workforce as a key driver of innovation, offering a competitive advantage for global investors.
Ruto also emphasized the country’s education system as a foundation for research, science, and technology development, urging American firms to leverage their expertise and cutting-edge innovations in Kenya.
“Kenya upholds a robust legal and regulatory framework grounded in the rule of law, guaranteeing certainty, transparency, and security for investors,” the President assured the delegation.
The dinner meeting reflects ongoing efforts to strengthen Kenya–US economic ties and attract investment that supports sustainable growth across critical sectors.
