Kenya is seeking to deepen its economic ties with Norway, with President William Ruto urging Norwegian investors to explore opportunities in the country and expand their presence across Africa.
Speaking at the Norway-Kenya Business Forum in Oslo on Tuesday, the President positioned Kenya as a prime investment destination, pointing to its youthful labour force, expanding economy and strategic location on the continent.
He also highlighted the country’s progress in clean energy, saying it offers a competitive advantage for investors looking for sustainable markets.
“Kenya brings a young and dynamic workforce, a rapidly growing economy, a strategic location at the heart of Africa, and one of the cleanest energy systems in the world,” he said at the Norway-Kenya Business Forum in Oslo on Tuesday.
“Norway brings world-leading expertise in clean energy, maritime technology, sustainable fisheries, and long-term capital backed by a sovereign wealth fund of $2 trillion that stands as a global model of patient and responsible investment,” he added.
The Head of State noted that cooperation between the two countries is already influencing Kenya’s development agenda, particularly in electric mobility, blue economy projects and fisheries.
Despite the growing partnership, he pointed out that trade volumes remain relatively low, with exchanges standing at about $54 million in 2025. He said there is significant room to scale this up to $500 million by 2030 through targeted collaboration.
The forum was attended by First Lady Rachel Ruto, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Trade Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui and other senior officials accompanying the President.
Earlier engagements in Oslo saw the President meet members of the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association, where discussions focused on strengthening Kenya’s maritime and blue economy sectors.
The talks yielded a commitment from Wilhemsen Ship Management and other shipping firms to employ 120 Kenyan seafarers by the end of the year, with plans to expand the number to 1,000 by 2030.
In another meeting, President Ruto held talks with Norway’s Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg, who shared insights on the management of Norway’s sovereign wealth model, anchored by a pension fund valued at over $2 trillion.
Kenya is currently exploring legislation to establish a similar framework to manage future revenues from natural resources.
The President also met Crown Prince Haakon at the Royal Palace and later paid a courtesy call to the Speaker of Norway’s Parliament, Masud Gharakhani, as part of efforts to strengthen diplomatic relations.
He concluded his engagements at the Oslo Forum 2026 High-Level Public Event, where he called for reforms in global governance structures to ensure fairer representation for Africa and the wider Global South.
The series of meetings signals Kenya’s broader strategy of leveraging international partnerships to attract investment, create employment opportunities and strengthen its position in emerging global economic sectors, particularly clean energy and maritime trade.
