President William Ruto holds a meeting with Executive Vice President of the European Commission in Charge of Tech and Digital Connectivity Ms. Henna Virkkunen on June 8, 2026 / PCSPresident William Ruto has secured a series of major economic and digital partnerships during high-level engagements in Brussels, Belgium, including funding and policy agreements aimed at accelerating Kenya’s digital transformation, trade, and regional connectivity.
Among the key outcomes is the €102 million (about Sh15.3 billion) under the EU–Kenya Digital Partnership, which will support digital transformation initiatives, expand connectivity, and create employment opportunities in the technology sector.
The President also welcomed €37 million (approximately Sh5.6 billion) in European Union funding for the extension of the Blue Raman submarine cable into Africa, a project expected to strengthen regional internet connectivity and reduce bandwidth costs across participating countries.
Kenya also advanced discussions on the EU–Kenya Digital Dialogue and Data Adequacy process, a critical step that could position the country as the first in Africa to obtain an EU data adequacy decision. The move is expected to facilitate digital trade, attract investment, and unlock jobs in the tech industry.
In addition, President Ruto launched the Kenya–Benelux Chamber of Commerce, aimed at expanding trade and investment flows between Kenya and the Benelux region, while also boosting export opportunities and job creation.
The discussions further included broader talks on strengthening Kenya–Belgium trade and investment ties, including support for regional transport infrastructure linking the Port of Mombasa to the Democratic Republic of Congo, following engagements with King Philippe.
The series of agreements underscores Kenya’s growing focus on positioning itself as a regional digital and logistics hub, while deepening economic ties with European partners.
Earlier, President Ruto called for a new era of mutually beneficial partnership with Belgium, urging European manufacturers to stop extracting raw materials and instead invest in local value addition.
Speaking at the Kenya-Belgium Business Roundtable in Brussels, Ruto emphasised that the relationship must evolve beyond historical paradigms of dependency.
"So let us be clear about the partnership we propose today," President Ruto stated.
"It is not built on dependency but on sovereign equality, not built on aid but on partnership that is mutually beneficial, and not built on extraction but on investment that generates value for all."
Reflecting on the historical ties between the two nations, Ruto noted that Belgium was among the first European countries to recognise Kenya's sovereignty back in 1963.
Six decades later, he argued, the conversation must expand to reimagine the broader partnership between Africa and Europe.
The President challenged the global narrative that views Africa through the lens of crisis, asserting that the continent holds the keys to resolving major global challenges such as food security, energy transitions, and shifting demographics.
"Africa is not part of the problem the world is trying to solve," Ruto declared. "On the defining challenges of our time - food, energy, climate, demography- Africa is in fact the larger part of the solution."
He highlighted Africa's formidable economic and natural assets, including abundant natural resources, vast clean-energy potential, two-thirds of the world’s remaining arable land, and the youngest population on earth.
"The world cannot feed itself – now and going into the future- without Africa’s land, nor can it power its future without Africa’s energy, or grow without Africa’s people," he added.
Despite this immense potential, President Ruto pointed out that Africa remains constrained by an outdated international financial architecture.
