By: Kanto
Kai Okanta
Kenya and Finland are
deepening cooperation across technology, investment and business, with
officials and private-sector leaders meeting in Nairobi to explore
opportunities for stronger commercial ties.
Kenya’s Special Envoy on
Technology, Ambassador Philip Thigo, said he joined H.E. Riina-Riikka Heikka,
Ambassador of Finland to Kenya, Daniel Mainda, CEO of NIFC Africa, John
Mwendwa, CEO of KenInvest, colleagues from Team Finland and business leaders for
a Kenya–Finland business convening in Nairobi.
The engagement comes amid
broader efforts by Kenya and Finland to strengthen cooperation in artificial
intelligence and emerging technologies. Earlier in September, Thigo held
discussions with Heikka and Finland’s Deputy Head of Mission Leo Svahnback on follow-up
to the Kenya-Finland State Visit, including cooperation involving Nokia and
ICEYE in connectivity, Earth observation and AI applications.
Thigo said the bilateral
relationship had gained momentum during the year, pointing to President William
Ruto’s State Visit to Finland in June, which brought the two governments and
private sectors closer around investment, technology and innovation.
He also cited the meeting
between President Ruto and President Alexander Stubb at UNGA81 in New York,
where the two leaders co-hosted discussions on AI and the role of middle
powers, extending the Kenya-Finland partnership into the global AI governance conversation.
Kenya also joined Finland,
Norway and other countries in the “A Call for Control of Frontier AI Models,”
which calls for advanced AI systems to remain under human direction, oversight
and control, alongside measures including mandatory pre-deployment testing and
independent evaluation.
Turning to the business
dimension of the relationship, Thigo said the Nairobi engagement focused on
creating stronger links between Finnish and Kenyan businesses.
He said the discussions were
centred on more Finnish companies looking at Kenya, more Kenyan businesses
connecting into Finland and Europe, as well as opportunities for investment,
technology partnerships and joint ventures that can scale into African markets.
Thigo thanked Ambassador
Heikka, Daniel Mainda, John Mwendwa, NIFC Africa, KenInvest and Team Finland
for helping move the relationship from diplomacy and global cooperation towards
investment and enterprise.
