By Urban Shihemi, January 28,2026
Kenya is rapidly emerging as Africa’s most attractive destination for investment in the food and agribusiness sector. With its strategic location, modern infrastructure, commitment to green energy, and thriving technology ecosystem, Kenya is uniquely positioned to lead the continent’s food economy into a new era of growth and global integration. This rising prominence will be firmly cemented with the launch of **Gulfood360 Africa/Kenya** in Nairobi from May 4 to 6, 2027 — the first-ever African edition of the world’s leading food and beverage sourcing platform.
The decision to host Gulfood360 Africa in Kenya reflects the country’s outstanding capabilities as a gateway for trade and investment across Africa. Backed by strong government support and reinforced by the Kenya–United Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), this initiative aims to unlock substantial foreign direct investment, strengthen regional agribusiness value chains, and accelerate Kenya’s industrial transformation.
The country’s rise as Africa’s agribusiness investment hub is built on several key strengths. The country has made significant investments in world-class infrastructure, including the expansion of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, upgrades to regional airports, modernization of the Port of Mombasa, and development of multimodal trade corridors linking East and Central Africa.
Energy is another cornerstone of Kenya’s competitiveness. Through its visionary 10,000 MW clean energy program, Kenya generates over 90% of its electricity from renewable sources such as geothermal, wind, solar, and hydro power. This reliable and cost-effective green energy supply offers investors an enormous advantage, enabling sustainable industrial growth while meeting increasingly important global environmental standards.
Kenya’s agricultural sector is central to its economy, contributing more than a quarter of GDP and supporting millions of livelihoods. As a top producer and exporter of tea, coffee, horticultural products, livestock, and processed foods, Kenya serves as a natural entry point into Africa’s vast agricultural market. Its strategic position as a gateway to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) — which connects a market of 1.4 billion people — enables investors to tap into a rapidly growing food economy projected to reach $567 billion by 2032.
What sets Kenya apart is its leadership in innovation and technology. Known as Africa’s Silicon Savannah, the country is at the forefront of digital innovation in agritech, logistics, climate-smart agriculture, and artificial intelligence. This dynamic tech ecosystem provides cutting-edge solutions that improve efficiency, sustainability, and supply chain transparency in the food sector. Investors stand to benefit from Kenya’s ability to combine traditional agriculture with next-generation technologies to build resilient, future-ready food systems.
Kenya’s government and industry leaders view Gulfood360 Africa/Kenya as a game-changing platform to attract investment, enhance export capacity, and promote value addition within the agricultural economy.
Hon. Lee Kinyanjui, Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade and Industry, said, “Hosting Gulfood360 Africa/Kenya demonstrates Kenya’s strength and readiness to lead Africa’s food economy. This platform will mobilize investments that connect producers to the world and position Kenya as the continent’s prime investment destination.”
Mutahi Kagwe, Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development, emphasized the transformational potential, adding, “Agriculture remains the backbone of Kenya’s economy. Gulfood360 Africa/Kenya will unlock new capital, encourage innovation, and open global markets for Kenyan farmers and agribusinesses.”
Speaking on the significance of Gulfood360 Africa/Kenya, Amb. Philip Thigo, Special Envoy on Technology, said the launch is a strategic expression of Kenya’s commitment to food security, green industrialisation, and inclusive growth through technology. He noted that, together with hosting AI Everything x GITEX Kenya, the event firmly establishes the country as Africa’s premier platform for global trade and technology diplomacy.
With the launch of Gulfood360 Africa/Kenya, Nairobi will become the central hub where international buyers, investors, and producers converge. This will translate into increased investments in infrastructure, technology, and agro-industrial projects that will drive Kenya’s food sector growth while creating jobs and boosting economic development across the region.The upcoming Gulfood360 Africa/Kenya event will be a landmark moment in establishing Kenya as Africa’s leading investment hotspot for the future of food.
