The Kenya Investment Authority (Invest Kenya) and the Outsourcing Alliance of Kenya (OAK) have entered into a strategic partnership aimed at attracting high-value investments in the Global Business Services (GBS), Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), and Information Technology Enabled Services (ITES) sectors.
Invest Kenya's Chief Executive Officer, John Mwendwa, highlighted that the agreement will enhance collaboration in areas such as investment promotion, investor facilitation, market intelligence, policy advocacy, skills development, and international branding.
Key objectives of the partnership include:
- Streamlining the investor journey through combined One-Stop-Centre facilitation and dedicated aftercare services.
- Strengthening Kenya's position as a business-friendly and competitive destination for technology-driven investments.
- Driving economic diversification and creating quality employment opportunities, particularly for Kenyan youth.
- Enhancing skills transfer and increasing Kenya's export of services.
Jonathan Beardsley, interim CEO of OAK, noted that the memorandum of understanding (MoU) demonstrates a unified approach to marketing Kenya globally. The partnership aims to establish a seamless 'Single Front Door' for international companies seeking to expand AI-enabled and digital services in Africa.
As part of the collaboration, Invest Kenya and OAK will co-manage an investor pipeline to identify and convert high-value leads. They will also expedite operational setups, including Special Economic Zone (SEZ) facilitation and critical work permit processing. Joint go-to-market strategies targeting the US and European markets will be implemented, alongside an aftercare programme to support long-term sector retention.
This alliance also seeks to foster stronger public-private sector cooperation to build a resilient, innovative, and globally competitive outsourcing ecosystem that promotes digital transformation and inclusive economic growth in Kenya.
