President William Ruto has used his high-profile appearance at the London Stock Exchange (LSE) Market Opening Ceremony to call for stronger regional cooperation in capital market development across Africa, positioning Kenya as a gateway for cross-border investment and financial integration on the continent.
Delivering remarks during the symbolic bell-ringing event, President Ruto emphasized that Africa’s future lies in building deep, inclusive, and interconnected financial ecosystems that attract long-term investment and reduce dependency on external debt.
“As Africa looks to scale up capital markets and align them with the continent’s vast potential, continued collaboration with global partners and between African economies is vital,” he stated.
The event, part of the Africa Debate Forum, brought together leading investors, policymakers, and development partners, with Kenya’s delegation taking center stage in pushing for shared financial infrastructure and harmonized regulations across African stock markets.
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Ruto said Kenya, already a leader in fintech and mobile money, is now focused on elevating the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) as a regional capital market hub—driven by reforms, a more investor-friendly policy environment, and strategic asset listings.
He emphasized the government’s commitment to supporting cross-listings, green bonds, gender-based investing, and digitized trading systems to boost intra-African portfolio flows.
“We are not just reforming our markets for Kenya—we are aligning them to serve East Africa and the broader African continent,” Ruto added.
President Ruto praised UK-led initiatives such as Mobilist and FSD Africa, which are supporting capacity building, product diversification, and financial inclusion across African markets—from Nairobi to Lagos.
He noted that these partnerships have enabled innovation in climate finance, SME funding, and investor protection mechanisms.
“Through these partnerships, we are unlocking capital for sustainable, inclusive development while enhancing market confidence across the continent,” he said.
