President William Ruto has unveiled a raft of sweeping reforms aimed at attracting investment and improving the ease of doing business in Kenya, as the government moves to position the country as a competitive global investment destination.
Speaking on Wednesday, March 25, during the Fourth Kenya International Investment Conference(KIICO), the President said the reforms are designed to eliminate barriers that have historically slowed investment flows into the country.
“We are removing the bottlenecks that have made it difficult to invest and do business in Kenya,” Ruto said. “Our focus is to create a predictable, efficient and investor-friendly environment.” He added.
Among the key changes is the zero-rating of Value Added Tax (VAT) on exported services, a move expected to boost Kenya’s digital economy.
The government has also scrapped the 30 per cent local ownership requirement for ICT firms to open up the sector to more global investors.
“We have zero-rated VAT on exported services and removed restrictive ownership requirements in the ICT sector to unlock its full potential,” he stated.
To streamline processes, the government has established a One-Stop Investment Centre that will allow investors to access permits and licences online.
“Investors will no longer have to move from office to office. We are digitising approvals through a single platform,” Ruto said.
The President also announced the development of an Investment Projects Catalogue to showcase ready opportunities across key sectors.
On energy, Ruto said reforms are underway to ensure stable and affordable power supply for industries.
“We are expanding power generation and implementing tariff reforms to guarantee reliable and cost-effective electricity,” he noted.
To boost investor confidence, the government is also modernising bilateral investment frameworks and enhancing tax clarity.
“We are ensuring faster VAT refunds and clearer tax rules to improve liquidity and predictability for investors,” he added.
Ruto further revealed plans to align Export Processing Zones (EPZs) and Special Economic Zones (SEZs) into a simpler and more transparent system.
The reforms will be anchored in upcoming legislation, including the fast-tracked Business Laws Bill 2026 and the Invest Kenya Bill.
“These laws will accelerate approvals and strengthen support for investors coming into our country,” Ruto said.
The measures form part of a broader strategy to boost economic growth by making Kenya more competitive and attractive to both local and international investors.