Ruto Courts Finnish Investment for Kenya Fibre Expansion and Digital Infrastructure at Helsinki Forum

President William Ruto joined global leaders at the Kultaranta Talks in Finland on Thursday. Alongside President Alexander Stubb, he took part in discussions about how power is becoming more dispersed and technology is advancing at a rapid pace across the world.

The Kenyan President argued that the best response to these shifts lies in stronger multilateral cooperation rather than fragmentation. He called for more representative global governance structures and reforms to the international financial system that reflect current realities.

Ruto made it clear that Africa refuses to remain a passive observer. The continent, he said, is helping to shape the changes underway. Any future global order, in his view, must be written with Africa as an active participant rather than imposed from outside.

On the sidelines of the talks, Ruto held talks with senior executives from Nokia. The Finnish technology firm already operates in Kenya, and the discussions explored opportunities to deepen that involvement in support of national digital goals.

Kenya wants to push ahead with the expansion of its fibre optic network and the development of additional digital infrastructure and ICT hubs. Officials believe these investments will reinforce the country's position as a regional digital hub and gateway to East Africa.

Later in the day, Ruto addressed the Finland-Kenya Business Forum together with President Stubb. He urged Finnish and other European companies to assess Kenya on the basis of its present strengths and future possibilities rather than outdated perceptions of risk.

He pointed to the practical and scalable solutions developed by Kenyan entrepreneurs. M-Pesa was cited as a leading example of local innovation that has achieved global relevance and transformed financial access for millions of people.

Kenya offers investors a dynamic market, strong regional connectivity through existing trade routes, a stable financial ecosystem and a government that has placed digital transformation at the centre of its development strategy.

The message from the forum was direct. Kenya is open for business, open for investment and open for partnerships that deliver mutual benefit. Ruto invited companies ready to work on concrete projects in technology and connectivity.

The focus on digital infrastructure forms part of a broader effort to build the foundations for sustained economic progress. Reliable high-speed connectivity is increasingly important for businesses operating across different sectors and for government service delivery in both urban and rural areas.

Finnish expertise in telecommunications and advanced digital solutions is viewed as complementary to Kenya's entrepreneurial drive. Officials see scope for joint work that produces technologies and systems suited to African market conditions and scalable across the continent.

Ruto's engagements in Helsinki form part of ongoing diplomatic and business outreach aimed at attracting technology partners and investors. The emphasis remains on practical outcomes that improve connectivity and support wider development objectives at home.

Both sides expressed interest in building on existing cooperation. The current level of engagement between Kenya and Finland provides a platform for deeper collaboration in areas where Finnish technology strengths align with Kenya's connectivity and digitalisation priorities.

Discussions also touched on how improved digital networks can support broader economic activities. Better connectivity enables more efficient planning and coordination for projects in various sectors while opening new avenues for innovation and service delivery.

The visit reinforced the importance Kenya places on international partnerships that bring in expertise and capital for infrastructure that underpins long-term growth. Digital backbone investments are considered essential alongside physical infrastructure development across the country.

Ruto is scheduled to continue similar engagements in the coming period. The goal remains consistent: to position Kenya as a credible and attractive destination for serious technology and infrastructure investors from Europe and other regions.