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CAROLE KARIUKI – CEO KEPSA
Carole Kariuki embodied KEPSA’s Borderless Leadership vision through a year-long journey of diplomacy, strategic engagement, and international economic advocacy in 2025. Her global presence—from Africa to Europe, North America to the Middle East—reshaped how Kenya is perceived on the global stage and strengthened the country’s standing as a top of mind and one of the most competitive investment hubs. It was a year defined not just by travel, but by impact.
Carole’s official 2025 calendar opened in April at the French Week Business Forum, where she set the tone for KEPSA’s international agenda. Addressing French investors, policymakers, and business leaders, Ms. Kariuki confidently positioned Kenya as East Africa’s most attractive investment destination. She highlighted the country’s vibrant innovation ecosystem, a youthful workforce, and a stable business environment that continues to draw global players. The conversations planted the seeds for renewed confidence in Kenya’s economic outlook—momentum she reinforced when she returned to France in November to deepen these partnerships and maintain Kenya’s visibility in the European market.
Barely a month after her Paris engagement, Ms. Kariuki led Kenya’s delegation to the SelectUSA Summit, one of the most influential global platforms for foreign direct investment (FDI). There, she championed opportunities in ICT, agritech, creative industries, and manufacturing—sectors where Kenya continues to enjoy economic competitive advantages and lead regionally. Through direct engagements with the American investors, she unlocked new pathways for collaboration while positioning KEPSA as a critical bridge between Kenyan businesses and global capital and business information flows. Her leadership ensured that Kenyan companies could access new networks, technologies, and supply chains essential for future growth.
June offered yet another milestone when she co-hosted the Choiseul Africa Business Forum. This prestigious gathering brought together political leaders, investors, and private sector influencers from across the continent. Ms. Kariuki used the platform to reinforce KEPSA’s growing role as a continental convenor—one capable of shaping Africa’s unified voice on trade, investment, and entrepreneurship. Her contribution signaled a shift: KEPSA was no longer just a national business organization, but a respected African economic actor, if not the ultimate lead player.
By September, her focus shifted to New York during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), where she took on one of the year’s most critical advocacy roles—championing the renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). She articulated the importance of predictable trade frameworks for African economies while engaging investors and development partners eager to expand their footprint or underpin their foothold in Kenya. Her efforts not only amplified Kenya’s economic narrative but also reinforced the country’s leadership within the broader African policy landscape.
Her global mission continued with strategic engagements in the United Kingdom, where she advanced conversations around green finance, renewable energy, and the digital economy. Shortly afterward, she joined the Iceland Women in Leadership Forum, adding her voice to global dialogues on inclusive leadership and women’s economic empowerment—areas she consistently champions in her daily work.
In North Africa, Ms. Kariuki led a high-level business mission to Morocco, a region increasingly viewed as a gateway between Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. The mission opened new business frontiers in agribusiness, manufacturing, logistics, and renewable energy, while strengthening cross-regional collaboration. It marked a new chapter for KEPSA’s continental growth strategy, encouraging Kenyan businesses to explore emerging markets beyond traditional trade corridors.
Her thought leadership then dipped south in sub-Saharan Africa, when she was invited by the Government of Malawi to address the country’s Cabinet during one of its important top-level retreats, under the chairmanship of President Peter Mutharika. In her remarks, she emphasized the need for African-led solutions to African challenges, particularly in diversifying development financing at a time when global aid structures are shifting. Her message—that Africa holds the human talent, natural resources, and intellectual capacity to drive its own development—deepened KEPSA’s regional influence and resonated with borderless leaders seeking sustainable economic models.
As the year drew to a close, Ms. Kariuki continued her leadership journey at the Africa–Gulf Business Summit in Doha. Here, she championed strategic partnerships in agribusiness, a sector whose importance is rising globally as nations confront food security challenges. Her engagement in Doha not only strengthens ties between Africa and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) but also opens new doors for Kenyan enterprises seeking expansion into the Middle Eastern markets.
By the end of 2025, Ms. Carole Kariuki’s efforts had elevated KEPSA’s profile far beyond Kenya’s borders. Through her relentless diplomacy, sharp economic insight, and ability to build bridges across continents, she has positioned the organization as a global connector and a future-ready influencer in international business. Her year-long journey tells a powerful story: when leadership crosses borders, opportunities follow. Kenya—and Africa—get their feet ahead.
