Business leaders, entrepreneurs, and partners from across Kenya and Australia gathered on Friday 5 September 2026 for a Kenya Australia Chamber of Commerce (KACC) breakfast and networking event—a morning of real conversation over coffee that underscored a broader shift: African communities, and the Kenyan community in particular, are increasingly turning to structured business meetings to develop entrepreneurial capacity and strengthen commercial links with Australia.
From new introductions to familiar faces reconnecting, every table had a partnership in the making. The energy in the room was palpable as attendees arrived early, ready to build bridges that span two continents.
A view of the event held at Curtin University’s city campus in Perth
A Growing Movement
Yesterday’s event is part of a larger trend. The Kenyan diaspora in Australia is estimated at approximately 35,000 people, many working in healthcare, engineering, information technology, academia, and entrepreneurship. Officials have increasingly recognised this community as “a key link for investment, trade and knowledge exchange between the two countries”. As one Kenyan official put it, the diaspora is seen as “a vital bridge for commercial ties, investment”.
This is not just rhetoric. In July 2026, Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei visited Australia under the country’s Special Visitors Programme—an invitation Canberra reserves for leaders it considers strategic partners. The visit was billed as “Australia’s first diaspora-led Kenya Australia summit,” creating “a working platform for trade and investment conversations”. Discussions focused on expanding trade and investment, strengthening research partnerships, and promoting skills development.
A view of the breakfast
The Chamber strengthening Institutional ties
The Kenya Australia Chamber of Commerce (KACC), which hosted yesterday’s breakfast, has been at the heart of this growing business ecosystem since its founding in 2013. Established in Perth with the support of the former Australian High Commissioner to Kenya, H.E. Geoff Tooth, the Chamber was created to deepen bilateral trade while providing a platform for collaboration across industries.
Over a decade later, KACC serves as “a connector and advocate, giving businesses a trusted pathway into diverse sectors such as banking, finance, energy, agriculture, construction, and manufacturing”. Members often highlight “the credibility and recognition the Chamber brings,” with one noting: “KACC has not only connected us to partners but given our business legitimacy in both markets. It’s more than networking—it’s empowerment”.
The Chamber has marked significant milestones over the years, “from building bilateral networks and advocating for policy support to hosting events that celebrate collaboration and growth”.
The networking breakfast also builds on a foundation of formal agreements between Kenyan and Australian business institutions. In March 2024, KACC and the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at enhancing bilateral trade relations. The agreement allows traders from both nations to market goods freely and collaborate on trade tours and other initiatives.
These institutional efforts are yielding results at the highest levels of government. In October 2025, Kenya and Australia renewed their commitment to strengthen bilateral relations that have spanned six decades, with both nations pledging closer cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, and mining. Kenya has expressed keen interest in elevating its relationship with Australia to the level of an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).
Trade , Investment Flows and A Community of Entrepreneurs
The economic relationship between the two countries, while still developing, shows significant potential. In 2023, Kenya exported goods worth approximately $35.3 million to Australia, while imports from Australia stood at about $118 million.
More strikingly, Australia has become Kenya’s fastest-growing and fourth-largest source of remittances, with flows reaching USD 112.8 million in the first half of 2025—a 47.8% increase. This surge reflects the growing economic footprint of the Kenyan diaspora in Australia and the strengthening people-to-people ties that underpin commercial relationships.
More female African professionals are getting interested in business entrepreneurship
Sectors of particular interest include mining, renewable energy, agriculture, higher education, and digital technology—areas where Australian expertise offers clear synergies with Kenya’s economic transformation agenda. Australia has also shown interest in Kenya’s rare minerals sector, joining global powers in exploring the estimated $62 billion (Sh18 trillion) worth of deposits in Mrima Hills, Kwale county.
The Kenyan community in Australia is not just a diaspora—it is a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem. Members are engaged in various professional services including nursing, online retail businesses, migration agencies, and restaurants. Community organisations, social and investment clubs have created “eco-systems with other African nationals” that foster business collaboration.
This entrepreneurial spirit was on full display at yesterday’s breakfast. As one attendee reflected, every table had a partnership in the making. The ideas sparked over coffee yesterday are exactly the kind that translate into sustainable ventures, connecting ambitions abroad with opportunities back home.
Looking Ahead
The momentum shows no signs of slowing. KACC continues to expand its vision with new partnerships, advocacy efforts, and community-focused initiatives. Its ongoing programs are likely to further cement its role as a platform where businesses and individuals thrive together across two continents.
For African communities in Australia—and the Kenyan community in particular—the message is clear: business networking is no longer a sideline activity. It is central to how diaspora communities build economic power, forge commercial links with Australia, and create lasting value for both nations.
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The Kenya Australia Chamber of Commerce (KACC) was founded in 2013 and continues to serve as a vital bridge for entrepreneurs, professionals, and businesses across both nations. For more information, visit their official website at kenauschamber.org.
J.D. Sharady | AMA contributor
