PS Regina Ombam: Nairobi is London of Africa

By , September 30, 2025

Trade Principal Secretary Regina Ombam has described Nairobi as the “London of Africa,” citing the city’s growing appeal to visitors from across the continent.

Speaking ahead of the upcoming COMESA Summit 2025 on Monday, September 29, 2025,Ombam noted that Nairobi continues to attract African tourists because of its vibrant restaurant scene, world-class shopping malls, and Kenya’s openness as a destination.

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“Nairobi is the London of Africa. People across the continent love coming to Nairobi because of our restaurants and shopping malls. We are receiving many tourists from Africa due to the openness of our country, and this brings in significant foreign exchange earnings. We are now getting much more from tourists coming from within Africa,” she said.

Ombam urged Kenyans to register and actively participate in the COMESA Summit, emphasizing its importance for the continent’s economic future.

“This summit comes at a time when everyone in Africa should be rethinking trade, given the signals in the global trade ecosystem. We have an opportunity to come together as an economic bloc to rethink and harmonise our trade systems within the continent,” she added.

Ombam
Principal Secretary (PS) for the State Department for Trade, Regina Ombam, speaking at a past event. PHOTO/https://web.facebook.com/ParliamentKE

The COMESA Summit 2025 will culminate in a meeting of Heads of State and Government on October 9, 2025, with several key events scheduled, including a horticultural sector forum, a private sector business forum, and a Foreign Ministers’ meeting on October 6, 2025.

Ombam said the summit presents an opportunity for Africa to strengthen regional integration and position itself strategically within the shifting global trade landscape.

“This summit will focus on the African Continental Free Trade Area, which is the next big step for Africa. If we are able to think of Africa and keep our trade Africa-centric, then the heads of state already have a vision of making Africa a competitive market in itself,” she added.

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