Kenya is set to become the first non-European country to participate in Germany’s Annual Citizen’s Festival, Bürgerfest. The event, which will take place in Berlin from September 13 to 14, aims to strengthen cultural connections, enhance tourism, and explore trade and investment opportunities.
This will mark the first time an African nation has taken center stage at the two-day festival, themed “Pamoja – Stronger Together.”
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei highlighted the significance of this milestone, emphasizing its role in showcasing the 60-year relationship between Kenya and Germany. “Kenya sees Germany as a crucial partner in our quest for sustainable development, shared prosperity, and stability. This event will allow us to present our unique culture—food, music, and investment opportunities—to approximately 13,000 attendees from Germany and across Europe,” Sing’oei said.
He added, “Since 1963, our cooperation with Germany has grown across various sectors such as green energy, digital collaboration, skills development, and international security. We look forward to using the Bürgerfest to advance trade, investment, tourism, culture, and people-to-people connections.”
Germany is a major foreign investor in Kenya, with over 100 German companies contributing investments of Sh150 billion. Nairobi also hosts the German Agency for International Cooperation’s largest global office and the regional office of Germany’s top trade promotion agency, AHK.
Tourism Principal Secretary John Ololtua expressed eagerness to use cultural diplomacy to further strengthen the Kenya-Germany relationship. He highlighted the importance of cultural exchanges in fostering understanding and cooperation, citing platforms like the Goethe Institute in Nairobi and the Nairobi International Film Festival.
Ololtua also noted the opportunity to boost tourist arrivals, stating, “Last year, Kenya saw a 23.2% increase in German tourists, reaching 81,359. We aim to build on this success and view Bürgerfest as a chance to further accelerate this growth.”
The Annual Citizen’s Festival, hosted by the German Presidency at Schloss Bellevue, celebrates cultural diversity and honors German nationals engaged in philanthropic work. Each year, a partner country is selected to showcase its culture, with Kenya’s selection reflecting its long-standing diplomatic and economic ties with Germany.
The festival’s first day is attended by around 5,000 guests, including the Federal President, while the second day is open to the public, attracting over 13,000 people.
Additionally, Kenya and Germany will sign a labor agreement during the festival to facilitate the migration of technical and skilled labor for TVET to work in German enterprises.
