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Bridging Continents: A Conversation onBusiness, Investment, and the Role of theDiaspora

  • Writer: Tallulah Patricia B
    Tallulah Patricia B
  • Apr 1
  • 6 min read

Updated: Apr 4


A Conversation with Collins Kotia on Economic Opportunities in Kenya and the African Diaspora’s Role in Sustainable Growth


By Tallulah Patricia Bär



Introduction: A Meeting of Minds


On a recent afternoon, I sat down for a conversation with Collins Kotia, Founder and CEO of

Zaria Mobility, a Nairobi-based business advisor and entrepreneur deeply involved in helping multinational companies and investors enter the East African market. What started as a casual conversation quickly became a deep dive into Kenya’s evolving economic landscape, the challenges and opportunities for foreign investment, and most importantly, the role of the African diaspora in shaping the continent’s future.


As someone who is building AfroSwissters, a platform for Afro-descendant women in

Switzerland to connect, heal, grow, and thrive, I have long been interested in how diaspora

communities can play a more strategic role in Africa’s development and vice versa. My conversation with Collins affirmed what I have always believed: there is untapped potential in bridging African expertise, diaspora wealth, and ethical business investments.


Here is our conversation, structured to provide insights, challenges, and possible solutions for African diasporans, investors, and policymakers.


The Interview


Tallulah: Collins, thank you for taking the time to speak with me. Your work focuses on helping multinationals and investors establish themselves in Kenya. Can you tell us a bit more about your company and how you support businesses?


Collins: Thank you, Tallulah. It’s great to have this discussion. My company is based in Nairobi, and we focus on market entry strategies for foreign investors and multinationals. Initially, our core business was providing mobility services—helping companies relocate staff, obtain work permits, and set up operations smoothly. Over time, we expanded into business advisory services, supporting multinationals, embassies, and investors in various industries, including technology, cosmetics, agriculture, and mobility. We help them navigate regulatory challenges, understand market conditions, and find the right local partners.

Foreign Investment in Kenya: Opportunities and Challenges


Tallulah: What sectors are currently experiencing the most growth in Kenya? Where do you see the best opportunities for investment?

Collins: Kenya is a regional economic hub, and we are seeing major interest in several key sectors:

  1. E-Mobility: Companies like eWaka and Kobia are scaling rapidly, offering electric bikes and scooters as urban transport solutions. Even Uber has entered the market (more here).

  2. Cosmetics & Beauty: There’s a huge demand for locally made and imported beauty products, especially in hair care and skincare. South Korean and European brands are showing growing interest (more here and here).

  3. Agriculture & Agritech: This remains Kenya’s economic backbone, and investments in smart farming, food processing, and export businesses are increasing (more here).

  4. Fintech & Financial Inclusion: Kenya is a global leader in mobile banking and digital finance, with companies like M-Pesa revolutionizing transactions. Startups in digital lending and SME financing are flourishing.


    Projected growth of Africa’s fintech industry based on achieving different levels of market penetration by 2028, compared to current benchmarks in South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya.


    While Collins and I spoke at length about the growing opportunities in Kenya’s e-mobility, cosmetics, and agriculture sectors, the fintech space remains a critical pillar of the country’s economic evolution. Kenya continues to lead Africa’s fintech revolution, often cited as a global pioneer in digital payments and mobile money adoption. Despite the broader continent facing intensified macroeconomic headwinds—rising living costs, high interest rates, currency volatility, and geopolitical uncertainty—Kenya stands out for its innovation, digital penetration, and entrepreneurial resilience. While fintech funding across Africa contracted significantly—dropping by 37 percent from 2022 to 2023, and another 51 percent in early 2024—Kenya maintains a unique position, with one of the highest fintech penetration rates on the continent at 15 percent, compared to the African average of just 5–6 percent. This foundation, built by platforms like M-Pesa, has enabled the rise of SME-focused lending, cross-border payment solutions, and embedded fintech models that serve local markets in dynamic ways. McKinsey estimates fintech revenues across Africa could quintuple to $47 billion by 2028, and Kenya is well-positioned to capture a significant share of that growth—thanks to its robust digital ecosystem, active policy engagement, and deepening regional connectivity. As Collins noted, Kenya remains not just a gateway, but a strategic launchpad for scalable, impact-driven business across East and Central Africa.
    While Collins and I spoke at length about the growing opportunities in Kenya’s e-mobility, cosmetics, and agriculture sectors, the fintech space remains a critical pillar of the country’s economic evolution. Kenya continues to lead Africa’s fintech revolution, often cited as a global pioneer in digital payments and mobile money adoption. Despite the broader continent facing intensified macroeconomic headwinds—rising living costs, high interest rates, currency volatility, and geopolitical uncertainty—Kenya stands out for its innovation, digital penetration, and entrepreneurial resilience. While fintech funding across Africa contracted significantly—dropping by 37 percent from 2022 to 2023, and another 51 percent in early 2024—Kenya maintains a unique position, with one of the highest fintech penetration rates on the continent at 15 percent, compared to the African average of just 5–6 percent. This foundation, built by platforms like M-Pesa, has enabled the rise of SME-focused lending, cross-border payment solutions, and embedded fintech models that serve local markets in dynamic ways. McKinsey estimates fintech revenues across Africa could quintuple to $47 billion by 2028, and Kenya is well-positioned to capture a significant share of that growth—thanks to its robust digital ecosystem, active policy engagement, and deepening regional connectivity. As Collins noted, Kenya remains not just a gateway, but a strategic launchpad for scalable, impact-driven business across East and Central Africa.

More Context Attached:


Tallulah: What are the biggest challenges foreign companies face when entering Kenya?

Collins: The biggest challenge is bureaucracy and government inefficiency. Corruption is also an issue—if you're not careful, you can lose money to dishonest intermediaries.Another challenge is access to financing. While large banks primarily cater to multinationals, we are seeing local banks like DTB and Absa starting to create better SME financing models.

The Diaspora’s Role in African Investment


Tallulah: One thing that stood out in our discussion was the diaspora’s financial influence in Kenya. You mentioned that in 2023 alone, the Kenyan diaspora sent home over $3 billion. Yet, this money primarily supports families rather than structured business investments. How can we change this?

Collins: Exactly. The diaspora sends massive remittances, but most of it goes to school fees, hospital bills, or home construction—not business growth. The challenge is that many diasporans don’t feel safe investing back home. They fear corruption, bureaucracy, and losing their money. One solution could be creating structured investment platforms that allow diasporans to co-invest in vetted businesses. We need better financial products, diaspora-focused investment funds, and legal protections to ensure their money is put to good use.

Tallulah: This aligns with what I am doing at AfroSwissters. Many African-descendant women in Switzerland have the capital and skills to invest in Africa, but they lack trusted networks and guidance. I see an opportunity to create a Diaspora Investment Circle, where women can collectively invest in ethical and sustainable businesses in Africa.

Collins: That would be a game-changer. If people pool their resources, they can support businesses they believe in without the risk of doing it alone. I’d be happy to explore how we can support that.

Labor Mobility & Ethical Skill Transfer


Tallulah: Labor migration is another issue we discussed. Kenya is exporting a lot of labor to the Gulf, Europe, and North America, but workers often face exploitation and poor conditions. How can we rethink labor mobility?

Collins: Right now, the government focuses on exporting low-wage workers, but this often leads to abuse and exploitation—especially in places like the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Instead, we should sponsor skilled professionals to go abroad, gain expertise, and return to invest in their home countries. Another idea we are pitching is for Kenyan banks to finance skilled workers to gain experience in Swiss industries, like tech, finance, and healthcare. They can then return home and use their knowledge to build businesses.

Tallulah: That makes so much sense! Instead of brain drain, we create a brain circulation system where talent gains global experience but reinvests in Africa.


The Geopolitical Landscape: Western vs. Chinese Influence


Tallulah: Let’s talk geopolitics! The West has historically dominated African economies, but China has become a major player in African infrastructure development. How do Africans view these two influences?

Collins: The West comes with the "white savior" mentality, offering aid rather than true partnerships. The Chinese, on the other hand, build infrastructure but often at exploitative terms. The challenge is that both models have flaws. What we need are African-driven solutions, where Africans define their own investment terms instead of being dictated by foreign interests.

Tallulah: I completely agree. Diaspora investment could be part of the solution—if we strategically invest in Africa, we can reduce dependence on Western aid or Chinese debt traps.


Final Thoughts & Next Steps


Tallulah: This has been an incredibly rich conversation. What’s next for you, and how can people get involved?

Collins: I’ll be hosting a webinar on investment opportunities in Kenya soon. We’d love to have diaspora entrepreneurs join and explore potential partnerships.

Tallulah: Fantastic! I am currently working on a Diaspora Investment Circle as part of AfroSwissters, and I see potential for collaboration with the LRT and your expertise. Let’s reconnect and strategize soon.

Collins: Absolutely. This is just the beginning of an important movement.

Conclusion


This conversation highlights the incredible opportunities for African diaspora engagement in business, investment, and skill transfer. The time is now to move from remittances to structured investment, from labor migration to ethical skill exchange, and from dependency to African-led economic growth.


Let’s build bridges, not barriers.


We want to hear from you.


As we shape future Legacy Roundtable events and diaspora-driven initiatives, we’d love your input:


Which of the following would you be most interested in attending or supporting?

  • A webinar about setting up business in Kenya or East Africa

  • Roundtable on ethical diaspora partnerships

  • Labor mobility and skill transfer between Africa and Europe

  • A workshop on fintech trends and opportunities in Kenya

You can vote for more than one answer.


Vote now and help us shape the future of AfroSwissters x Legacy Roundtable programming.


You can also sign up to be notified about our upcoming Q&A with Collins and the exclusive webinar series via button below.



 
 
 

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