Why did Jomo Kenyatta encourage foreign investment in Kenya?

Jomo Kenyatta encouraged foreign investment as part of his commitment to a free-market economy, explicitly rejecting socialist calls for the nationalization of property in favor of promoting personal and entrepreneurial effort.1

By aligning his government with Western powers during the Cold War, Kenyatta successfully attracted international capital, which was then utilized to develop the country's infrastructure. This strategy was central to his broader economic vision, which sought to achieve economic growth and stability, generate employment, and maximize foreign earnings. These policies contributed to Kenya becoming one of the most economically dynamic nations in Africa during the first two decades following its independence.231