The BBC has today launched its largest bureau outside of the UK in Kenya's capital, Nairobi.

Close to 300 of the 600 BBC journalists working across Africa are based in the new, state-of-the-art facility.

"Our most important investment will be in training the next generation of African reporters and producers to world-class standards," Francesca Unsworth, Director of BBC News, said.

The expansion is being funded by $376m (£289m) from the UK government.

The production facilities at the bureau include a TV studio and two further live broadcast positions, two radio studios, two radio workspaces and five TV edit suites.

Earlier this year another major hub was opened in Nigeria's commercial city of Lagos, where three new language services are based, while there was also an expansion of the French service based in Senegal's capital, Dakar.

The BBC World Service opened its Nairobi bureau in 1998. It now broadcasts in a total of 12 African languages - plus English.

"We are celebrating the African journalists and programme makers here today who will carry the torch of BBC professionalism, accuracy and impartiality into the future," Rachael Akidi Okwir, Head of East Africa Languages for the BBC World Service said.

The official opening of the new bureau coincides with the launch of Money Daily, a new business TV programme. It is one of several new shows being produced in Nairobi. (BBC)