Kenyan exporters are set to receive fresh support in accessing one of the country's biggest overseas markets after the government rolled out a 10-year strategy to drive trade under the Kenya-European Union Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).
The implementation framework, launched on Thursday by Trade Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui, outlines how businesses, farmers and manufacturers will be supported to make full use of the duty-free, quota-free access available under the agreement with the European Union's 27-member bloc.
The government says the roadmap will help strengthen Kenya's trade environment by promoting competitiveness, attracting investment and creating more employment opportunities.
"The Kenya-EU EPA aims to secure existing markets while unlocking new opportunities for Kenyan enterprises, attracting investment and promoting job creation. This strategy therefore serves as a guiding framework to harness the full potential of the EPA," Kinyanjui said.
European Union Ambassador to Kenya Henriette Geiger said the launch marks another step forward in expanding trade and economic cooperation between Kenya and the EU.
"The launch of the implementation strategy is an important step in translating the agreement into tangible opportunities for Kenyan businesses and exporters. The EU remains committed to working closely with the Government of Kenya and the private sector to ensure that the EPA delivers inclusive growth and long-term benefits for both sides," Geiger said.
Trade Principal Secretary Regina Ombam said the strategy supports Kenya's Vision 2030 and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), adding that it is designed to spur sustainable economic growth, expand trade and improve the country's prosperity.
The Kenya-EU EPA took effect on July 1, 2024, giving Kenyan goods duty-free and quota-free access to the European Union, Kenya's largest export destination and second-largest trading partner.
The agreement also made Kenya the first member of the East African Community (EAC) to implement a trade partnership with the European Union.
The European market accounts for about 21 per cent of Kenya's annual exports, making it a key destination for locally produced goods while providing exporters with long-term certainty and predictable access, especially for agricultural products.
Figures from the International Trade Centre (ITC) show Kenya exported goods worth USD 1.85 billion to the European Union in 2025, while imports from the bloc reached about USD 1.74 billion.
Kenya's exports to the EU mainly include flowers, coffee, tea, spices, fruits, vegetables and edible oils. Imports from the European market include machinery, pharmaceutical products, electrical equipment, motor vehicles, paper and paper products.
The implementation strategy identifies six priority areas: sanitary and phytosanitary measures, standards and conformity assessment, customs and trade facilitation, information and communication technology, structured commodity trade, and trade and sustainable development.
In addition to opening markets through lower trade barriers, the EPA includes commitments on sustainable development, labour rights and environmental protection, broadening cooperation between Kenya and the European Union beyond trade alone.