UK-Kenya trade maintained an all-time high of Sh360 billion during Q3 2025, reflecting growing economic ties.
The inaugural UK-Kenya Business Forum in Nairobi further strengthened collaboration, with key announcements on trade agreements, market liberalization, and climate finance initiatives.
Both countries aim to deepen partnerships that boost exports, investments, and sustainable growth.
The announcement made on Thursday closely follows the first-ever UK-Kenya Business Forum held in Nairobi on January 22, 2026, which attracted nearly 400 participants and over 200 businesses.
The forum aimed to deepen commercial partnerships and boost collaboration in trade and investment.
The sustained record trade levels reflect a strong demand for Kenyan exports to the UK, particularly tea, coffee, and horticultural products known for their high quality.
On the other side, UK exports to Kenya include refined petroleum, vehicles, machinery, and power generation equipment, which support Kenya’s ongoing infrastructure development.
Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade and Industry Lee Kinyanjui praised the progress, saying "This performance is impressive and clear evidence that our export promotion efforts are delivering real results. Sustaining over Sh360 billion in trade for a second consecutive quarter reaffirms the growing confidence of UK businesses in Kenya as a trade and investment partner."
Kinyanjui highlighted the role of the UK-Kenya Economic Partnership Agreement in securing predictable market access for Kenyan exports, which supports value-added trade, job creation, and opportunities for youth in manufacturing, agribusiness, and services sectors aligned with Kenya’s economic transformation agenda.
UK Chargé d'Affaires Ed Barnett noted, "These record trade figures show the strength of the UK-Kenya economic partnership, which is delivering for big and small businesses alike. Sustaining Sh360 billion in trade value for a second quarter reflects the energy at the inaugural Business Forum."
Barnett expressed optimism about future collaboration, "I look forward to building on this momentum as we work together to remove barriers to trade, we’re going far, together."
Both governments are actively engaging with industry to deepen supply chain links and simplify export and investment processes.
They continue to support Kenya’s reform agenda aimed at increasing competitiveness and unlocking new investment opportunities.
The partnership now involves 150 British companies operating in Kenya and a growing number of Kenyan firms, fostering mutually beneficial business connections.
In the most recent quarter, UK exports to Kenya rose by 4.5 percent, while Kenyan exports to the UK increased by 12 percent, signaling robust growth on both sides.
The Business Forum also delivered several concrete outcomes, including, accelerated technical discussions on a Digital Trade Agreement between Kenya and the UK, Kenya’s announcement to liberalise the insurance market by removing local ownership requirements and signing of Memoranda of Understanding on skills development and strengthening agri-tech supply chains between British and Kenyan firms.
Additionally, the forum marked the launch of the Climate Finance Accelerator (CFA) Kenya, a UK initiative to support innovative low-carbon businesses.
The CFA aims to prepare Kenyan climate projects for investment by providing expert technical, financial, and inclusion-focused support.
Kenyan businesses can apply to the CFA from January 22, to March 11, 2026, with selected projects receiving months of support before pitching to investors in October 2026.
The historic trade data and recent business initiatives affirm the UK-Kenya partnership’s growing impact, driven by shared economic goals, innovation, and sustainable growth.
