KENYA will push for bilateral trade and investment deals with other African countries at the COMESA Summit of Heads of State and government in Nairobi next week, CS Lee Kinyanjui now says.
This comes amid turbulence in global trade mainly fuelled by the Trump tariffs with the US imposing a 10 per cent tariff line on Kenyan exports, and the uncertainty surrounding AGOA which expired on Tuesday (September 30).
Kenya is seeking to diversify its market with a keen eye on tapping opportunities in the continent that come with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which promises to offer a 1.3 billion population market once fully operational.
The Common Market for East and Southern Africa ( COMESA) offers a market of 682 million population in the 21 member states.
Last year, Kenya’s foreign exchange earnings from exports to the COMESA region decreased by 2.8 per cent from Sh341.1 billion in 2023, to Sh331.7 billion, the Economic Survey 2025 by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics indicates.
The country, which alongside Ghana, Cameroon, Egypt, Rwanda and Tanzania were the six countries picked to lead the pilot phase of AfCFTA, is also part of the recent entry into force of the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Free Trade Area deal, which creates Africa’s largest integrated market.
While the EAC region continues to be the primary market, reduced exports to most countries in this bloc, who are also members of COMESA, significantly contributed to a decline in earnings last year.
Earnings from exports to the African region also decreased by 2.2 per cent from Sh435.0 billion in 2023 to Sh425.6 billion in 2024.
The Nairobi summit is expected to lay ground for increased trade among countries and tapping other opportunities under AfCFTA, with the aim of increasing intra-Africa trade which currently remain at a low of 14 per cent.
This is compared to Europe's roughly 60-70 per cent and Asia's 50-70 per cent, with the disparity highlighting Africa's challenge in achieving regional integration and global competitiveness.
“Kenya will host the COMESA Summit next week and we are keen to engage directly with African countries to boost intra-Africa trade,” the Investments, Trade and Industry CS said.
The country has already picked up conversations with Egypt ahead of the summit, with strong interest of Egyptian investors in Kenya, particularly in our Export Processing Zones (EPZs) and in positioning Mombasa and Lamu ports as Egypt’s transit hubs to other regions.
“As a Ministry, we remain committed to providing an enabling environment that facilitates and accelerates intra-Africa trade,” Kinyanjui who held talks with the Egyptian Ambassador to Kenya, Hatem Hosni, on opportunities for bilateral engagement during the Summit, said.
President William Ruto is expected to take over the COMESA chairmanship during the Nairobi meeting, putting the country at a pole position in advancing trade talks for the bloc and the continent.
“The COMESA Summit is critical as it provides a platform for engagement at a time of global turbulence, particularly on matters of trade. For Kenya, it is especially significant as President William Ruto will assume the chairmanship of COMESA, offering the country an opportunity to champion and advance intra-Africa trade,” Kinyanjui said.
The summit takes place at the KICC between October 7-9, with the Kenyan government affirming its readiness for the event which further cements the country’s position as key Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibition (MICE) destination.
In a pre-summit briefing in Nairobi on Wednesday, Tourism and Wildlife CS Rebecca Miano said: “Conferences such as COMESA go beyond high-level diplomatic engagement. They place Kenya firmly on the global stage, raising our visibility and reinforcing our position as a preferred destination for MICE. Such platforms are powerful drivers of destination branding and economic growth.”
Globally, business events are among the fastest-growing sectors in tourism, commanding a multi-billion-dollar industry in developed economies.
The government has been deliberate and consistent in positioning the country as Africa’s premier MICE destination.
KICC has undergone major renovations and upgrades to meet the highest international standards, ensuring readiness to host the Summit and future mega events, according to management.
In addition, the government is expanding MICE infrastructure through flagship projects such as the Bomas International Convention Centre, which will enhance Kenya’s competitiveness and capacity to attract major global conferences.
MICE impact spreads across the economy, from hotels, airlines and transport providers to banking, financial institutions and even local traders in markets.
