Kenya-UK trade surges past Sh340 billion mark for first time

President William Ruto with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer /PCS

In a historic milestone, trade between Kenya and the United Kingdom has surpassed Sh340 billion (£2.1 billion) for the first time, marking an 11.9 percent increase over the previous year.

The data, released on October 31, 2025, by the UK Department for Business and Trade, highlights the growing strength of bilateral economic ties between the two nations.

It revealed that total trade in goods and services (exports plus imports) between Kenya and the UK stood at Sh340 billion at the year ending September 2024.

Commenting on the report, Chargé d'Affaires at the British High Commission in Nairobi Ed Barnett said, "The UK and Kenya are turbocharging trade”.

“Our renewed Strategic Partnership is already delivering progress in a matter of months. To turn ambitions into reality, we’re working together to break down trade barriers. We go far when we go together.”

He noted that at the core of the ambitious partnership between Kenya and the UK—renewed for a second time in July 2025—is a shared objective to drive economic growth, aiming to double current trade by the year 2030.

The Principal Secretary, State Department for Trade Regina Ombam, said the improved statistics underscore a robust and expanding economic partnership between Kenya and the UK, which has facilitated trade flows between the two countries.

PS Ombam noted that sustained collaboration between the UK and Kenya would enhance trade opportunities, diversify exports, and strengthen economic resilience on both sides.

“We are propelling our export growth, targeting to increase the product range and market destination diversity, and the data we have seen is a testament to our collective efforts,” she said.

This, she stated, reflected the imperative opportunity Kenya has to enhance its export market base by deepening market access to existing destinations and widening its export product range through value addition.

“We will also support this process by promoting and facilitating branding and export promotion of goods and services made in Kenya to access export markets,” Ombam said.

The growth was driven by an eight percent increase in UK exports to Kenya and a 14 percent rise in Kenyan exports to the UK.

During the reporting period, Kenya exported goods worth Sh63 billion (£371 million) and services worth Sh71.5 billion (£421 million) to the UK.

The report showed that of the goods exported, animal and vegetable products grew fastest by 15.6 percent to Sh28.7 billion (£169.2 million), followed by beverages, including coffee and tea, that rose by 12.8 percent to Sh24.3 billion (£143.3 million).

Similarly, during the same period of review, the UK exported goods and services worth Sh134.6 billion (£792 million) to Kenya, compared to Sh124 billion (£733 million) in the same period in 2024.

The report stated that Mechanical power generators registered the highest growth at 18.3 percent, closely followed by refined oil and cars at 12 percent and 10 percent, respectively.

The UK remains one of Kenya’s largest foreign investors.

According to the British High Commission, around 150 British companies operate in Kenya, employing over 250,000 Kenyans and contributing significantly to the country’s tax base.

This record-breaking trade performance underscores the deepening economic ties and mutual commitment to prosperity between Kenya and the UK.