China maintained its stronghold as Kenya’s largest source of imports during the first quarter of 2026, anchoring its dominant position by accounting for roughly one in every four goods entering the country.
The economic powerhouse led the pack by a significant margin, with import values approaching the Sh200 billion mark during the three-month period.
Hot on its heels, India recorded a historic milestone by emerging as Kenya's fastest-growing major supplier. For the first time ever in an opening quarter, import expenditure from India crossed the Sh100 billion threshold, solidifying its place as the second-largest exporter to the East African nation.
The United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia also featured prominently in the top tier of trade partners. Imports from the United Arab Emirates hovered near the Sh75 billion mark, while Saudi Arabia supplied goods valued at approximately Sh50 billion.
Farther down the list, Japan and the United States of America closed out the top six import source markets, contributing around Sh30 billion and Sh20 billion respectively.
Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics highlights a heavily concentrated import market, where trade remains dominated by Asian and Middle Eastern economic hubs.
This quarterly performance underscores Kenya's shifting trade dynamics and its intensifying reliance on traditional Eastern trade corridors, marked heavily by India's accelerating commercial footprint in the region.
