Trade between Kenya and the United Kingdom has crossed the Sh340 billion (£2.1 billion) threshold for the first time, signaling a new chapter in the countries’ long-standing economic relationship. According to fresh data from the UK Department for Business and Trade, total trade in goods and services rose by 11.9 percent in the year ending September 2025, driven primarily by a sharp increase in Kenyan exports and a steady expansion in UK exports. The figures mark a record high and underscore how renewed bilateral cooperation, market access reforms, and post-Brexit trade adjustments are translating into tangible commercial growth.
Kenya’s exports to the UK climbed to Sh134.5 billion (£792 million), representing a 14 percent increase from the previous year. The growth was anchored by a robust performance in agricultural exports, long the backbone of Kenya’s trade portfolio. Exports of animal and vegetable products surged 15.6 percent to Sh28.7 billion, while tea and coffee shipments grew 12.8 percent to Sh24.3 billion, reaffirming Kenya’s dominance in the premium beverage segment.
On the import side, UK exports to Kenya reached Sh134.6 billion (£792 million), a rise of 8 percent, largely driven by shipments of mechanical power generators, refined petroleum products, and motor vehicles, sectors reflecting both Kenya’s infrastructure development needs and its rising consumer demand.
British High Commission Charge d’Affaires Dr. Ed Barnett hailed the milestone as a reflection of what he termed a “turbocharged partnership” between the two nations. “The UK and Kenya are turning ambition into action. Our renewed Strategic Partnership is breaking down trade barriers and unlocking growth opportunities,” he said. His remarks echoed a broader trend of revitalised UK engagement in Africa, where Britain is seeking to consolidate its influence through sustainable trade, climate investment, and innovation-led growth.
The UK–Kenya Strategic Partnership, renewed in July 2025, outlines a roadmap to double bilateral trade by 2030 through deeper investment flows, local value addition, and stronger export linkages. It builds upon a 2020 trade agreement that preserved duty-free and quota-free access for Kenyan goods post-Brexit, ensuring continued competitiveness for Kenya’s horticultural and agricultural exports in the UK market. The latest data suggest the benefits of that agreement are now being fully realized, with Kenya’s trade surplus widening modestly as exports outpace imports.
Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Trade, Regina Ombam, described the achievement as “a testament to sustained collaboration and Kenya’s growing export competitiveness.” She noted that the government is intensifying efforts to diversify product lines beyond traditional commodities by scaling value addition in textiles, leather, and processed foods. “We’re expanding our product range and diversifying our markets. These numbers reflect our collective efforts to enhance Kenya’s global trade footprint,” she said, adding that stronger export branding and adherence to sustainability standards will be central to Kenya’s next growth phase.
This deepening trade engagement also ties directly into the Nairobi Railway City project, a flagship urban regeneration initiative jointly supported by Kenya and the UK. Inspired by London’s King’s Cross redevelopment, the project aims to create a modern transit-oriented commercial hub in Nairobi, blending transport infrastructure with green design and public spaces.
During a bilateral meeting at Number 10 Downing Street in July, President William Ruto and Prime Minister Keir Starmer reaffirmed the project’s role as a symbol of the partnership’s shift from aid to investment, with opportunities expected to flow to both British and Kenyan businesses.
For Kenya, the milestone comes at a time of recalibration in global trade. As African economies push toward intra-African commerce under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), partnerships such as the one with the UK demonstrate the continent’s growing leverage in global value chains. Kenya’s export diversification, from flowers and tea to technology-enabled services and manufactured goods, signals a slow but deliberate transition toward higher-value trade, aligning with national strategies for job creation, industrialization, and green growth.
Read also:Ghana breaks ground on 200MW Solar Plant, targeting 1,000MW by 2032
Analysts say that continued success will depend on how effectively both sides integrate sustainability into their trade frameworks. The UK’s increasing focus on green investment, climate-aligned financing, and ethical sourcing could position Kenya’s agricultural and renewable sectors as key beneficiaries. Already, British investments in renewable energy, circular economy projects, and infrastructure financing are helping Kenya align with its national goal of reducing emissions by 32 percent by 2030.
Ultimately, the Sh340 billion milestone is more than a statistical achievement. It reflects the maturation of a trade relationship grounded in mutual economic interests and a shared commitment to sustainability-led growth. If both governments stay the course, expanding value chains, aligning policy frameworks, and unlocking private capital, Kenya’s trade with the UK could set a new model for how African economies engage global partners in a way that drives resilience, industrial competitiveness, and long-term prosperity.
Engage with us on LinkedIn: Africa Sustainability Matters
