Kenya is negotiating with five key horticulture markets to reduce tariffs on its goods. Trade Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui said higher tariffs have been applied since Kenya was classified as a middle-income country, reducing price competitiveness.
In 2024, horticulture exports dropped by Ksh20 billion (US$131 million) to Ksh137 billion (US$896 million), a decline linked to a stronger shilling and increased competition.
Opening the COMESA-EU Horticulture Connect forum in Nairobi, Kinyanjui said Kenya is positioning itself as an export hub. "As a leading player in the Horticulture space, Kenya is keen to both increase in value and quantity of its exports to the EU market. With geographical and weather advantages, we have all year round ability to produce for this market," he said.
This is the first time Kenya is hosting the EU horticulture forum, which links buyers, SMEs, and producers, while providing information on certification and quality standards. Horticulture contributes about 1.6 per cent to Kenya's GDP, with over 70 per cent of cut flowers exported to the EU, alongside fruits and vegetables reaching markets worldwide.
Kinyanjui urged private sector investment to access the European market and expand intra-regional trade. "It is the private sector that must drive transformation by scaling up production, embracing standards, and building cross-border linkages that make COMESA horticulture globally competitive," he said.
He added that logistics are critical. "We must build not only our production capacity at the farm level, but also strengthen our logistical systems to effectively export horticultural products. COMESA has a population of 682 million, an internal market large enough to absorb much of the surplus we produce within the region."
The four-day summit concluded on October 9 with the Heads of State and Government Meeting.
Source: KBC
