Regional trade framework whose establishment has not eliminated logistics bottlenecks hindering intra-African trade.
Verbatim sentences from the source article.
The Standard
… The African Continental Free Trade Area has created a framework for deeper economic cooperation.Pan-African banks continue expanding across borders. …
Beyond the oil: Why Africa's financial elite are heading to LuandaCapital News
… The President described Kenya as the gateway to Africa, saying investors who set base in the country gain access to a vast continental market through the African Continental Free Trade Area. …
Ruto urges Belgian investors to shift to value addition and manufacturing in KenyaCitizen Digital
… The President described Kenya as the gateway to Africa, saying investors who set base in the country gain access to a vast continental market through the African Continental Free Trade Area. …
Ruto pitches Kenya as clean energy manufacturing hub for European supply chainsCapital News
… The President told investors from Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg that setting up operations in Kenya provides direct access to the East African Community (EAC) market and the wider African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). …
President Ruto Launches Kenya–Benelux Chamber of Commerce in BrusselsThe Standard
… He said Kenya has invested Sh5.16 trillion infrastructure pipeline, Sh38.7 trillion annual mobile money flows Sh438.6 trillion African Continental Free Trade Area market and KSh9.03 quadrillion combined preferential market access.The President urged Belgian manufacturers to inves …
Ruto woos Belgian investors to KenyaCapital News
… in Midrand, Johannesburg on Thursday, alongside South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, President Ruto said the two nations, as “economic anchors” of Eastern and Southern Africa, must take the lead in building integrated value chains under the African Continental Free Trade Area …
Ruto urges African businesses to prioritise intra-Africa trade at Kenya-South Africa Business ForumCitizen Digital
… The leaders also committed to leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area and regional trade frameworks to unlock new opportunities for businesses, investors, and manufacturers across the continent. …
Ruto, Ramaphosa sign deals to deepen Kenya–South Africa cooperationCapital News
… The leaders highlighted progress in addressing trade imbalances, strengthening regional value chains and advancing implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). …
Ramaphosa rejects xenophobia label, calls for African solutionsThe Standard
… e should not behave like some big countries in the world that punish other countries because of disparities in tariffs.”The South African leader said the decision was informed by the need to support farmers and encourage greater trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area …
Kenyan tea exports to South Africa set to rise after trade barrier removalCapital News
… Mudavadi underscored the importance of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), describing it as a critical framework for boosting intra-African trade and developing regional value chains in sectors such as agriculture and pharmaceuticals. …
Mudavadi Calls for Global South Unity as Kenya Pushes for Stronger Global Role in Seoul AddressA Kenyan skincare manufacturer lost a potential Rwandan retailer due to poor online discoverability. Small and medium enterprises that rely on local referrals and walk-in customers remain invisible beyond their locality; a professional digital presence—including a simple website with business information—is necessary for cross-border trade.
5 August 2026 · The Standard →
A Kenyan skincare manufacturer lost a potential Rwandan retailer due to poor online discoverability. Small and medium enterprises that rely on local referrals and walk-in customers remain invisible beyond their locality; a professional digital presence—including a simple website with business information—is necessary for cross-border trade.
5 August 2026 · The Standard →
Capital FM Managing Director Symon Bargurei told a Strathmore University townhall that stable government policies, sustained infrastructure investment, and policy certainty will determine whether Kenya's Special Economic Zones become engines of industrialisation and export-led growth. He cited Dongo Kundu SEZ and Konza Technopolis as strategic platforms requiring consistent policies, quality infrastructure, skills development and technology rather than incentives alone.
30 July 2026 · Capital News →
A Kenyan food processor's stalled Uganda export opportunity illustrates that regional trade success depends first on reliable products, disciplined record-keeping, and operational systems within the business itself—not on regional trade agreements. Kenya's digital infrastructure already enables SMEs to meet these standards through mobile payments, electronic invoicing, customs systems, and digital logistics tools.
29 July 2026 · The Standard →
East African Community Principal Secretary Caroline Karugu has endorsed replacing individual national transit bonds with a single regional transit guarantee to reduce cross-border trade costs, lower paperwork and streamline customs procedures across the EAC region.
23 July 2026 · Capital News →
An opinion piece argues that the Lamu Refinery—now in implementation with government commitments fulfilled and financing secured—is a strategic investment that will strengthen regional energy security, unlock the LAPSSET Corridor, and position Kenya as East Africa's gateway for energy, trade and manufacturing.
23 July 2026 · The Standard →
As Kenyan small and medium enterprises increasingly use digital channels for regional trade, success depends on quality products and digital systems that enable cross-border transactions with confidence. Kenya's digital infrastructure — including mobile money, e-Citizen, digital tax administration, and fintech — provides a foundation for local businesses to venture into regional commerce.
22 July 2026 · The Standard →
An opinion piece argues that Africa, despite holding 30% of global critical mineral reserves and 60% of the world's best solar resources, receives only 2% of global clean energy investment. The gap is attributed to pricing issues rooted in currency volatility, sovereign-risk perception, and weak regulation, as rich countries borrow at 1–4% interest while poorer countries face rates around 14%.
17 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Africa holds 30% of global critical mineral reserves and 60% of the world's best solar resources, yet receives only 2% of global clean energy investment, constrained by high borrowing costs and weak infrastructure that hinder the continent's role in the global green transition.
17 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Kenya has dispatched the first of 20 containers of green coffee beans to Italy, marking an expansion of premium coffee exports to one of Europe's largest coffee markets. The Trade Ministry said the shipment, exported by Sumseron Coffee & Tea Limited to Trieste Port, reflects efforts to diversify export destinations and increase earnings for coffee farmers.
15 July 2026 · Capital News →
Digital technology and regional integration are reducing barriers to expansion for African small businesses, creating opportunities for entrepreneurs to grow beyond their local markets into neighboring countries, according to a Standard column on SME capabilities.
15 July 2026 · The Standard →
Outgoing European Union Ambassador to Kenya Henriette Geiger says Kenya-EU relations have reached their strongest level, with deeper political cooperation, expanded trade, and closer ties with Kenya's youth. Geiger, who served nearly five years in the role, attributed the strengthened relationship partly to President William Ruto's visit to Brussels following the 2022 General Election.
8 July 2026 · Capital News →
The African Union Commission and Russian Federation have renewed calls for UN Security Council reforms to give Africa permanent representation, describing the current system as a "historical injustice." Both sides pledged to deepen strategic cooperation ahead of an Africa-Russia Summit scheduled for October in Moscow.
7 July 2026 · Capital News →
Kenya's steel industry operates at 36 per cent of its installed production capacity of 4.2 million tonnes, with manufacturers citing high production costs, cheap imports, regulatory uncertainty and substandard products as major constraints. Kenya Association of Manufacturers CEO Tobias Alando called for sector reforms at the East African Steel Summit, noting that in 2025 Kenya imported about 1.66 million tonnes of iron and steel products while exporting approximately 197,000 tonnes.
7 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
The government is advancing a Cooperative Bill in Parliament to modernise Kenya's cooperative movement, strengthen governance, protect over Sh1 trillion in Sacco member savings, and improve accountability. Deputy President Kindiki urged Parliament to fast-track the legislation to enable cooperatives to compete in an increasingly digital economy.
5 July 2026 · The Standard →
A major logistical gap in Africa has continued to hinder intra-African trade even with the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area, with cargo from Kenya to Ghana taking between 45 and 60 days compared to five or six days for shipments to Dubai.
25 June 2026 · The Standard →
Kenya's real estate sector is shifting toward satellite towns and infrastructure-driven developments as urbanization and a middle-class growth fuel demand. Nairobi faces an accumulated housing deficit of over 2 million units, with formal supply of roughly 50,000 units annually against estimated demand of 200,000 units.
24 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →
East African nations have inaugurated the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Soil Health and Fertiliser Hub in Nairobi to coordinate regional efforts in improving soil health, increasing fertiliser access, and strengthening agricultural productivity amid land degradation and food insecurity. The launch follows the Africa Fertiliser and Soil Health Summit in May 2024, where African Heads of State endorsed the Nairobi Declaration committing countries to restoring degraded soils and increasing fertiliser production.
24 June 2026 · The Standard →
Chief Justice Martha Koome has called for Africa's justice systems to become more accessible, inclusive, responsive and people-centred. Speaking at the opening of the 3rd Africa Chief Justices' Alternative Dispute Resolution Forum in Nairobi, she highlighted an Afrobarometer survey showing that only half of citizens across 38 African countries surveyed expressed confidence in obtaining justice through courts, and noted that many Africans continue to seek justice through traditional and community-based mechanisms.
19 June 2026 · Capital News →
Kenya is intensifying efforts to become a regional manufacturing and industrial hub by inviting global investors to participate in local production, technology transfer, and skills development. The Industry Principal Secretary said Kenya is positioning itself for industrial growth anchored on manufacturing, value addition, and regional trade at the opening of the AICMEC 2026 expo.
17 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →
President William Ruto told a business roundtable in Brussels that Africa should be viewed as an opportunity to harness rather than a problem to manage, citing the continent's natural resources, clean energy potential, arable land, and young population as key to global solutions on food, energy, climate, and democracy. He positioned Kenya as a critical hub and gateway for Africa, announced the launch of a Kenya-Benelux Chamber of Commerce, and called for tripling Kenya-Belgium trade to USD 1 billion.
9 June 2026 · The Standard →
The Africa Financial Summit, hosting 1,250 policymakers, central bankers, investors and fintech disruptors, is heading to Luanda in November for the first time, reflecting Africa's search for a financial system capable of funding its own ambitions. Angola's economic modernisation and diversification beyond oil, alongside projects like the $1.2 billion Lobito Corridor linking Angola, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, illustrate the type of cross-border investment shaping Africa's economic future.
9 June 2026 · The Standard →
President William Ruto called on European investors to establish manufacturing industries in Kenya rather than exporting raw materials for processing elsewhere, citing clean energy availability and EU trade benefits. He made the remarks at a Kenya-Belgium Business Roundtable in Brussels while launching the Kenya-Benelux Chamber of Commerce.
8 June 2026 · Capital News →
President William Ruto has called on European investors, particularly Belgian manufacturers, to establish industries in Kenya for local mineral processing using clean geothermal energy, citing Europe's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and Kenya's duty-free access under the EU-Kenya Economic Partnership Agreement as competitive advantages.
8 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →
President William Ruto launched the Kenya–Benelux Chamber of Commerce in Brussels, urging European investors to use Kenya as a gateway to Africa and highlighting the country's renewable energy capacity, skilled workforce, and strategic location. Ruto encouraged European firms to invest in local manufacturing and value addition rather than extracting raw materials, and discussed strengthening trade links between the ports of Antwerp-Bruges and Mombasa.
8 June 2026 · Capital News →
President William Ruto told European investors at the Kenya-Belgium Business Roundtable in Brussels that Africa should be seen as a solution to global challenges like food security, energy transition, and climate change, citing the continent's arable land, renewable energy resources, and youthful population. Ruto urged Belgian manufacturers to invest in value addition in Africa rather than exporting raw materials for processing elsewhere.
8 June 2026 · The Standard →
President William Ruto has challenged African businesses to focus on trading within Africa rather than overseas, stating the continent is becoming a major frontier for trade and investment. Addressing a Kenya-South Africa Business Forum in Johannesburg alongside South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Ruto said the two nations must lead in building integrated value chains under the African Continental Free Trade Area, noting bilateral trade between Kenya and South Africa reached about $680 million in 2025.
5 June 2026 · Capital News →
President William Ruto pledged to deepen economic, diplomatic, and strategic ties with South Africa during a State Visit to Pretoria, saying the two nations are key players in elevating Africa's voice on the global stage and positioning themselves as drivers of Africa's transformation.
4 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa rejected claims of xenophobia during President William Ruto's state visit to Pretoria, instead framing migration as a continental challenge requiring African-led solutions and deeper economic integration. Ramaphosa acknowledged migration was placing pressure on communities and public services but stressed the issue was not unique to South Africa and required collective action from African governments.
4 June 2026 · Capital News →
Kenya and South Africa have agreed to remove trade barriers to increase Kenyan tea exports to South Africa, reversing South Africa's consideration of restrictions imposed in response to Kenyan tariffs on South African steel. The decision aims to strengthen trade ties and support small-scale farmers under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
4 June 2026 · The Standard →
Prime Cabinet Secretary Mudavadi addressed Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul, calling for renewed Global South solidarity and stronger multilateral cooperation, and warning that rising unilateralism and weaponisation of economic tools are straining multilateralism as countries rethink their diplomatic and economic strategies.
2 June 2026 · Capital News →