… The event also featured discussions on financing startup expansion, policy alignment, intellectual property protection and regional market access under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). …
… Under the agriculture pillar, leaders committed to strengthening agricultural value chains through agro-processing, cold storage systems, logistics, and expanded domestic, regional, and international trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). …
… Ignoring these patterns undermines frameworks like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which depend on functional, credible institutions. …
… They also pledged support for transport, energy and digital infrastructure projects, implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and stronger regional value chains. …
… Frameworks such as the Africa-France Impact Coalition, the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), the Kampala Declaration on Food Systems 2025, and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) already provide a strong foundation for this transformatio …
… At the same time, the African Continental Free Trade Area introduced an Intellectual Property Protocol, opening pathways for cross-border commercialization.Kenya is already ahead of the curve. …
… The summit comes at a time when African countries are increasingly pushing for deeper continental cooperation through frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Area, which aims to boost intra-African trade and industrial growth. …
… He noted that Kenya and Liberia remain aligned on the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), climate action, and regional peace and security initiatives. …
… And this is the part of the trade conversation that receives less attention.Much of the focus is always on market access, logistics, tariffs, and frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). …
… We must shift a significant share of that capacity to Africa,” he said, citing opportunities created by the African Continental Free Trade Area and institutions such as Africa CDC.The summit will also prioritise agriculture and technology as pillars of transformation.“Africa hold …
The Central Bank of Congo has formally joined the African Payments and Settlement System (PAPS), bringing the total connected countries to 31 with 16 payment switches and over 200 commercial banks or financial institutions. The move was announced at the 48th Annual Meeting of the Association of African Central Banks in Nairobi, where PAPS is targeted to reach 39 countries by the end of 2026.
The Central Bank of Congo has formally joined the African Payments and Settlement System (PAPS), bringing the total connected countries to 31 with 16 payment switches and over 200 commercial banks or financial institutions. The move was announced at the 48th Annual Meeting of the Association of African Central Banks in Nairobi, where PAPS is targeted to reach 39 countries by the end of 2026.
South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa has stepped back from public engagements on the advice of his medical team to rest and recover. Cabinet ministers will represent him at scheduled engagements where possible.
East African horticulture exporters face costly freight, weak cold chains, and fragmented trade procedures that threaten competitiveness. Government officials, exporters, and logistics companies will meet in Nairobi on September 22–23 to identify measures to ease cross-border movement of fresh produce, coinciding with the launch of the Horticulture Council of Eastern Africa (HoCEA).
Industry and government representatives from Eastern Africa will convene in Nairobi on September 22–23, 2026, to address trade and logistics barriers affecting horticultural products. The event will include the official launch of the Horticulture Council of Eastern Africa (HoCEA), a regional private-sector platform established to strengthen coordination and market access.
Kenya is set to receive 10 specialised mother-and-child hospitals under a $35 million grant from Amsons Group. Construction has begun on the first 250-bed Level 4 hospital in Chebunyo, Bomet County, which will provide maternity, neonatal, and antenatal care services.
An opinion piece argues that African leaders should focus on deliberately designing sustainable, efficient, and inclusive agrifood systems for 2046, rather than only reacting to immediate challenges like droughts, floods, and supply-chain disruptions. The continent has strengths in agricultural resources, a youthful population, and growing technological capabilities to shape this future through the CAADP Strategy and Action Plan 2026-2035.
Kenya's Special Economic Zones Authority is advancing the Kericho Special Economic Zone at Chelimo as a major industrial project intended to create jobs and shift the region from exporting raw materials to producing finished goods. The master plan identifies seven key industrial clusters including agro-industry, business process outsourcing, veterinary medicine, and biotechnology.
President Ruto said Kenya remains open to foreign investors and workers who comply with Kenyan laws and regulations, stating that the government has removed barriers to investment. He noted foreign direct investment had grown from $1.6 billion to $3.2 billion.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has called on Kenyans in neighbouring East African Community countries to comply with entry and residency laws, saying Kenya upholds mutual respect under the EAC. This follows President William Ruto's directive that foreign nationals in Kenya secure necessary documentation to operate small-scale businesses.
Kenya's Foreign Affairs PS hosted a U.S. Chamber of Commerce and U.S.-Africa Business Center delegation in Nairobi, positioning the country as a market and strategic hub for value addition and technology transfer while encouraging American businesses to use Kenya as a base for accessing East African markets.
President William Ruto addressed the American Chamber of Commerce Business Summit, pitching Kenya as an investment gateway and emphasising that capital flows on clear rules, timely licensing, and contract respect rather than presidential directives alone. His remarks come amid debate over the government's approach to foreign investment, including disputes involving Tata Chemicals.
After President William Ruto directed a crackdown on foreign nationals operating illegally in Kenya, the government issued a 90-day compliance notice and faced criticism from Tana River Senator Danson Mungatana, who condemned anti-Burundi sentiments and called for swift action against harassment of fellow Africans.
Citizens of the East African Community and those committed to regional integration have expressed concerns about how Kenya is communicating and implementing measures targeting foreign informal and small-scale traders, calling for enforcement to be lawful, proportionate, and non-discriminatory under Kenya's Constitution, the EAC Treaty, and the Common Market Protocol. The group welcomed a 90-day regularisation period following President Ruto's pronouncement on foreign nationals operating small businesses but described it as "a reprieve, not a remedy," citing distress already caused to foreign traders.
President William Ruto has directed that the Local Content Bill, 2025 be expanded to create a framework governing participation in small-scale trade and enterprise, following complaints from Kenyan traders about the growing presence of foreign nationals in the informal sector. The directive affirms the government's responsibility to protect economic opportunities for Kenyan citizens in the micro and small enterprise sector.
Kenya's delegation to the Pan-African Parliament has condemned reported anti-Burundi sentiments and attacks targeting Burundian nationals, particularly in Nakuru, calling on the Ministry of Interior and security agencies to investigate and take action against those responsible.
Kenya and Uganda are pushing for increased agricultural trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area, with maize as a key commodity. Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said Kenya is ready to increase maize imports from Uganda but insists on strict food safety standards, particularly requiring maize to be dried and free of aflatoxin contamination before crossing the border.
President William Ruto has challenged developers of the Mombasa Special Economic Zone to move beyond agreements to building factories, creating jobs, and producing goods. Ruto said the zone must help Kenya stop exporting raw materials and importing finished products at higher prices, and described the zone as a step towards transforming Mombasa into a manufacturing, processing and logistics hub.
Cabinet Secretary Mudavadi said Kenya regards the United States as a critical strategic partner, with cooperation expanding across security, trade, health, technology and economic development. Kenya and the US have signed a Bilateral Work Agreement and are preparing for the Fourth Session of the Kenya–US Bilateral Strategic Dialogue scheduled for early December 2026.
President Ruto said at Zambia's presidential inauguration that political contests should not undermine national unity, stability and development, and that African leaders must compete vigorously without becoming enemies or excluding others.
President William Ruto, speaking at Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema's second-term inauguration in Lusaka, called for Kenya and Zambia to deepen trade and investment relationships, saying bilateral friendship should be measured by economic opportunities, job creation, and infrastructure development.
President William Ruto called on African countries to move beyond political liberation and pursue economic independence through industrialisation, manufacturing and intra-African trade, arguing that Africa's next historic task is to convert its natural resources, markets and young population into prosperity for its people.
Speaking at Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema's second-term inauguration, President William Ruto called on African leaders to ensure political competition does not degenerate into national conflict, saying elections should determine who governs but never who belongs to a country. He stressed that democracy is tested most when citizens and leaders disagree, and urged African countries to strengthen institutions and respect the rule of law.
Kenya and other African countries are pushing for harmonised standards and single testing of goods to boost intra-Africa trade, but slow adoption by only a handful of nations has made exports and imports difficult across the continent, raising trade costs and creating non-tariff barriers under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
An opinion piece arguing that the resurgence of xenophobic violence in South Africa undermines Pan-African aspirations for continental unity, mutual respect, and collective prosperity as envisioned in the African Union's Agenda 2063 and the African Continental Free Trade Area.
An opinion piece argues that as Kenya's trade grows and goods movement through ports and border points increases, marine cargo insurance must evolve beyond serving as a mere import clearance document to address modern supply chain risks including shipping cost volatility, climate impacts, and regulatory changes.
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) is accelerating efforts to remove technical trade barriers across East Africa through Mutual Recognition Agreements under the African Continental Free Trade Area framework, aiming to facilitate seamless cross-border agricultural trade and harmonize standards among member states.
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and AfCFTA Secretariat are pushing member states to adopt Mutual Recognition Agreements that would allow inspection and certification results from one country to be recognised by another, eliminating duplicate border checks. For farmers and traders, the reforms could reduce transport costs, post-harvest losses, and accelerate access to regional markets.
Kenya's fashion industry is pursuing partnerships with China's manufacturing and technology sector to boost local production and competitiveness. The third East Africa Fashion Life Show, held in Nairobi from August 13–15, brought together nearly 120 companies, including about 100 Chinese exhibitors and 20 Kenyan businesses.
Nairobi will host the seventh All African Intellectual Property Summit from November 11 to 13, 2026, bringing together policymakers, creators, researchers, innovators and businesses to discuss implementation of a continental intellectual property framework and align national policies with the AfCFTA intellectual property protocol.
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.