State Department for Trade

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State Department for Trade Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from State Department for Trade, Government Organization, P. O. Box 30430, Moi.

The State Department for Trade oversees trade policy, export promotion, digital trade, regional trade integration, fair trade practices, and consumer protection to strengthen the Kenya's position in local and global markets.

Close to 30 technical officers from the State Department are undertaking a three-day training programme on Rules of Orig...
06/10/2026

Close to 30 technical officers from the State Department are undertaking a three-day training programme on Rules of Origin Certification in Nairobi.

The training which commenced today and will run until 8 October 2026, is being conducted by the World Customs Organization (WCO) in partnership with Strathmore University.

The programme provides officers with an opportunity to deepen their technical understanding of Rules of Origin, covering key areas including origin criteria, minimal operations, consignment requirements, advance rulings and origin certification.

The training is expected to enhance the technical capacity of trade officers and strengthen the State Department’s ability to support the effective implementation of regional and international trade arrangements, including the East African Community (EAC), African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the Kenya–European Union Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), among other trade agreements.

The programme is structured in four progressive stages, with each stage serving as a prerequisite for the next and culminating in advanced training that will include a factory visit and dedicated sessions for practical case studies.

Another feather in the cap! Team SDT has done it again, winning the award for the Best Local Stand in Strategies of I...
01/10/2026

Another feather in the cap!

Team SDT has done it again, winning the award for the Best Local Stand in Strategies of International Trade and Exports at the Nairobi International Trade Fair.

Industrial development is about more than manufacturing—it's about creating stronger regional value chains, improving co...
29/09/2026

Industrial development is about more than manufacturing—it's about creating stronger regional value chains, improving competitiveness, and unlocking jobs across Africa.
By enabling industries to produce and trade at a regional scale, the TFTA is building a more integrated and prosperous African economy.

The 2026 Nairobi International Trade Fair (NITF) officially opened today at the Jamhuri Park Showground in Nairobi, brin...
28/09/2026

The 2026 Nairobi International Trade Fair (NITF) officially opened today at the Jamhuri Park Showground in Nairobi, bringing together businesses, government institutions, innovators and consumers for a week-long showcase of Kenya’s products, services and capabilities. Running from 28 September to 4 October, the fair has attracted more than 500 exhibitors from diverse sectors, providing a platform for enterprises to showcase their innovations, build partnerships and explore new market opportunities.

The State Department for Trade is participating in the fair to engage traders, businesses and the public on Government initiatives aimed at promoting trade and supporting enterprise growth. Through its participation, the Department is creating awareness on trade policies, market access and available opportunities while strengthening engagement with the private sector and gaining insights into issues affecting businesses and traders.

The State Department for Trade held a stakeholder validation workshop for the Draft National E-Commerce Policy 2025 brin...
26/09/2026

The State Department for Trade held a stakeholder validation workshop for the Draft National E-Commerce Policy 2025 bringing together public and private sector stakeholders to review and provide input on the policy.

The workshop was led by Director of ICT Timothy Were, who said the policy is aimed at strengthening Kenya’s capacity to compete effectively in the global digital trade landscape.

Key recommendations discussed include leveraging ICT infrastructure to enhance skills development and provide seamless customer experiences; enforcing mandatory data protection audits for e-commerce platforms; harmonising e-commerce and public health mandates; establishing an e-commerce and investment fund; mainstreaming digital literacy into the education curriculum and promoting interoperability between e-commerce platforms and digital payment wallets.

The stakeholder inputs will inform the finalisation of the policy and help create an enabling environment for the growth of e-commerce in Kenya.

Kenya’s exports to Germany have grown significantly, rising from USD 203 million in 2021 to USD 352 million in 2025, rep...
25/09/2026

Kenya’s exports to Germany have grown significantly, rising from USD 203 million in 2021 to USD 352 million in 2025, representing a 73 percent increase.

The growth has been driven largely by exports of coffee, tea, cauliflower, avocado and macadamia.

Speaking during the flag-off of the first cohort of 21 Kenyan exporters under the German Market Linkage Programme, Secretary, Administration, State Department for Trade Patrick Mukuria said the growth demonstrates the strong potential for deeper trade and business ties between Kenya and Germany.

Mukuria noted that the Kenya–EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), which provides duty-free and quota-free access to the EU market, further presents an opportunity to build lasting relationships between Kenyan exporters and German buyers.

He urged the exporters to serve as ambassadors of Kenya and use the programme to establish sustainable business and supply partnerships.

The exporters will undertake market-linkage activities in Germany, including business-to-business meetings, cluster-based coaching and engagement with potential German partners.

The Principal Secretary, State Department for Industry Dr.Juma Mukhwana who presided over the flag-off, called on the exporters to understand market expectations while maintaining high standards of quality to meet the requirements of the German market.

Speaking on behalf of the German Ambassador to Kenya, Maren Keller said the programme aims to establish sustainable and mutually beneficial partnerships between Kenyan and German businesses.

The State Department for Trade has concluded a two-day technical workshop to review and incorporate stakeholder views in...
24/09/2026

The State Department for Trade has concluded a two-day technical workshop to review and incorporate stakeholder views into the Draft National e-Commerce Policy 2025.

The workshop brought together a technical team from the State Department, the Central Bank of Kenya, the Communications Authority of Kenya and the Office of the Attorney General.

The team reviewed feedback received from stakeholders and proposed the necessary adjustments to the draft policy.

Kenya is the third-largest e-commerce market in Africa, with the digital economy contributing around 7.8% to GDP.

Despite this growth, the full potential of e-commerce remains constrained by gaps in infrastructure and regulation, limited digital inclusion, weak coordination among implementing agencies, and growing concerns around cybersecurity and consumer trust.

The proposed policy seeks to provide a clear and coordinated framework to guide the growth of Kenya’s digital trade ecosystem.

It will address key challenges, including gaps in digital infrastructure and legal frameworks, low digital literacy, and limited access to financing and logistics services, particularly for MSMEs, women and youth.

The policy will also promote the use of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), blockchain and the Internet of Things (IoT), while supporting climate resilience and sustainability across digital value chains.

Officers from the State Department for Trade participated in a panel discussion during the concluding session of the two...
24/09/2026

Officers from the State Department for Trade participated in a panel discussion during the concluding session of the two-day Public-Private Dialogue convened by the Horticulture Council of Eastern Africa (HoCEA) in Nairobi.

The session, themed ‘Key Areas for Discussion – Constraints and Joint Action’ brought together public- and private-sector stakeholders to deliberate on challenges affecting horticultural trade and identify practical opportunities for stronger collaboration across the region.

Deputy Director for Domestic Trade, Mathew Komen, outlined priority areas requiring sustained joint action to enhance the competitiveness and efficiency of horticultural trade in Eastern Africa. These include addressing Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs), strengthening trade facilitation and border efficiency, enhancing standards, quality and conformity assessment and improving logistics and infrastructure.

He further highlighted the need to advance digital trade and paperless commerce, strengthen regional value chains and investment, improve access to finance and foster a more predictable business environment for horticultural enterprises.

Principal Trade Development Officer, Alice Keitany, noted that the East African Community has established a legal and institutional framework to support the elimination of NTBs. She observed that Article 13 of the EAC Customs Union Protocol provides for the removal of existing NTBs and the prevention of new ones among Partner States.

Keitany also underscored the importance of trade facilitation in making legitimate trade simpler, faster, more predictable and less costly, noting that efficient border processes and coordinated regulatory systems are essential to reducing the cost of doing business and improving market access for horticultural products.

The discussions reaffirmed the importance of continued engagement among Partner States, industry players and other stakeholders in identifying practical solutions that support seamless regional trade, strengthen horticultural value chains and contribute to the sustainable growth of Eastern Africa’s horticulture sector.

The State Department for Trade participated in the Regional Public - Private dialogue and official launch of the Horticu...
23/09/2026

The State Department for Trade participated in the Regional Public - Private dialogue and official launch of the Horticultural Council of Eastern Africa (HoCEA) hosted by TradeMark Africa and convened by National Association of Eastern Africa.

HoCEA's initiative brings together Kenya,Tanzania,Uganda,Rwanda,
Burundi,Ethiopia,South Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Somalia under a shared vision for the Horticulture sector.

Representing the Principal Secretary for Trade Regina Ombam the Deputy Director of Trade Mathew Komen said the regional platform is a timely and strategic response to the shared challenges and opportunities facing the horticulture industry.

He emphasized the urgent need to address administrative delays, border friction and cumbersome documentation that increase trade costs and delay perishable horticultural shipments.

HoCEA Secretary General and CEO Clement Tulezi said the council will focus on removing cross-border trade friction, developing regional cold-chain infrastructure and establishing shared policy frameworks.

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P. O. Box 30430
Moi
00100

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Tuesday 08:00 - 05:00
Wednesday 08:00 - 05:00
Thursday 08:00 - 05:00
Friday 08:00 - 05:00

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