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Kenya and the People’s Republic of China have marked a major milestone in their trade partnership with the flag‑off of the first export consignment to China under a newly agreed zero‑tariff arrangement.
In an event which took place on March 23, 2026, at the Syokimau Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) Terminus, Kenya’s Deputy President H.E. Kithure Kindiki and China’s Vice President H.E. Han Zheng officiated the departure of a shipment to China.
The State Department for Foreign Affairs says that this initiative is part of a bilateral Early Harvest Agreement aimed at deepening economic cooperation and expanding market access for Kenyan products in one of the world’s largest consumer economies.
Under that arrangement, 98.2 per cent of Kenyan exports will enter China duty‑free from May 1, 2026, offering a significant opportunity to boost competitiveness and deepen trade diversification.
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The shipment container carries Kenyan products
According to the State Department for Foreign Affairs the first consignment, leaving for China via the Madaraka Express Freight Service to Mombasa Port, comprised 54 containers carrying a mixture of value‑added and agricultural goods, including avocado oil, frozen avocados, coffee, hides and skins, and other farm produce.
In his remarks at the flag‑off, Deputy President Kindiki described the zero‑tariff framework as a transformative step that opens Kenyan products to about 1.4 billion consumers and enhances the nation’s export potential.
He urged local farmers, processors, and exporters to seize the opportunity to scale production and add value to their products.
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Purpose of China’s Vice president visit
Vice President Han Zheng, on an official visit to Kenya, reaffirmed China’s commitment to strengthening economic ties, stating that the arrangement shows a deepened partnership and shared vision for inclusive growth says the State Department for Foreign Affairs.
Analysts say the zero‑tariff deal is poised to strengthen Kenya’s agricultural export base, create jobs, and help narrow trade imbalances, particularly by making key Kenyan products more competitive in the Chinese market.
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A shipment of things Kenya is exporting to China through SGR to the Mombasa port.
PHOTO/State Department of Foreign Affairs X
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