State Department for Trade

02/09/2026

Parliamentary Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry and Cooperatives today held a public participation forum on the Legal Metrology Bill No. 43 of 2026 and the Trade Descriptions (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
The forum brought together stakeholders from the trade sector, representatives of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), government officials and other interested parties, who presented their views and recommendations on the proposed legislation.
The Legal Metrology Bill, 2026 seeks to establish a legal and administrative framework for the application of legal metrology standards in trade, health, safety, law enforcement, environmental protection and the sale of goods.
The Bill proposes to repeal the existing Weights and Measures Act (Cap. 513) and replace it with a modern legal framework governing the manufacture, sale and use of measuring instruments. It is intended to strengthen controls over weighing and measuring equipment and modernise the regulation of measurement standards in the country.
If enacted, the proposed law would promote accuracy and fairness in commercial transactions while protecting consumers and businesses from inaccurate measurements.
Meanwhile, the Trade Descriptions (Amendment) Bill, 2026 seeks to strengthen consumer protection by updating the legal framework governing trade descriptions in response to the growth of the digital economy and modern forms of commerce.
The proposed amendments seek to address gaps in the existing law by bringing digital advertisements, online platforms and services within the scope of trade-description regulations. The reforms are intended to ensure that consumers receive accurate information about products and services and are protected from misleading or deceptive descriptions.
The public participation exercise provided stakeholders with an opportunity to make submissions on the two Bills before they proceed through the next stages of parliamentary consideration.
The forum was chaired by Hon. Marianne Kitany, MP for Aldai Constituency, who is the Deputy Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry and Cooperatives in the National Assembly.

02/09/2026

https://youtu.be/LgX3A4PZP40?si=FO1s2p5sqza7s0W2

‎President William Ruto has ordered an immediate crackdown on forei...

02/09/2026

On the sidelines of the Horn of Africa Initiative (HoAI) meeting in Addis Ababa,the Cabinet Secretary for Investments,Trade and Industry Lee Kinyajui held a bilateral meeting with Hon. Amb. Gamal Mohamed Hassan, Somalia’s Minister of Commerce and Industry and Chair of the HoAI Trade Ministers.

The discussions focused on strengthening cooperation in trade and investment with particular attention to the actualisation of the LAPSSET corridor as a strategic link to unlock the economic potential of Northern Kenya and enhance regional connectivity.

The two ministers also agreed to hold a follow-up bilateral meeting in Nairobi later this year to deepen discussions and advance areas of mutual interest.

02/09/2026

Day One at the Mombasa International Show 2026!

Visitors streamed at the State Department for Trade stand to engage with our team, learn more about our work and explore opportunities in trade.

We look forward to welcoming more visitors throughout the show.

01/09/2026

The Mombasa International Show 2026 kicks off tomorrow at Jomo Kenyatta Show ground, Mkomani!

The State Department for Trade stand is ready for you.

Come and talk to our team, ask questions, learn what we do and discover how trade affects you and your business.

We’ll be sharing information on how we:

✅ Shape Kenya’s trade policies

✅ Help Kenyan businesses find and grow export opportunities

✅ Support the growth of digital trade

✅ Negotiate trade agreements under EAC, COMESA and AfCFTA

✅ Work with international organisations such as WTO and UNCTAD to advance Kenya’s trade interests

✅ Protect local producers from dumping and unfairly subsidised imports

✅ Help fight illicit trade and counterfeits

✅ Ensure fairness and accuracy through weights and measures

✅ Promote and regulate wholesale and retail trade

✅ Protect consumers from unfair trade practices

Visit us starting tomorrow!

01/09/2026

When the DJ plays the right one ,even the PS for Trade Regina Ombam can't resist!

A fun moment celebrating creativity,culture and talent at Promised Land Studios during the East Africa Edition of Creatives Connect Afrika

01/09/2026

These three corridors connect ports to inland markets, cutting transport time and lowering logistics costs for anyone trading across borders. This is the physical infrastructure making the TFTA's promise real.

28/08/2026

Pillar Two of the TFTA is Infrastructure Development, the roads, ports, digital infrastructure, and transport corridors that make trade physically possible. This pillar is about reducing the cost and time it takes to move goods, services and people across the TFTA

28/08/2026

The extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) is an important opportunity for Kenya to maintain duty-free access to the US market and strengthen trade relations between the two countries.

AGOA, which lapsed on 30 September 2025, was extended in February 2026 to 31 December 2026. The US Senate has since approved a further extension to 31 December 2028, pending approval by the House of Representatives.

Principal Secretary for Trade Regina Ombam said the extension will give Kenyan exporters greater certainty as they expand their presence in the US market.

She noted that the continuity would particularly support agricultural exports by maintaining tariff-free access for premium Kenyan products, including cut flowers, tea, coffee and macadamia nuts.

PS Ombam made the remarks in Nairobi during the Kenya–US Agriculture, Trade and Investment Roundtable organised through the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA).

The meeting provided a platform for dialogue between senior US agricultural leaders and key Kenyan public and private sector stakeholders on agriculture, trade and investment, value addition, market access, food systems and opportunities for enhanced collaboration between Kenya and the United States.

The PS highlighted Kenya’s strong agricultural export potential, particularly in tea, coffee, flowers, nuts and avocados. She stressed the need to expand market access, promote value addition, increase exports and create more opportunities for farmers and businesses.

She also noted that Kenya’s participation in the EAC, COMESA and AfCFTA gives the country access to wider markets and strengthens its position as a gateway for trade and investment in Africa.

PS Ombam reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to climate-resilient agriculture and to building sustainable and competitive agricultural value chains.

25/08/2026

Market Integration is the first of four pillars driving the TFTA. In simple terms, it's about making it more affordable and easier for you to sell beyond your own borders.