EU pushes Kenya to diversify exports beyond agriculture

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Ambassador of the EU in Kenya Henriette Geiger makes her remarks at Radisson Blu Hotel in Nairobi, July 9, 2026. [Edward Kiplimo, Standard]

Kenya's export basket remains heavily dominated by agricultural products, limiting the country's ability to maximise export earnings. The European Union (EU) is now urging Kenya to diversify its exports and invest in value addition to unlock greater trade opportunities and higher incomes.

EU Ambassador to Kenya Henriette Geiger has challenged the country to look beyond agricultural products and seek alternatives through the existing Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the EU and Kenya.

Speaking during the launch of an implementation strategy for the Kenya-EU EPA, the envoy detailed the recent initiative by Equity Group that saw Kenya’s speciality tea, among them purple tea, find its way to France.