Kenya has achieved a major milestone by crossing the £2 billion (Ksh340 billion) mark in trade with the United Kingdom for the first time in the history of their trade relations.
In a statement released on Wednesday, November 5, Ministry of Trade revealed that the total value of goods and services traded between Kenya and the UK (exports plus imports) stood at Ksh340 billion (£2.1 billion) in the year ending September 2025, marking a 11.9 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2024.
According to the Ministry, this growth was driven by an 8 percent increase in UK exports to Kenya and a 14 percent rise in Kenyan exports to the UK.
During the reporting period, Kenya exported goods worth Ksh63 billion (approximately £371 million) and services worth Ksh71.5 billion (approximately £421 million) to the UK.
Of the goods exported, the fastest-growing category was animal and vegetable products, which increased by 15.6 per cent to Ksh28.7 billion (£169.2 million). This was followed by beverages, including coffee and tea, which rose by 12.8 per cent to Ksh24.3 billion (£143.3 million). These products also ranked among the top five exports to the UK.
During the same review period, the UK exported goods and services worth Ksh134.6 billion (£792 million) to Kenya, up from Ksh124 billion (£733 million) in the same period in 2024.
Mechanical power generators registered the highest growth at 18.3 percent, closely followed by refined oil and cars at 12 percent and 10 percent, respectively.
The milestone came months after President William Ruto’s visit to the UK, where he oversaw the signing of various partnerships centered on health, infrastructure, trade, and financial services.
Ruto in UK
In Ruto’s July visit to the UK, Kenya was able to galvanise the UK’s support for the Ksh30 billion Nairobi Railway City (NRC) project. The project mirrors the King's Cross Railway Station in England, a commuter hub that is one of the most advanced transport networks in the world.
Ruto also oversaw the signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with the University of Nottingham and King’s College London to join the Kenya-UK Health Alliance in establishing Centres of Health Education and Research Excellence in Kenya.
Another partnership was between Kenya and Lloyds, the world’s leading insurance and reinsurance market.
In the arrangement, Lloyd’s would establish a regional underwriting office in Nairobi, giving Kenyan businesses access to specialised risk solutions, thus boosting economic resilience and unlocking new growth opportunities.
Before his visit, Ruto had announced that Kenya and the UK would conduct a review of the strategic partnership agreement for 2025-2030 to further enhance mutual growth and cooperation.
Priorities in the undertaking would include climate action, green growth, innovation, science and technology, peace and security, and trade and investment.
Historically, the UK has been one of the largest foreign investors in Kenya, and British companies are among the largest taxpayers in the country. The British High Commission in Nairobi estimates that 150 British enterprises currently operate in Kenya, directly employing over 250,000 Kenyans.
