NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya’s commerce landscape took a strategic turn this week as the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) inaugurated a dedicated office in Dubai, marking a decisive push to protect Kenyan exporters and strengthen the country’s foothold in the Gulf region.
The office, officially commissioned by Chamber President Dr. Erick Rutto, is designed to address long-standing challenges faced by exporters, particularly in the agricultural and livestock sectors.
Speaking at the launch, Dr. Rutto described these challenges as a “troubling reality,” citing Sh6 billion in annual unpaid livestock exports and the disappearance of 156 containers of fresh produce each year due to unscrupulous import practices.
“This intervention is not optional — it is necessary. Our exporters deserve protection, predictability, and mechanisms that make trade profitable, not perilous,” Dr. Rutto said, underscoring the urgency of institutional support for Kenyan businesses in international markets.
The Dubai chapter forms part of a broader KNCCI strategy to deepen commercial ties and support exporters on the ground in key markets.
It will act as a liaison office, dispute responder, and market intelligence hub for Kenyan enterprises seeking reliable partners across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states.
At the heart of the launch was the unveiling of a technical roadmap by Mr. Salat Ali, Chairperson of KNCCI Dubai. The roadmap outlines a suite of Trade Protection Tools aimed at safeguarding exporters and enhancing competitiveness, including:
- Fraud Elimination: Conducting rigorous due diligence on potential buyers in the UAE and broader Gulf region to weed out rogue traders.
- Secure Payments: Implementing rapid-response mechanisms to resolve commercial disputes and ensure timely payment for goods shipped.
- Market Gap Bridging: Leveraging the fact that Kenya currently supplies only 14pc of Gulf market demand in key products, a gap highlighted by Dr. Richard Kyuma, CEO of the National Livestock Board, as a significant growth opportunity.
“This office is not just symbolic — it’s practical,” Mr. Ali said. “It gives Kenyan exporters the infrastructure to vet partners, secure contracts, and resolve disputes quickly and fairly, turning trade from a gamble into a governed process.”
CEO KK Mutai echoed these sentiments, urging KNCCI members to fully utilize the newly established Dubai chapter. “We have taken a direct step toward making export trade a profitable enterprise, not one fraught with risk,” Mutai said.
Trade analysts say that while Kenya has vast export potential, especially in horticulture, livestock, and value-added products, the lack of on-ground support in destination markets has historically undercut growth.
The Dubai office — strategically positioned in one of the GCC’s premier commercial hubs — is expected to help bridge this gap by fostering connections with buyers, providing real-time market insights, and securing legal and commercial support for Kenyan businesses.
Moreover, the office could serve as a platform to diversify Kenya’s export base beyond traditional markets in East Africa and Europe, tapping into the Gulf’s appetite for fresh produce, meat, and specialty goods. With Gulf states increasingly seeking diversified food sources and reliable suppliers, the KNCCI initiative aligns with broader national export growth ambitions.
Industry leaders welcomed the move, noting that institutional backing overseas could help Kenya capture a larger share of Gulf market demand, reduce losses from unpaid exports, and build trust with international partners.
