NAIROBI, Kenya — President William Ruto has reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), describing the framework as central to boosting intra-African trade and unlocking economic opportunities across the continent.
In remarks issued after talks with AfCFTA Secretary-General Wamkele Mene at State House, Nairobi, the President said deeper trade integration was critical to Africa’s economic transformation and the growth of both public and private sector enterprises.
“The African Continental Free Trade Area framework is central to boosting intra-African trade and unlocking opportunities for both the public and private sectors,” Ruto said.
He commended the AfCFTA Secretariat for progress made in reducing trade barriers and enabling African countries to trade more with one another, noting that Kenya remains committed to actively supporting the initiative.
Ruto said the government is working closely with AfCFTA to harness the capacity of the private sector, which he described as agile and well-positioned to drive cross-border trade.
“We are committed to working with the free trade area to harness the power and agility of the private sector, recognising its capacity and expertise as key to increasing trade among countries in our continent,” he said.
Green industrialisation push
Beyond trade liberalisation, Ruto said Kenya is partnering with AfCFTA to advance African green industrialisation, an approach aimed at promoting climate-friendly trade and investment while sustaining economic growth.
“Green industrialisation drives climate-friendly trade and investment, demonstrating that growth and sustainability are not exclusive,” he said.
The President also disclosed that Kenya has been requested to host the secretariat of the Africa Green Industrialisation Initiative, a move that could position the country as a regional hub for climate-aligned manufacturing, policy coordination, and investment mobilisation.
Hosting the secretariat would further cement Kenya’s role in continental economic diplomacy and environmental governance, particularly as African countries seek to balance industrial growth with climate commitments under global frameworks such as the Paris Agreement.
AfCFTA and Kenya’s trade ambitions
The AfCFTA, which entered into force in 2019, aims to create a single continental market for goods and services, covering more than 1.3 billion people with a combined GDP of over $3 trillion. The agreement seeks to progressively eliminate tariffs, harmonise regulations, and ease the movement of goods and services across borders.
