NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya has reaffirmed its commitment to policy reform, infrastructure development, and digitalisation to strengthen food supply chains and expand market access across Africa.
Speaking in Nairobi, Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo Gitau said the government is prioritising regulatory frameworks and public-private collaboration to unlock sustainable trade and investment in the agrifood sector.
Kabogo was addressing a two-day public-private dialogue on agrifood trade and investment, organised by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) jointly with the governments of Kenya and Romania.
The meeting brought together senior government officials, private sector leaders, and development partners from across Africa and beyond to examine barriers and opportunities for transforming agriculture into a driver of industrial growth.
“Kenya remains committed to supporting policy and regulatory frameworks, infrastructure development, and digitalisation to strengthen food chains and build strong market linkages,” Kabogo said.
He described Africa’s agrifood sector as one of the continent’s most underutilised engines of industrialisation, export competitiveness, and inclusive job creation, if supported by coherent policy and cross-border integration.
Central to Kenya’s position, Kabogo said, is the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which he described as one of the most significant integration instruments of the current generation.
Kenya is pushing for faster implementation of AfCFTA to enable agrifood value chains to operate seamlessly across borders, linking producers, processors, logistics providers, and regional markets.
“Strengthening public-private collaboration, intra-African trade and investment is essential to creating resilient supply chains and competitive agrifood industries,” he said.
The forum comes as African countries grapple with climate shocks, food insecurity, and rising production costs, challenges that have exposed weaknesses in fragmented supply chains and limited intra-African trade.
According to the African Union, less than 20pc of Africa’s total trade currently takes place within the continent, with agrifood products among the most affected by tariff and non-tariff barriers.
Participants at the Nairobi meeting said mobilising private capital, improving infrastructure, and harmonising standards would be critical to scaling agrifood trade under AfCFTA.
The dialogue drew high-level participation, including former Nigerian Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Mauritius Minister for Agro-Industry, Food Security, Blue Economy, and Fisheries Arvin Boolell, Rwanda’s Minister of Trade and Industry Prudence Sebahizi, and Tanzania’s Deputy Minister for Agriculture David Silinde.
Also in attendance were Romania’s Secretary of State at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Florian-Emil Dumitru, AfCFTA Secretariat Director for Private Sector Engagement Themba Kumalo, and OECD Deputy Secretary-General Frantisek Ruzicka, among other regional and international stakeholders.
Kenya has positioned itself as a regional hub for agribusiness, logistics, and trade diplomacy, with officials arguing that stronger integration under AfCFTA could stabilise food prices, create jobs, and reduce reliance on extra-continental imports.
The government says its strategy combines investment in transport corridors, digital trade platforms, and regulatory reforms to ensure smallholder farmers and agribusinesses can compete within a unified African market.
