NAIROBI, Kenya — The State Department for Trade has launched a nationwide fact-finding mission across Kenya’s major entry and exit points to assess how illicit trade operates and strengthen measures to protect legitimate commerce.
The exercise is focused on identifying enforcement gaps, improving inter-agency coordination, and documenting best practices that can be scaled up across the country.
Officials say the mission will also help strengthen collaboration between government agencies tasked with regulating and securing Kenya’s trade ecosystem.
Focus on key trade corridors
Teams have already visited major trade routes, including Mombasa and the Kenya–Ethiopia border in Marsabit County, where illicit trade risks are considered high due to heavy cross-border movement.
In Mombasa, a delegation led by Deputy Director of Trade Mathew Komen held talks with county officials before engaging a multi-agency enforcement team at the Kenya Ports Authority.
The discussions brought together officers from the Kenya Revenue Authority, Anti-Counterfeit Authority, Kenya Bureau of Standards, KenTrade, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, and transport sector representatives.
Officials focused on operational challenges, enforcement bottlenecks, and coordination mechanisms aimed at securing the port while facilitating legal trade.
Border challenges in Marsabit
At the Kenya–Ethiopia border in Marsabit, a second team led by Deputy Director Chelego held talks with county and national administrators.
County officials raised concerns over the difficulty of monitoring illicit trade across the vast and remote border region, where enforcement capacity remains stretched.
The discussions highlighted the need for stronger surveillance systems, improved intelligence sharing, and closer cooperation between national and county governments.
Strengthening multi-agency coordination
The State Department for Trade said the mission is designed to improve coordination between agencies responsible for customs enforcement, standards regulation, and criminal investigations.
Officials emphasised that collaboration is key to balancing trade facilitation with effective enforcement against smuggling and counterfeit goods.
The Kenya Ports Authority engagement also underscored the importance of joint operations in addressing complex trade-related crimes.
Policy recommendations expected
The fact-finding mission is expected to produce policy recommendations aimed at strengthening Kenya’s trade enforcement framework.
Authorities say the findings will inform future reforms targeting illicit trade networks while supporting the smoother movement of legitimate goods across borders.
The government has increasingly focused on tightening border controls as part of broader efforts to boost revenue collection and protect consumers from counterfeit and unsafe products.
