Principal Secretary (PS) for Trade Regina Ombam has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to leveraging on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to steer Kenya’s trade policy toward deeper continental integration, guided by the principles of inclusivity, innovation, and sustainability.
AfCFTA was approved by the 18th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union in January 2012. It seeks to boost intra-African trade and strengthen economic ties across the continent.
Speaking during a sensitization workshop for Members of Parliament on deepening Kenya’s engagement with AfCFTA in Mombasa, PS Ombam said the agreement presented an opportunity to rewrite Africa’s economic story, from a continent that trades outward to one that trades within itself, creating shared prosperity for its people.
“Let us reaffirm our shared commitment to making the AfCFTA not merely a document of aspiration, but a lived reality for every Kenyan trader, farmer, and entrepreneur. Together, through coherent policy action and inter-institutional collaboration, we can ensure that Kenya remains at the forefront of Africa’s economic transformation,” she stated.
The PS noted that the meeting with the National Assembly Trade Industry and Cooperatives and Parliamentary Caucus on Business and Economy committees provides a structured platform for dialogue and alignment on key policy and legislative priorities.
She said this would ensure that the Committees and the State Department for Trade are working in tandem to advance the overarching government development agenda, national trade promotion and development objectives.
“The AfCFTA represents one of the most transformative policy instruments of our time, a bold and visionary step toward an integrated, prosperous, and self-reliant Africa. It is more than a trade agreement; it is a blueprint for the continent’s economic renaissance,” said the PS.
She further expounded that Kenya’s engagement with the AfCFTA is anchored in the conviction that regional and continental integration are critical pathways to achieving the national development aspirations.
The PS cited the government’s unwavering commitment to AfCTA saying Kenya was the first country to ratify the agreement. She was also a pilot country for the Guided Trade Initiative and one of the first countries to develop a green supplement for the tea and coffee sector.
“This indicates a clear testament to our belief in the power of a united African market and our determination to play a leading role in shaping its future,” she said, adding that AfCFTA aligns closely with Kenya’s Vision 2030 and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
Through the agreement, the government seeks to unlock new value chains, strengthen its competitiveness, and empower MSMEs, women, and youth to participate effectively in intra-African trade.
The PS advocated for a well-coordinated, whole-of-government approach, anchored in robust institutional frameworks and strong policy coherence.
“From an operational standpoint, our goal is clear: to translate the provisions of the AfCFTA Agreement into tangible outcomes that stimulate production, enhance market access, and expand export opportunities for Kenyan enterprises,” she said.
“To fully realize the potential of the AfCFTA, we must sustain momentum through legislative alignment, capacity building, and coordinated policy implementation,” the PS noted.
Trade Committee Vice Chairperson Marianne Kitany echoed the PS’s sentiments, terming AfCFTA as the most ambitious economic integration project as it represents a fundamental reorientation of the economic destiny of Africa, from 54 fragmented markets into a single, integrated market of over 1.4 billion people with a combined GDP of over 3.4 trillion US dollars.
“Our manufacturers, our service providers, and our innovators can no longer be confined by the borders of our neighbour’s. The AfCFTA is our key to the entire continent. It is about moving our “Made in Kenya” and “Serviced by Kenya” brands from Cape to Cairo,” she said.
The Chairman of the Business and Economy Caucus Julius Rutto said that AfCFTA represents one of the most ambitious trade frameworks on the continent as it aimed at creating a single African market for goods and services, facilitate investment, and promote industrial development across all member states.
He emphasized that the ongoing Phase II negotiations, which focus on investment, intellectual property rights, competition policy, digital trade, and women and youth in trade, are significant.
“These protocols will determine how African countries, including Kenya, shape their competitiveness, innovation ecosystems, and equitable participation in global and regional value chains,” he said.
By Sadik Hassan
