Kenya champions innovation, digital solutions at COMESA summit

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki speaks during the opening of the COMESA summit.(Photo: Trade Ministry/X)

By Maureen Kinyanjui
Thursday, October 9, 2025

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki called on regional leaders and businesses to embrace digital trade solutions to increase Africa’s intra-continental trade, which currently accounts for just 14 per cent of total trade.

Kenya is taking bold steps to modernise trade across the COMESA region by promoting digital solutions, innovation, and value addition to strengthen regional competitiveness.

As the 18th Comesa Business Forum unfolds in Nairobi, the country is leveraging the platform to explore opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and pursue fresh trade negotiations with the United States following the expiration of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) on September 30.

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To simplify regional commerce, the Kenya Revenue Authority and COMESA have introduced an electronic certificate of origin system, replacing cumbersome paper processes.

The digital certificates reduce processing time by up to 80 per cent and cut costs by at least half. Countries including Eswatini, Malawi, Zambia, and soon Zimbabwe, which will fully transition to e-certificates from August 1, 2025, are already seeing smoother trade flows.

During the forum’s opening, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki called on regional leaders and businesses to embrace digital trade solutions to increase Africa’s intra-continental trade, which currently accounts for just 14 per cent of total trade.

“Digital transformation creates a more dynamic business environment, including promoting initiatives like the system of Electronic Certificate of Origin and smart border concepts to facilitate the flow of goods and services,” Kindiki said.

With President William Ruto assuming the Comesa Chairmanship, Kenya plans to spearhead efforts to integrate digital tools into regional value chains, encouraging the shift from raw material exports to higher-value products that can compete globally.

“The goal is to move beyond the export of raw materials and create more sophisticated, higher-value products that can be traded within the region and globally,” Kindiki added.

Comesa Secretary General Chileshe Kapwepwe highlighted growth in intra-regional trade to nearly $14 billion (Sh1.8 trillion), citing innovative systems like the Regional Customs Transit Guarantee Scheme and the Yellow Card motor insurance program.

The customs guarantee scheme allows goods to move across multiple borders using a single bond, while the Yellow Card offers liability coverage for vehicles travelling within member states, both reducing costs and enhancing trade efficiency.

Kenya is also part of the newly activated COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Free Trade Area, creating Africa’s largest integrated market of 682 million people.

Despite these opportunities, Kenya’s export revenue from Comesa nations declined by 2.8 per cent last year, dropping from Sh341.1 billion in 2023 to Sh331.7 billion in 2024, highlighting the need for stronger market diversification.

Investment, Trade and Industry CS Lee Kinyanjui reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to reforms that promote competitiveness and facilitate trade.

“The recommendations that will emerge from this forum will not remain as mere words but will be distilled into the Comesa Business Declaration,” Kinyanjui said.

He also noted Kenya’s efforts to eliminate trade barriers and simplify cross-border transactions.

“We must break down barriers, enhance cross-border trade and improve border efficiencies to make the movement of people, goods and services seamless. Kenya is leading by example, abolishing visas for all African countries and adopting easier payment systems, bold steps that make trade faster, simpler and more inclusive,” he said.