Kenya’s free-trade deal with the UK stumbles towards finish line

By Morris Kiruga

Posted on Friday, 5 March 2021 12:47
Kenya Flower Fortunes
Kenyan roses being readied for their trip to Europe. Flower import companies in the UK import nearly €200 million worth of roses a year. (AP Photo/Ilya Gridneff)

President Uhuru Kenyatta's administration is facing pushback from legislators and farmers over secrecy in its trade deal with the UK, which was signed last December and should be ratified before the end of the month.

In late February, legislators on both sides of the deal delayed ratifying the treaty, but for different reasons.

  • In the UK parliament, among the major issues for the delay were concerns about how the deal will affect the UK’s trade with Kenya’s neighbours in the East African Community, which are not included in the current treaty.
  • In Nairobi, members of parliament accused the government of submitting incomplete documents to Parliament.