Inside Kenya’s growing trade and economic relations with the United Kingdom (UK), there is a stark reality that few exporters in Nairobi can overlook.
Although the UK is a top buyer of Kenyan goods, the majority of exports from Nairobi end up in just two out of the 12 administrative regions of the European country: London and the East of England.
The East of England is situated north of London, and includes the ceremonial counties of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, and Suffolk. It was historically known as East Anglia. London is the capital of England and the United Kingdom.
Analysis of data by the UK’s Department for Business and Trade shows that London absorbed Sh20.6 billion worth of Kenyan exports and East of England Sh17.7 billion. Together, they accounted for Sh38.23 billion, or nearly half of the UK’s total imports from Kenya.
This dominance reflects the role of London’s wholesale flower markets and financial hubs, as well as the East’s proximity to ports and agro-processing facilities—a scenario which exposes Kenya to the risks of market concentration.
By contrast, Scotland and Northern Ireland—combined—took in just Sh1.7 billion, barely scratching the surface of Kenya’s export potential.
By neglecting these regions, Kenya has left itself over dependent on a narrow geographic base.
This concentration is ironic in two ways. First, it contradicts Kenya’s push for trade diversification under its post-Brexit deal with the UK, which was designed to open up access to more regional markets.
Second, it leaves Kenya’s exporters highly exposed—overreliance on London and the East means that any economic slowdown, regulatory shift, or logistical bottleneck in these two regions could ripple disproportionately across Kenya’s export earnings.
Other regions presented only modest figures: Yorkshire & the Humber (Sh11.2 billion), East Midlands (Sh6.97 billion), and the North West (Sh4.25 billion).
Analysts say Kenya risks missing out on untapped opportunities in other parts of the UK, particularly in regions with growing demand for fresh produce and textiles. A more balanced distribution across the UK could reduce risks and make Kenya’s export story more resilient.
The UK is Kenya’s second most important export destination. Kenya mainly exports tea, coffee, and horticultural products, with the country accounting for 27 percent of the fresh produce and 56percent of the black tea market in the UK.
Kenya and the UK have an Economic Partnership Agreement that took effect in March 2021 and facilitates duty-free and quota-free access of Kenyan goods to the UK market.
Kenya is a major exporter of fresh produce, including tea, cut flowers, fresh vegetables, and fruits, to the UK.
The total volume of trade between the two nations grew by over 50 percent to $2.51 billion(Sh324.39billion) in 2024, from $1.66 billion (Sh214.53billion) in 2021.
