The signing ceremony, held in Nairobi, was attended by Kenyan President William Ruto and EU Commission Chief Ursula Von Der Leyen. Speaking at the event, President Ruto emphasised the agreement’s core objective, stating, “At the core of this arrangement is our aspiration to put real money into the pockets of ordinary people: farmers, craftsmen and women, fabricators, transporters, and various other kinds of workers who contribute to the manufacturing, intercontinental transport and last-mile delivery to consumers of various products that are a subject of the signing of this agreement.”
Under the terms of the agreement, Kenya commits to gradually opening its market to EU products, fostering a balanced economic relationship between the two parties. The EU holds a pivotal role as Kenya’s leading export destination and second-largest trading partner, contributing to approximately €3.3 billion ($3.6 billion; £2.8 billion) in trade in 2022. This figure represents a remarkable 27% increase compared to 2018.
