The Government of Kenya has emphasized the need for intensified regional cooperation to unlock Eastern Africa's horticultural trade potential. Deputy Director for Internal Trade, Matthew Komen, speaking on behalf of the Principal Secretary for the State Department for Trade, highlighted that individual countries and businesses cannot tackle existing trade and logistics barriers alone. He called for coordinated public-private action across the region during the official launch of the Horticulture Council of Eastern Africa (HoCEA) in Nairobi.
Horticulture is a vital economic driver for Kenya, generating significant foreign exchange and providing employment, particularly for women and youth. Kenya exports approximately 467,000 metric tonnes of horticultural produce annually, valued at about US$1.143 billion. To boost competitiveness, the Kenyan government outlined key priorities, including expanding cold-storage capacity along the Northern Corridor, strengthening single-window systems, and leveraging trade agreements like the EU-Kenya EPA and AfCFTA.
HoCEA unites national horticulture associations across nine Eastern African nations to establish a collective regional voice. HoCEA Chairperson Dr. Jacqueline Mkindi noted that while national platforms hold expertise, the Council provides the unified scale needed to address cross-border challenges, empower smallholders, and influence policy negotiations. This unified voice will enable the sector to tackle challenges that individual countries or firms cannot address alone.
HoCEA Secretary General Clement Tulezi outlined five core strategic priorities for the Council: market access and trade facilitation, cold-chain infrastructure, digital trade, inclusive value-chain development, and climate resilience. These priorities aim to address the existing challenges in the horticultural sector and enhance the region's competitiveness in the global market.
International development partners, including TradeMark Africa, the Royal Danish Embassy, the European Union Delegation, and the Netherlands Embassy, strongly backed the initiative. They cited the need to withstand global supply chain shocks and shift toward sustainable green logistics. The partners highlighted the importance of strengthening competitiveness across the entire horticulture value chain.
The ongoing regional dialogue, involving delegates from across Eastern Africa, aims to streamline border processes and aggregate regional export volumes. The event concludes on September 23, 2026, with the validation of the Nairobi Horticulture Action Roadmap and the release of a Nairobi Communiqué detailing priority institutional responsibilities and implementation timelines. This will provide a clear roadmap for the sector's development.
The launch of HoCEA and the regional dialogue have garnered significant attention from stakeholders, with many emphasizing the need for a unified regional voice in the horticultural sector. Key points from the launch include the need for coordinated public-private action, the importance of cold-chain infrastructure, and the potential for sustainable green logistics.
Key points
- Kenya seeks to boost horticultural competitiveness through regional cooperation.
- HoCEA aims to establish a unified regional voice for the horticultural sector.
- The sector's development will focus on cold-chain infrastructure, digital trade, and climate resilience.
