Kenya announced on Wednesday that it will appeal a court ruling suspending its trade agreement with the European Union (EU), the Ministry of Trade confirmed. The East African Court of Justice issued the suspension after a think-tank argued that Kenya violated the East African Community (EAC) treaty by signing the deal unilaterally.
The Kenya-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), which came into force in 2024, was intended to boost trade between Nairobi and the EU. Kenya exported nearly €1.2 billion in goods to the EU in 2023, including flowers and fruits, while total bilateral trade reached €3 billion. The deal grants Kenya preferential access to the EU market, while Europe gains tariff reductions on its exports to Kenya over a 25-year period.
Regional trade experts have criticized Kenya’s move, arguing that any trade agreement with the EU should involve the entire eight-member EAC bloc. The EPA, however, remains open for other East African states to join, a point emphasized by both the Kenyan government and EU officials. Nairobi’s appeal is expected to challenge the suspension, highlighting the economic significance of the agreement for the country’s export sector and broader trade relations with Europe.
