Kenya's National Assembly has approved an amendment to the East African Community treaty, aiming to speed up border trade and enhance cross-border business. The ratification allows new member states to join the Trade Remedies Committee, promoting fair competition and dispute resolution. Kenya becomes the second state after Burundi to ratify the changes.
On November 12, 2025, Kenya's National Assembly ratified an amendment to Article 24(2)a of the EAC Customs Union Protocol. This move paves the way for new member states to join the Trade Remedies Committee, which currently has nine members from Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. The expansion will include representatives from Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Somalia, with each state nominating three members upon full ratification.
The treaty introduces measures for better trade dispute resolution, anti-dumping actions to ensure quality goods, subsidies, countervailing measures, and safeguards instituted by EAC states. These steps are expected to enhance transparency, reduce disputes, and facilitate faster customs clearance, allowing efficient movement of goods and services across borders.
Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah urged partner states to embrace open borders, stating that a larger market will drive regional economic growth and benefit businesses. Eldas MP Adan Keynan emphasized Kenya’s leadership in the bloc, calling for Nairobi to set high standards in trade and governance for others to emulate. Mombasa County MP Mohammed Zamzam advocated for fair treatment of Kenyan traders in other EAC countries, stressing seamless cross-border business.
Trade within the EAC has faced challenges from political and perceived differences, despite integration potential. In Q2 2025, intra-EAC trade surged to US$38.2 billion (Ksh4.94 trillion), with exports up 40.5% to US$18.6 billion (Ksh2.40 trillion) and imports rising 18.8% to US$19.6 billion (Ksh2.53 trillion).