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Africa / Market profile

Kenya

A research starting point for understanding Kenya from an Indian business perspective.

Last updated: 4 October 2026

India
Kenya flagKenya

India-focused research

Kenya country briefing artwork

Country overview

Capital
Nairobi
Region
Africa
Currency
Kenyan shilling (KES)
Time zone
UTC+3 (EAT); no daylight saving

Source: Kenyan High Commission

View source
Kenya flag

Market snapshot

Key indicators for the selected market. Country indicators are dated; trade figures use the latest available year.

Population

56.43M

2024

World Bank

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GDP

US$120.40B

2024

World Bank

View source
GDP growth

4.7%

2024

World Bank

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Import market size

US$20.20B

2024

WTO Tariff & Trade Data, UN Comtrade

View source
Indicator notes & verification

World Bank indicators and WTO merchandise imports refer to 2024. Imports exclude services and are reported to the nearest 0.1 million US dollars. The bilateral brief describes MFN treatment and a tax agreement, not automatic preferential product tariffs.

Last verified: 4 October 2026

Data years: Population: 2024; GDP: 2024; GDP growth: 2024; Import market size: 2024

India-Kenya trade relationship

Historical exports and leading recorded products, not a forecast of demand.

US$2.54B

-2.9% YoY

India exports to Kenya (2024)

Source: CEPII BACI HS17 via India Trade Routes

See full trade series
Trade notes
2023: US$2.61B2024: US$2.54B
Direction only; not a scaled chart.

Recorded route summary

India recorded exports to Kenya in every BACI year from 2017 to 2024. In 2024, India's exports to Kenya were $2.54B, down 2.9% year over year. The 3 largest HS6 products by value were Petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals, not crude: preparations n.e.c. containing by weight 70% or more of petroleum oils or oils from bituminous minerals: these being the basic constituents of the preparations: waste oils (HS 271000, $489.7M, 19.3% of the total); Medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.c. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale (HS 300490, $247.5M, 9.7% of the total); Cereals: rice, semi-milled or wholly milled, whether or not polished or glazed (HS 100630, $173.4M, 6.8% of the total).

Top Indian exports to Kenya (2024)

  1. 1
    Petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals, not crude: preparations n.e.c. containing by weight 70% or more of petroleum oils or oils from bituminous minerals: these being the basic constituents of the preparations: waste oils. Expand full product description.

    HS6 271000

    US$489.68M
  2. 2
    Medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.c. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale. Expand full product description.

    HS6 300490

    US$247.47M
  3. 3
    Cereals: rice, semi-milled or wholly milled, whether or not polished or glazed. Expand full product description.

    HS6 100630

    US$173.38M

Why research this market?

Four research lenses to understand the market, not a recommendation to enter it.

Demand

Kenya recorded US$20.20B of merchandise imports in 2024. Investigate buyers and product-specific evidence.

View details Demand

Source: WTO Tariff & Trade Data, UN Comtrade (2024)

View source

Check the linked evidence and its date before acting.

Capability

Review product fit, delivery capacity, support and localisation.

View details Capability

This research guidance has no linked supporting evidence yet.

Access

Verify import procedures, classification and documentation for the product.

View details Access

Source: Kenya Revenue Authority

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Check the linked evidence and its date before acting.

Expansion

Assess staffing, operating responsibilities, locations and costs.

View details Expansion

This research guidance has no linked supporting evidence yet.

Explore sectors

Choose a research focus. No sector has been established as an opportunity in this country.

Market entry

Possible routes to evaluate, not recommendations for this country.

Direct sales

Evaluate contracting, fulfilment and support.

  1. 01Indian business

  2. 02Entry route

  3. 03Buyer or partner

  4. 04Local operations

  5. 05Expansion

Questions before entering

Check these against your product, HS code and business model.

Regulatory & compliance

Verify current requirements with the relevant authority before acting. This is not legal or tax advice.

01

Business registration

Business Registration Service provides registry and eCitizen resources. Verify requirements for the structure and activity.

Source: Business Registration Service

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View details Business registration

What to verify

Business Registration Service provides registry and eCitizen resources. Verify requirements for the structure and activity.

Relevant source: Business Registration Service

Last verified: 4 October 2026

View source
02

Import & export

KRA provides import/export procedures. Verify current requirements for the actual shipment.

Source: Kenya Revenue Authority

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View details Import & export

What to verify

KRA provides import/export procedures. Verify current requirements for the actual shipment.

Relevant source: Kenya Revenue Authority

Last verified: 4 October 2026

View source
03

Tax

Verify entity and transaction tax obligations. Tax rates and treaty eligibility are not established here.

View details Tax

What to verify

Verify entity and transaction tax obligations. Tax rates and treaty eligibility are not established here.

04

Data & privacy

Verify applicable privacy and processing obligations; detailed requirements remain pending verification.

View details Data & privacy

What to verify

Verify applicable privacy and processing obligations; detailed requirements remain pending verification.

05

Product requirements

Verify standards, conformity, labelling and approvals for the product.

View details Product requirements

What to verify

Verify standards, conformity, labelling and approvals for the product.

06

Sector-specific regulation

Identify regulators and confirm activity permissions.

View details Sector-specific regulation

What to verify

Identify regulators and confirm activity permissions.

India connection

Explore sourced bilateral information relevant to Indian businesses.

No institutional endorsement or partnership is implied.

IndiaKenya flagKenya
01

India-to-country trade

Explore recorded exports and products in the trade section above.

View trade data
02

India-Kenya trade and tax agreements

The Indian mission describes mutual MFN treatment under the 1981 Trade Agreement and a revised DTAA entering into force on 30 August 2017. Product and tax-article eligibility require separate verification.

Source: High Commission of India Nairobi

View details India-Kenya trade and tax agreements

The Indian mission describes mutual MFN treatment under the 1981 Trade Agreement and a revised DTAA entering into force on 30 August 2017. Product and tax-article eligibility require separate verification.

Use the source and its scope to guide further research; no relationship or tariff entitlement is implied.

Source: High Commission of India Nairobi

Last verified: 4 October 2026

View source
03

Relevant Indian institutions

The High Commission of India in Nairobi provides trade-query and commercial resources. No endorsement is implied.

Source: High Commission of India Nairobi

View details Relevant Indian institutions

The High Commission of India in Nairobi provides trade-query and commercial resources. No endorsement is implied.

Use the source and its scope to guide further research; no relationship or tariff entitlement is implied.

Source: High Commission of India Nairobi

Last verified: 4 October 2026

View source
04

Potential ecosystem connections

Identify partners through research. No relationship or endorsement is implied.

View details Potential ecosystem connections

Identify partners through research. No relationship or endorsement is implied.

Use the source and its scope to guide further research; no relationship or tariff entitlement is implied.

05

Relevant bilateral resources

Consult the official bilateral brief and verify the scope of any agreement.

Source: High Commission of India Nairobi

View details Relevant bilateral resources

Consult the official bilateral brief and verify the scope of any agreement.

Use the source and its scope to guide further research; no relationship or tariff entitlement is implied.

Source: High Commission of India Nairobi

Last verified: 4 October 2026

View source

What should a business research next?

Identify products, HS codes and buyers. Verify imports, standards, taxes and agreement scope before comparing operating routes.

  1. 01

    Understand the market

  2. 02

    Identify relevant sectors

  3. 03

    Assess your readiness

  4. 04

    Evaluate entry routes

  5. 05

    Identify partners

  6. 06

    Build an expansion plan

Discover → Prepare → Connect → Expand

Turn research into a plan

Start with your business context before drawing conclusions about a market.

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