Kenya will on Wednesday assume the chairmanship of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), with a strong commitment to advancing digital transformation and regional integration. The announcement was made by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki during the 18th COMESA Business Forum held in Nairobi.
Kindiki emphasized that Kenya’s leadership will prioritize using technology to strengthen trade ties, enhance competitiveness, and foster sustainable economic growth across member states.
“Tomorrow, Kenya is assuming the chairmanship of our organisation, COMESA. This is not a light responsibility,” said Kindiki. “Kenya will leverage this role to champion a new era of regional integration that uses digitalization to deepen value chains for sustainable and inclusive growth.”
The Deputy President noted that intra-African trade currently stands at just 15 percent — a figure Kenya intends to help improve through digital innovation and value chain development.
He said Kenya will promote the adoption of digital tools such as smart border systems and the Electronic Certificate of Origin (ECO) to reduce trade barriers, improve efficiency, and facilitate seamless cross-border trade.
“Digital transformation creates a more dynamic business environment. It reduces non-tariff barriers by introducing digital solutions to trade facilitation and modernizing customs and border procedures,” Kindiki added.
Kindiki highlighted that Kenya’s leadership in mobile money, fintech, and digital governance positions it well to guide COMESA’s modernization efforts. The chairmanship will also focus on integrating agri-tech innovations into agriculture, promoting value addition, and supporting small and medium enterprises led by youth and women.
By steering COMESA’s digital agenda, Kenya aims to move beyond the export of raw materials and create a more robust, technology-driven regional economy capable of competing globally.
