UK and Kenya Launch Talks on Digital Trade Pact to Boost Tech and Cross-Border Commerce

The United Kingdom and Kenya have officially started negotiations on a Digital Trade Agreement aimed at strengthening digital commerce, supporting technology investment and making it easier for businesses to operate across both markets.

Speaking in an interview with Capital FM, British High Commissioner to Kenya Matt Baugh said the proposed agreement is expected to reduce barriers to digital trade while reinforcing Kenya’s reputation as Africa’s “Silicon Savannah.” The deal is intended to promote cross-border e-commerce, encourage innovation and create a more conducive environment for digital businesses operating in the two countries.

The negotiations build on the UK-Kenya Strategic Partnership signed in July 2025 by Kenyan President William Ruto and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The partnership outlines cooperation in key areas including trade, technology, climate action and security, with digital transformation emerging as a major pillar of bilateral engagement.

Economic ties between the two countries have continued to strengthen over the past year. According to Baugh, bilateral trade surpassed KES 340 billion (approximately $2.6 billion) during the first year of the strategic partnership. British businesses currently employ nearly 250,000 people in Kenya, while planned investments are projected to generate more than 100,000 additional direct and indirect jobs.

The two countries also continue to benefit from their Economic Partnership Agreement, which provides Kenyan exports with preferential access to the UK market, including duty-free and quota-free treatment for a range of agricultural products.

Alongside trade, the UK is expanding support for Kenya’s digital transformation through programmes designed to improve digital skills, expand access to technology and strengthen digital inclusion. The initiatives are expected to benefit more than 200,000 individuals and businesses, with a particular focus on women-led enterprises and people living with disabilities.

Kenya is also pursuing broader ambitions to become a leading regional technology hub through the Kenya Digital Economy Acceleration Project (KDEAP). The $390 million World Bank-funded programme, which runs from 2023 to 2028, is focused on expanding broadband infrastructure, modernising public services, improving digital skills and increasing participation in the digital economy among youth, women and people with disabilities.