1. Your category in Kenya
Pick your category and this section shows what we actually hold for Kenya: how many potential buyers we have verified, what roles they play in the supply chain, and how well they fit. Switch back to All industries at any time.
“Potential buyers” means the buyers we have verified and listed in our own directory — not every importer in the country. Buyer roles are our own grouping of the roles recorded in that directory. (10 of these records do not yet carry a recorded buyer role.)
2. Entry gate
The first gate an exporter has to clear. Kenya's distinctive feature is that conformity is verified at origin: goods covered by the programme need a certificate of conformity issued before they are shipped, obtained through pre-export verification of conformity.
| Requirement | Status | What it involves | Lead time | Cost | Last verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KEBS PVoC | Mandatory (regulated goods) | Pre-export verification of conformity carried out at origin, leading to a certificate of conformity that is required for customs clearance | Pending | Pending | Pending |
| Import declaration | Mandatory | Import declaration filed through the customs system by the importer; classification and valuation are confirmed at this stage | Pending | — | Pending |
| Regulated product permits | Selected goods | Some categories need additional authorisation from the sector regulator before import | Pending | Category-dependent | Pending |
| Tariff (EAC CET) | Always applies | Average applied tariff is around 15.8% (2022, simple mean, all products). Raw materials, intermediate goods and finished goods sit in different bands — confirm at HS-code level | — | On customs value | Pending |
| VAT | Always applies | 16% standard rate, charged on CIF plus duty at the point of import | — | 16% | 2026-10 |
| IDF and RDL | Always applies | Import declaration fee and railway development levy are charged on the customs value in addition to duty | — | Percentage of CIF | Pending |
| Labelling | Category-dependent | Labelling requirements vary by category; confirm the current position for your product before shipment | Pending | — | Pending |
Certification, tariff and clearance figures change. Every row above carries a verification date, and the current requirement is confirmed with your nominated local agent before each shipment.
3. Buyers and channel partners
Leading buyers and channel partners
Every company below is a real business in Kenya taken from our own buyer research, and we have verified that its website is reachable. Names and business types are public; decision-makers, direct emails and phone numbers are reserved for members of the Buyer Directory.
How to use this list: do not mass-mail. Kenyan deals often involve distributor structures or asset finance, so a conversation about how the end user pays matters as much as the price. Approach through a trade fair or an industry association.
4. Demand and import profile
Select your HS code and this block shows the import performance of your own category in Kenya — not the country's macro numbers.
Import size & growth
Example: Kenya imports a substantial and growing volume of solar and storage equipment, and much of it is re-exported inland to the wider region.
Example values · to be replaced with OEC / WITS data for your HS line
Source-country mix
Example: China is the largest source, ahead of India, the UAE and South Africa.
Example values · to be replaced with OEC / WITS data for your HS line
Price band
Example: pay-as-you-go financing has made the entry price band highly competitive; the premium band rewards longer warranty and local service.
Example values · to be replaced with customs / trade data
What we can supply to this market
These are the lines we have found the strongest fit for Kenya. Specifications are on the product pages; tell us your application and we will confirm the model.
5. Landed-cost calculator
A static table cannot persuade anyone. Enter your own numbers and see the landed cost. Duty rate and freight are editable so you can test scenarios.
Your shipment
Estimated landed cost
Illustrative calculation only. It excludes anti-dumping duty, excise, port storage and any category-specific surcharge. Confirm the duty rate and local charges with your forwarder before making a commitment.
6. Logistics and customs
Clearance-day figures change with congestion and policy; treat as indicative and confirm before quoting.
7. Payment, currency and tax
8. Localisation and communication
These are the details nobody tells you, and one mistake can cost you a customer.
9. Risks and timing
Frequently asked questions
Do your products meet KEBS import requirements?
We supply the documentation and test evidence needed for pre-export verification of conformity and work with the nominated agency to obtain the certificate of conformity before shipment.
How much VAT is charged on imports?
16% standard rate, charged on the CIF value plus duty. Import declaration fee and railway development levy are charged separately on the customs value.
Is Mombasa only for Kenya?
No. Mombasa is a regional gateway, and containers regularly move inland to Uganda, Rwanda and eastern DRC. If your buyer is inland, confirm the final destination so the documentation and Incoterm match.
Will equipment cope with high-altitude conditions?
That depends on the specification. We size enclosures, thermal design and derating for the destination altitude rather than shipping a sea-level default. Tell us the site elevation and we will confirm the right model.
What payment terms are normal?
T/T and letters of credit are both in common use, and distributor or asset-finance structures are common. We agree the instrument and terms at quotation stage.
Base Station Backup Power: Lead-Acid Battery Series
A few seconds without power and a base station starts dropping sessions. We have put together five articles on telecom base station lead-acid backup batteries — why backup is mandatory, float/equalize charging and capacity design, outdoor cabinets and high temperature, operator selection and large-scale deployment.
- Why Telecom Base Stations Cannot Do Without Lead-Acid Battery Backup
- Float, Equalize and Capacity Design: Three Essentials for Base Station Lead-Acid Strings
- Outdoor Cabinets and High Temperature: Environmental Tolerance of Base Station Lead-Acids
- From Selection to Large-Scale Deployment: How Telecom Operators Choose Base Station Backup
- Lead-Acid vs Lithium: How to Choose Base Station Backup Power