NAIROBI, Kenya, Sept 5 – Kenyan manufacturers have raised fresh concerns over growing competition from foreign imports, warning that local industries risk being edged out without stronger government protection.
Speaking at the opening of the 8th Kenya International Industrial Expo (KIIE) 2025 in Nairobi, exhibitors said an influx of cheaper goods—mainly from Asia—has left homegrown firms struggling to compete.
“The hurdles and challenges, mostly I see, is very big competition from the people importing. Because what happens with imports when something is being manufactured in China, they enjoy economies of scale and importing is cheaper, compared to manufacturing within Kenya,” said Akash Patel, Sales Manager at ABC Joint Silicone.
Patel added that Kenyan businesses also grapple with stringent licensing and certification requirements, which further raise the cost of operations.
“What happens with the importing is that a person in China or Thailand manufactures in bulk and supplies to Kenya without the major cost of setting up. As you mentioned, there is obviously a lot of competition from global brands coming into Kenya and setting up,” he noted.
Manufacturers argue that without targeted incentives and policy interventions, Kenya’s push for industrialisation risks being undermined, with importers reaping the benefits at the expense of local jobs and innovation.
The three-day expo at the Sarit Expo Centre has drawn more than 200 Chinese exhibitors and over 6,000 trade visitors, underscoring the scale of global interest in the Kenyan market.
While organisers highlight the potential for bilateral trade, local manufacturers maintain that policies to level the playing field are urgent if Kenya is to safeguard its industries.
