Kenya's trade with Middle Eastern countries is in limbo following the escalation of conflict in the region that began on Saturday. The attack on Iran by the United States and Israel, and subsequent retaliatory strikes by Iran, have led to an expansion of hostilities across multiple countries.
The conflict, now in its third day, has disrupted both cargo and passenger flights from key Middle Eastern hubs, including Dubai, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. By late Saturday, airlines operating to and from the region had issued travel advisories, including Kenya Airways. KQ announced a temporary suspension of flights to the UAE until further notice due to the ongoing conflict. Emirates, Qatar, and Etihad also issued advisories to travellers.
With flights suspended, Kenya is anticipating trade disruptions that are expected to impact exports and imports linked to the region. According to Lee Kinyanjui, Cabinet Secretary for Trade, "The ongoing conflict in the Middle East will have a direct impact on Kenya's export basket. We enjoy thriving trade with Middle East countries, where supplies of vegetables top the list".
Kenya's key export markets in the region include Iran, the UAE, Jordan, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen. Official statistics from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics show that exports to the Middle East rose to US$1.27 billion.
In a statement issued Monday morning, President William Ruto condemned retaliatory attacks by Iran that have struck facilities in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman, Kuwait, Jordan, and Bahrain. "It is evident that the regionalisation of this conflict poses a grave threat to international peace and security. At this defining and perilous moment in global history, longstanding multilateral institutions remain indispensable frameworks for the resolution of the current crisis in the Middle East. Kenya calls for urgent multi-stakeholder engagement towards de-escalation," posted President Ruto via his official X account.
According to Kinyanjui, Kenya is seeking to diversify its export markets in response to geopolitical uncertainty. "The Government of Kenya is consulting with critical stakeholders to ensure that our trade position is not adversely affected and that alternative routes can be established to serve our markets in the interim," he stated.
Source: KBC
