09: 04: 2026
New rail link opens doors for flowers, fruits, and value-added products
Kenya has sent its first export consignment to China under a zero-tariff trade arrangement, a move set to transform market access for horticultural and agricultural products. The inaugural shipment—flagged off at Nairobi Terminus by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and China’s Vice President Han Zheng—included avocado oil, frozen avocados, coffee, and pet pallets, highlighting Kenya’s growing range of value-added exports.
Transported via the Madaraka Express Freight Service, operated by Kenya Railways, the shipment underscores the importance of reliable rail logistics in linking production hubs in Naivasha and Nairobi to the Port of Mombasa and international markets. The service promises faster, safer, and cost-effective access to one of the world’s largest consumer markets.
The zero-tariff initiative is part of the Early Harvest Agreement, allowing selected African goods to enter China duty-free. For Kenyan growers, this opens up exciting opportunities to expand exports of flowers, fruits, and processed products, while boosting competitiveness on the global stage.
Government officials at the ceremony, including Cabinet Secretaries Lee Kinyanjui and Davis Chirchir, and Kenya Railways Managing Director Philip J. Mainga, emphasized the potential of the programme to drive industrial growth, enhance logistics connectivity, and deepen Kenya-China trade ties under the FOCAC framework.
For floriculture exporters, the launch signals a promising future: more markets, higher value products, and streamlined transport from farm to international shelves.
