Kenyan food manufacturers highlighted high taxes, cumbersome regulations and logistics bottlenecks as key obstacles to scaling value‑added exports during the inaugural FoodPro East Africa 2026 summit in Nairobi.

Principal Secretary Juma Mukhwana of the State Department for Industry stressed the need to move beyond raw commodity exports and invest in processing to capture more value from agricultural produce.

Mukhwana noted that Kenya’s agriculture accounts for roughly 26 percent of GDP, making processing a strategic lever for job creation and higher export earnings.

He also pointed to Kenya’s expanding trade agreements with the EU, UK, China, UAE and regional blocs such as AfCFTA, COMESA and the EAC as potential markets for higher‑value products.

Former Kenya Association of Manufacturers chairman Rajan Shah warned that market access alone will not boost exports unless domestic producers can compete on cost, quality and policy predictability.

Shah highlighted that frequent policy changes create uncertainty for investors, who typically plan over 15‑20‑year horizons, and that capital can manage challenges but not perpetual regulatory flux.

KAM chief executive Tobias Alando said the three‑day exhibition provides manufacturers with access to processing technologies, partnerships and markets needed to translate value‑addition discussions into concrete investments.

Alando added that shifting from raw commodity exports to processing, packaging and branding would deepen domestic supply chains, create skilled jobs and expand Kenya’s share in international markets.