weighted score 4.6 · nine dimensions
Country Risk Profile
Kenya
Sourcing risk, regulatory exposure and audit intelligence for Kenya-origin supply chains.
Forced & child labour
5
TVPRA lists 7 products (coffee, fish, gold, khat, sugarcane, tea, tobacco). Child labour concentrated in agriculture and artisanal mining. No state-sponsored forced labour but enforcement gaps in smallholder supply chains.
Worker rights & FOA
5
All eight ILO fundamental conventions ratified. Freedom of association legally protected. Enforcement limited in informal sector and small-scale agriculture. Flower farm worker rights under scrutiny.
OHS & audit transparency
5
Pesticide exposure on flower farms is a documented OHS concern. Third-party audits (SMETA, Fairtrade) available for larger operations. Smallholder traceability and audit access remain challenging.
Food & product safety
4
KEPHIS provides competent phytosanitary oversight for export crops. EU MRL compliance generally maintained for flowers and tea. RASFF notifications occur but at moderate frequency relative to export volume.
Environmental & regulatory
4
Water stress in Lake Naivasha flower-growing region. Deforestation pressure from charcoal and agricultural expansion. Kenya is not an EUDR high-risk country but due diligence applies to relevant commodities.
Governance & anti-corruption
7
TI CPI 2024: 31/100. Corruption is a material risk in customs clearance, land administration, and public procurement. Enhanced intermediary due diligence recommended.
Tariff & preferential access
2
EU-EAC EPA provides duty-free and quota-free access. AGOA eligibility for US market. Low tariff compliance burden relative to countries relying on MFN or standard GSP.
Non-tariff barriers
4
Phytosanitary compliance (EU MRLs) is the primary non-tariff barrier. KEPHIS certification required. Customs delays at Mombasa port can affect transit times. No active EU anti-dumping measures on Kenyan goods.
Supply chain traceability
5
Large flower farms and tea estates have reasonable traceability. Smallholder coffee and tea supply chains involve multiple intermediaries, reducing end-to-end visibility. Artisanal gold traceability is poor.
Labour & Social Risk
Labour & Social Risk
- TVPRA listings
- The US Department of Labor TVPRA List of Goods includes 7 Kenyan products: coffee, fish, gold, khat (miraa), sugarcane, tea, and tobacco. Child labour is concentrated in agriculture, particularly in small-scale farming and artisanal mining.
- Flower farm labour
- Kenya's cut flower industry has faced documented concerns around pesticide exposure, worker health and safety, and labour rights on large-scale farms. Fairtrade and MPS certification programmes address some but not all of these risks.
- ILO conventions
- Kenya has ratified all eight ILO fundamental conventions including C087 (Freedom of Association) and C098 (Right to Organise). Enforcement capacity is limited, particularly in the informal sector which employs the majority of workers.
EU Regulatory Exposure
EU Regulatory Exposure
- Tariff access
- EU-EAC EPA provides duty-free and quota-free access for most Kenyan goods entering the EU. This is more favourable than standard GSP and removes tariff-related compliance burden for eligible products.
- Governance & corruption
- Transparency International CPI 2024: 31/100. Kenya ranks in the lower third globally. Corruption risk is material in customs, land administration, and public procurement. Enhanced due diligence recommended for supply chain intermediaries.
- KEPHIS oversight
- The Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) is the competent authority for phytosanitary certification. KEPHIS-certified exports to the EU must meet EU Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) for pesticides — a critical compliance point for flowers and fresh produce.
- EU Forced Labour Regulation
- Regulation (EU) 2024/3015 applies from December 2027. Kenya's TVPRA-listed products (coffee, tea, sugarcane) may face scrutiny under Article 5 investigations, particularly from smallholder supply chains with limited traceability.
Logistics & Supply Chain
Logistics & Supply Chain
- Primary export corridor
- Mombasa → Indian Ocean → Suez Canal → Mediterranean → EU ports
- Cut flower logistics
- Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is the primary air freight hub for Kenyan flower exports. Direct flights to Amsterdam Schiphol connect to Royal FloraHolland auctions. Cold chain integrity is critical.
- Typical transit time
- Air freight: 8–12 hours to Northwest Europe. Sea freight via Mombasa: 18–25 days to Northwest Europe.