Kenya is preparing to boost agricultural shipments to the United States after talks between the Ministry of Agriculture and the U.S. Africa Trade Desk (USATD). Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe hosted a USATD delegation led by CEO Gavin van der Burgh, and met officials and private-sector representatives from floriculture, coffee, macadamia, apparel, grains and animal feed industries.
CS Kagwe said the ministry will deepen efforts on traceability, regulatory compliance and market readiness so Kenyan products can meet US standards. He emphasised a private-sector‑led approach that supports producers with improved pest management, post-harvest handling and value addition, saying Kenya is ready and the partnership should raise farmers’ incomes.
USATD identified priority sectors for entry into US retail chains, including major outlets like Walmart, and signalled opportunities for near-term wins in agricultural exports. CEO van der Burgh said the focus is on moving produce from Kenya into US retail markets and that the USATD will keep the ministry informed on progress.
The meetings follow an earlier Kenyan visit to the US in September, when CS Kagwe won US commitments to widen the import window for Kenyan farm goods. One immediate success cited was export firm Nouvelle Blooms Ltd, which has deals to ship more than 4 million stems of premium Kenyan roses monthly to the US and to sell Kenyan coffee directly to American buyers. Macadamia was confirmed as part of the initial wave of Kenyan products destined for US retail shelves.
Kenya aims to cement its status as a major agri-exporter by securing premium shelf space in the US, giving farmers access to higher prices and more stable markets.
