IMELDA AMBONDO
Despite years of diplomatic goodwill and promises under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), trade between Kenya and Namibia remains thin at N$131 million in 2023.
This highlights the gap between political friendship and economic reality according to Kenya–Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NKCCI) president Elvis Mboya.
Speaking at the Business Week Africa in Nairobi last week, Mboya said Kenya exported goods worth N$91 million (US$4.8 million) to Namibia last year, while Namibia’s exports to Kenya totaled N$39.9 million (US$2.1 million).
“We are friends politically but strangers economically, a gap we must urgently bridge,” he said.
Kenya’s exports mainly included electrical equipment, bottled water, and pharmaceuticals, whereas Namibia shipped wine, salt, and motor vehicles to Kenya.
Mboya said that although Kenya enjoys a slight trade surplus, the total volume represents less than 0.01% of Kenya’s global exports, signaling the need for stronger economic collaboration.
Namibia, with a population of about three million, is one of Africa’s most resource-rich economies, boasting vast deposits of diamonds, uranium, copper, and lithium, alongside strong potential in renewable energy and logistics.
Highlighting investment opportunities, Mboya pointed to Namibia’s Green Hydrogen Project, valued at over N$190 billion (US$10 billion) by 2030, which positions the country as a major player in Africa’s clean energy future.
He also said that Namibia has already taken steps under the African Continental Free Trade Area by exporting its first batch of goods to Nigeria, demonstrating readiness for full continental trade participation.
“Namibia offers land, energy, and stability. Kenya offers enterprise, innovation, and human capital. Together, we can drive Africa’s next phase of economic liberation,” he said.
Mboya identified several bottlenecks that continue to suppress trade between the two nations, including the lack of direct air and sea links, regulatory mismatches, and limited trade financing for small businesses.
To address these, he proposed launching a direct flight between Nairobi and Windhoek via Victoria Falls, establishing a Walvis Bay–Mombasa shipping line, harmonising customs standards through the African Continental Free Trade Area, and creating a Namibia–Kenya Online Trade Portal to connect exporters and investors.
The NKCCI is also advocating for a Joint Trade Desk with the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) to facilitate business missions and policy dialogue.
Mboya emphasised that intra-African trade currently stands at just 15% of the continent’s total trade far behind Europe (60%) and Asia (50%). He said that full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area could boost Africa’s internal trade by 52% by 2030 and lift 30 million people out of poverty, citing data from the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.
“Raila Odinga believed that Africa’s next liberation would come through economic integration, not politics,” Mboya said, dedicating his remarks to the late Kenyan leader. “The best way to honour his legacy is to increase these trade figures through action, not rhetoric.”
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