Kinyanjui, Mudavadi among CSs picked to lead Kenya-EU Council
The deal gives Kenya full access to the European market without taxes or limits, opening the door for stronger trade and investment between the two sides.
President William Ruto has named Trade Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui to co-chair the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) Council, a key body formed to manage the trade agreement between Kenya and the European Union.
The announcement was published in the Gazette on April 11.
The EPA Council is the highest-level team created under the EU-Kenya deal and will be responsible for directing how the agreement is carried out.
The deal gives Kenya full access to the European market without taxes or limits, opening the door for stronger trade and investment between the two sides.
Joining Kinyanjui on the council are four other Cabinet Secretaries.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, who also serves as the Foreign Affairs CS, has been named a member, alongside John Mbadi (Treasury), Mutahi Kagwe (Agriculture), and Aden Duale (Environment).
The appointments come in line with Article 132(5) of the Constitution, which requires the President to use Cabinet Secretaries to carry out Kenya’s international agreements.
This step highlights the government’s intent to fulfill its global commitments and build stronger links with key partners.
President Ruto signed the EPA in May 2024, setting the stage for deeper cooperation with the European Union.
The agreement is designed to boost trade, grow investments, and create employment opportunities, both in Kenya and across the EU.
The European Union is currently Kenya’s main export destination and its second-largest overall trading partner.
Trade between the two sides hit €3.3 billion(Sh484.4 billion) in 2022, marking a 27 percent rise from 2018.
Under the agreement, all Kenyan goods will enjoy unrestricted entry into the EU, giving local businesses greater access to new customers.
The deal also creates a stable legal framework, which is expected to encourage more European firms to invest in Kenya.
In addition to opening markets, the EPA includes sections focused on fair labor practices, gender inclusion, environmental care, and climate protection—making it one of the EU’s most progressive deals ever signed with a developing country.