The UK and Kenya have historically close trade and investment ties; however, both the value of Kenyan exports to the UK and Kenya's share of the UK's imports have been declining for a decade, with regional competitors such as Rwanda and Ethiopia capturing Kenya's market share in key export products like tea, coffee, fresh vegetables and cut flowers.

This research, produced in partnership with the Kenyan Export Promotion Council to inform its new export strategy, explores the current state of trade patterns and investment flows between the two countries and proposes a prioritisation tool to help policymakers identify promising products and sectors for export. The report posits that unless Kenya diversifies its export offer and improves the quality and marketing of its existing core export products, it will continue to lose out to its trading competitors.