U.S cites widespread corruption in Kenya as major trade barrier
U.S cites widespread corruption in Kenya as major trade barrier
The United States government has raised fresh concerns over what it describes as widespread corruption in Kenya, warning that the vice continues to undermine fair trade and investment.
In its latest 2026 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers, the U.S. government singled out corruption as a persistent challenge affecting its trade relations with several countries, including Kenya.
According to the report published on Wednesday, April 1, bribery and other forms of corruption remain a major obstacle for American companies seeking to do business with the Kenyan government.
“Corruption remains a substantial barrier to doing business in Kenya. U.S. firms continue to report challenges competing against foreign firms that are willing to ignore legal standards or engage in bribery,” the report revealed.
Kenya ranks 130 out of 180 countries globally in terms of corruption, according to the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), released by Transparency International on February 10, 2026.
President Donald Trump’s administration noted that corruption in Kenya often manifests in customs processes, licensing procedures, and the awarding of government tenders.
It disclosed that these practices not only raise the cost of doing business but also create an uneven playing field that disadvantages foreign investors and companies.
The U.S. government further disclosed that corruption in Kenya extends beyond the national level to county government, describing it as a deeply entrenched practice.
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“Corruption is widely reported to affect government procurements at the national and county levels. Kenya has not effectively implemented its anti-corruption laws,” the U.S. government noted.
Trump’s regime revealed that U.S. firms continue to report direct and indirect requests for bribes from multiple levels of the Kenyan Government, a move that depicts a worrying trend in the country’s trade practices.
The U.S. government emphasised that when left unchecked, corruption can undo the benefits of trade agreements, frustrate economic stabilisation efforts, and weaken the integrity of international trading systems.
It warned that such practices could interfere with U.S. exports and investments, ultimately limiting economic growth opportunities for partner countries like Kenya.
While the report does not exclusively identify corruption as a persistent challenge only in Kenya, it highlights corruption as a major problem U.S companies face in multiple countries, including in Nigeria, the Philippines, Pakistan, Laos and several other nations.
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