Kenya’s trade deficit with the United States widened by Sh66.7 billion in 2024, reflecting a continued gap between what the country buys from and sells to the American market, according to data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics.
Figures show Kenya’s exports to the US stood at Sh88.86 billion in 2024, while imports reached Sh155.64 billion. The difference between the two resulted in a significantly larger trade deficit compared to previous years.
The data tracks trade flows over a five-year period. In 2020, Kenya exported goods worth Sh49.38 billion to the US and imported Sh56.31 billion. Exports rose to Sh59.56 billion in 2021, with imports increasing more sharply to Sh84.25 billion.
In 2022, exports climbed further to Sh79.93 billion as imports hit Sh93.37 billion. However, the gap widened again in 2023, when exports dropped to Sh64.26 billion while imports jumped to Sh112.76 billion.
The 2024 figures mark the highest level of imports in the period under review, alongside the highest export value, but the faster growth in imports drove the wider deficit.
The trend suggests Kenya remains heavily reliant on US goods and services, even as its own exports to the market grow. The widening deficit may raise policy questions around trade balance, export competitiveness and strategies to boost value-added exports to reduce the gap over time.
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