UK and Kenya expand coast partnership to boost trade, jobs and security

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UK and Kenya expand coast partnership

Highlights

The Port of Mombasa, handling 95% of Kenya's international trade, saw cargo volumes rise nearly 33% in four years due to UK-backed efficiency improvements.
UK invested over KSh120 million in Mtwapa's aquaculture hub and supports Kilifi fishing communities to restore marine habitats and strengthen local livelihoods.
UK bolstered security ties by supporting Mombasa's Counter Terrorism Bureau and training Kenya's marines, deepening over 20 years of regional security cooperation.

Mombasa visit highlights trade and development agenda

As reported by GOV.UK, the British High Commission team is using a two-day visit to Mombasa to strengthen UK-Kenya ties on the coast through meetings with local leaders, businesses and community groups. High Commissioner Matt Baugh and Deputy High Commissioner Ed Barnett are also visiting UK-backed projects including Swahilipot Hub, Milly Glass Works and the Counter Terrorism Bureau.

The visit includes an Open House at Tononoka Hall, where residents can meet officials, discuss opportunities and share ideas. Baugh also engages with local food influencers including Qamili Dave and Shaheed Ali, reflecting an effort to connect the bilateral relationship with the coast's cultural and entrepreneurial networks.

The UK says the initiative reflects a broader approach to the Kenya relationship beyond Nairobi. Officials frame the coast as a critical link for inclusive growth, youth empowerment, innovation and local job creation.

Port efficiency, blue economy and security cooperation

Mombasa remains central to the partnership because it serves as Kenya's main trade gateway, a key blue economy center and a regional security hub. The Port of Mombasa handles about 95% of Kenya's international trade, and UK-backed support through TradeMark Africa has helped make cargo movement faster, safer and more predictable.

According to the figures cited, cargo volumes have risen by almost a third in four years, while transit time from Mombasa to Kampala has fallen from 18 days to four. The UK has also invested more than KSh120 million in an aquaculture hub at Mtwapa, while support for fishing communities in Kilifi aims to restore marine habitats and livelihoods.

Security cooperation remains another pillar of the relationship. The UK supports the Counter Terrorism Bureau in Mombasa and trains Kenya's marines, building on more than 20 years of cooperation between the two countries to counter terrorism and improve regional stability.

Baugh says the visit is designed to make the High Commission more accessible and to hear directly from communities shaping Kenya's future. He says discussions during the trip span education, trade, investment, culture, conservation and the blue economy, with the partnership rooted not only in government ties but also in connections between people.

In our earlier article on the WTO’s warning about lasting trade disruption from wars and geopolitical risks, we noted that companies are redesigning supply chains and shipping routes to make them more resilient, even if those alternatives are costlier. The WTO also highlighted that repeated shocks can accelerate regional trade links and reshape cargo flows, with forecasts pointing to continued volatility in trade volumes and routes despite pockets of growth driven by new demand trends.

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