Kenya

Agriculture lies at the heart of Kenya’s economy and rural livelihoods. The EU supports Kenya’s transition towards more productive, sustainable and inclusive agricultural systems. This includes strengthening smallholder farming, safeguarding biodiversity, and improving access to domestic, regional and international markets. Support is delivered through a broad range of complementary actions, structured around three core priorities: 

Increasing agricultural productivity 

• Enhancing smallholder crop production through agroecological and innovative approaches, and improving access to sustainable agricultural inputs, technologies and services.
• Supporting agricultural research, education and innovation to generate and apply new knowledge.
• Promoting climate-smart agriculture and natural resource management, including in Kenya’s rangelands.
• Empowering women and youth in agribusiness through employment opportunities and business incubation hubs.
• Strengthening the integration of smallholders into market systems and value chains. 

Ensuring biodiversity 

• Supporting wildlife conservation and tackling wildlife crime, while promoting sustainable livelihoods.
• Enhancing climate resilience through watershed restoration and climate-resilient infrastructure.
• Improving early detection of zoonotic diseases through strengthened “One Health” surveillance.
• Developing sustainable blue economy value chains, including fisheries, aquaculture and coastal tourism.
• Supporting systems to monitor and verify national climate actions. 

Improving access to market 

• Increasing and diversifying trade in key value chains, such as avocado, mango, coffee and horticulture.
• Strengthening value addition for selected products, such as leather and packaging.
• Improving the business environment and supporting compliance with international trade and sustainability standards, including the EU deforestation regulation. 

To help develop clean energy solutions, the EU supports Kenya in advancing renewable energy (geothermal, hydro, solar), boosting private sector electrification and conducting renewable energy studies. Actions include: 

• Assisting with the Green Hydrogen Roadmap and the Lake Turkana wind project;
• Reinforcing the transmission network, including the construction of a new National Control Centre;
• Mobilising investments in off-grid renewable energy and green mini-grids;
• Contributing to the Africa Investment Platform in support of the energy sector. 

Supporting rural road rehabilitation and road sector policies to enhance sustainable transport and infrastructure. The EU partners with Kenya on: 

• Upgrading roads along the Northern Corridor, including key routes like Mombasa-Kilifi, Kwa Jomvu-Mariakani, and Kitale-Morpus;
• Improving governance, planning, and technical skills for sustainable transport and energy infrastructure;
• Strengthening public capacity in the transport and energy sectors, and developing a pipeline for sustainable infrastructure projects;
• Funding the Nairobi Clean Bus Rapid Transit programme and low-cost green housing;
• Extending the Mwache dam for the Mombasa-Kisangani corridor (upcoming). 

Strengthening the digital economy by fostering businesses, job creation, and innovation. Key action to enhance digital infrastructure, governance, and cybersecurity focus on: 

• Supporting sustainable investments in digital infrastructure and platforms across Africa;
• Improving land governance through digitalisation and enhancing policy frameworks;
• Promoting data governance and supporting the East African Community in digital transformation;
• Expanding fibre optic connectivity in underserved areas and promoting digital skills for women and youth;
• Strengthening resilience against violent extremism and bolstering Kenya’s cybersecurity ecosystem. 

The EU supports Kenya’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, improving access to finance for micro, small and medium enterprises, building skills for labour market needs, empowering youth and women, and promoting green and circular economy solutions.  

The collaboration also aims at mitigating challenges that arose from the COVID-19 pandemic and promoting long-term economic growth.  

The EU and Kenya are collaborating to strengthen peace, security, and social cohesion, focusing on challenges such as terrorism, piracy, and violence.  

This partnership enhances Kenya’s security capacities, promotes human rights, and fosters cultural exchanges.  

Through joint efforts, the EU is assisting Kenya in improving maritime security, building resilience against violent extremism and supporting sustainable development.  

The EU-Kenya collaboration also prioritises the eradication of harmful practices like female genital mutilation and enhances regional cooperation for peace and conflict resolution. 

The EU is supporting Kenya’s efforts to strengthen democratic governance, enhance financial accountability and improve judicial systems. This partnership focuses on building local capacity to combat corruption, promote human rights, and support inclusive electoral reforms.

Working together to support refugees, migrants, and internally displaced persons, joint actions focus on direct assistance, improving livelihoods, and promoting inclusive migration policies. Key initiatives include:

• Supporting refugees through the Kakuma-Kalobeyei Challenge Fund and refugee settlement construction.
• Enhancing access to training and employment in Turkana and Garissa counties.