{
  "id": 1480988,
  "title": "Kenya urges IGAD States to harmonise standards and unlock AfCFTA trade potential",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/kenya-urges-igad-states-to-harmonise-standards-and-unlock-afcfta",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-17T12:46:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "KBC",
    "slug": "kbc",
    "url": "https://www.kbc.co.ke/kenya-urges-igad-states-to-harmonise-standards-and-unlock-afcfta-trade-potential/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Kenya has urged member states of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to align their cross-border certification standards to accelerate trade and enhance food security across the region. During a workshop in Nairobi on August 17th, the State Department of Agriculture's Director of Policy, Kennedy Anahinga, stressed the importance of fast-tracking Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to eliminate non-tariff barriers hindering intra-regional trade. Anahinga highlighted that eliminating redundant inspections and tests at border points is a vital catalyst for economic transformation for ordinary citizens. He pointed out that Kenya, as the first country to ratify AfCFTA in 2019, is striving for continental accreditation for its conformity assessment bodies to ensure Kenyan agricultural products can enter African markets without hindrance. \"Once approved, KEBS certification for Kenyan exports would be recognized across the continent, precisely the mutual recognition this workshop aims to promote,\" Anahinga affirmed.\n\nIGAD's Economic Cooperation and Regional Integration Director, Dr. Mohy Tahomi, urged member nations to shift from discussion to action, emphasizing that merely having policy frameworks will not suffice without practical implementation. Dr. Tahomi pointed out that the true impact of MRAs will be apparent when cross-border clearance times improve for traders and farmers. He stressed that the success of MRAs will be gauged by the outcomes at border checkpoints, laboratories, certification bodies, and in the hands of traders and producers. Dr. Tahomi also advocated expanding regional integration to encompass digital integration, institutional cooperation, and the sharing of technical expertise across national borders.\n\nDeneswaree Mohun, Head of the Non-Tariff Measures (NTMs) and Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) Elimination Division at the AfCFTA Secretariat, underscored the vital interplay between bolstered sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) systems and digital certification tools in facilitating seamless cross-border trade. Mohun explained that these systems not only safeguard consumer health and safety but also bolster regulatory compliance and transparency, essential elements in dismantling technical barriers. She reaffirmed the AfCFTA Secretariat's dedication to assisting Member States in establishing resilient SPS infrastructure and deploying digital facilitation tools, asserting that integrating MRAs with advanced technology will unleash the true potential of intra-African trade.",
  "summary": "The government has called on member states of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to harmonize their cross-border certification standards to accelerate trade and boost food security in the region. Speaking during a Regional Technical Workshop in Nairobi on the 17th of August, Director of Policy at the State Department of Agriculture, Kennedy Anahinga, stated […] The post Kenya…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}