Since October 1, Kenya has lost its free access to the European market as the East African Community (EAC) has failed to negotiate a free trade deal with the European Union (EU). Two-thirds of Kenyan exports face fresh tariffs, ranging from four percent to 24 percent. It is serious cause for concern, as thousands of jobs are under threat.
The EAC has been negotiating a free trade agreement with the EU for more than 10 years, but it has so far failed to seal a deal on an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). Kenya is now paying the price for it.