Kenya, Tanzania Reset Ties after Ruto’s Dodoma Visit, Target Trade Barriers

Kenya and Tanzania have agreed to reset diplomatic and trade relations following a state visit by William Ruto to Dodoma, where he addressed parliament and pushed for the removal of barriers that have long disrupted cross-border commerce.

The visit signals a thaw in ties between Kenya and Tanzania after years of periodic disputes, with both sides pledging to dismantle restrictions that have slowed trade despite commitments under the East African Community (EAC).

Ruto, in a rare address by a Kenyan leader to Tanzania’s legislature, said non-tariff barriers had eroded trust and undermined the region’s economic potential, calling for faster alignment of regulations and standards.

Trade between the two countries has repeatedly been strained by measures imposed by Tanzania, including delays at border posts, stringent product certification requirements and occasional bans on Kenyan goods such as processed foods and manufactured products. Kenyan businesses have also faced licensing hurdles and administrative restrictions, often triggering retaliatory actions from Nairobi.

The EAC customs union framework requires member states to allow the free movement of goods without tariffs, but enforcement has been uneven, with non-tariff barriers emerging as a key obstacle to deeper integration.

Following bilateral talks with President Samia Suluhu Hassan, the two sides agreed on a roadmap to eliminate remaining trade bottlenecks and improve market access for goods and services.

They also pledged to fast-track joint infrastructure projects aimed at easing the movement of goods, including plans to link transport corridors and expand cross-border energy cooperation.

Discussions covered a proposed gas pipeline connecting coastal cities and the development of rail links to support regional logistics.

The leaders further agreed to strengthen cooperation in agriculture, security and investment promotion, while creating a joint mechanism to monitor the removal of trade barriers and resolve disputes more quickly.

Kenya and Tanzania are among the largest economies in the EAC and serve as key transit routes for landlocked neighbours, making their relationship central to the bloc’s trade ambitions.

The renewed engagement is expected to boost intra-regional trade if commitments are implemented, though past efforts to remove non-tariff barriers have faced delays, raising questions over how quickly businesses will see tangible changes.

gandae@businessdayafrica.org