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Commercial Opportunities
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12 MINUTE READ
February 26, 2021

 Getting Started in Kenya

Please visit the https://www.trade.gov/kenya page on Kenya for an overview of economic conditions and opportunities in the region.

Exporting to Kenya

Getting Started

If you are considering doing business in Kenya, here are some steps you may wish to consider as you get started:

  1. Visithttps://www.trade.gov/kenyato get an overview of economic conditions and opportunities. Access the U.S. Commercial Service Market Research Library containing more than 100,000 industry and country-specific market reports, authored by our specialists working in overseas posts. Information on additional markets in East Africa is also available.
  3. Contact Information and Links for Assistance:
  • Contact your local U.S. Export Assistance Center for advice and support on exporting to Kenya. Contact a Trade Specialist Near You.
  • Contact your local Small Business Development Center (SBDCs) Starting a business can be a challenge, but there is help for you in your area. Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) are partnerships primarily between the government and colleges/universities administered by the Small Business Administration and aims at giving educational services for small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs.
  • Contact in-country business support organizations.
  • Make use of customized business services. Whether you’re looking to make your first export sale or expand your business in this market, we offer trade counseling, market intelligence, business matchmaking  and commercial diplomacy you need to connect with lucrative business opportunities.

II – Investing in Kenya 

This section provides information for current and potential investors in Kenya.

  1. Potential investors: Getting Started. 

If you are considering investment in Kenya, here are some steps you may wish to consider as you get started:

  1. Current Investors: Staying Connected

If you are a current U.S. investor in Kenya, the U.S. Embassy wants to stay in touch. Here are a few steps you can take to keep the channels of communication open:

  • Register with the U.S. Embassy: if you are active in Kenya, let us know by sending an email to the contact addresses at the top of this page.
  • Add Commercial and Agricultural Specialists to your mailing lists: we are always happy to stay informed. Send emails to contact addresses at the top of this page.
  • Subscribe to our embassy Facebook page or Twitter page.
  • Set up a meeting with our economic or commercial team to discuss any issues that arise. Contact information is listed at the top of this page.

Working in Kenya 

In this section you will find information on business visas, travel advisories, and anti-corruption tools.

Business Visas

For information on obtaining a visa to visit Kenya:

Kenyan Immigration has instituted a strict visa policy whereby all visitors are required to apply and obtain an e-visa before boarding an aircraft. The e-visa can be obtained through an online system.

  • A passport with at least two blank pages, six months’ validity, and a visa are required to enter Kenya.
  • Single-entry visas are available online.
  • Multiple-entry visas must be applied for prior to traveling to Kenya.
  • You should have proof of yellow fever immunizations, or you may be denied entry.
  • In December 2018, the Kenyan government announced a new work permit program that requires foreigners to apply for permits and visas from their country of origin. It is recommended that work permit applications be submitted 6-8 weeks prior to travel. People already in Kenya working on a permit should submit renewal applications at last 90 days before the permit expires.
  • Obtain the latest information on visas, as well as any additional details regarding entry requirements, from the Embassy of Kenya, 2249 R Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20008, telephone (202) 387-6101, or the Kenyan Consulates General in Los Angeles and New York City.

More information on travelling to Kenya:

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Kenya.html 

Travel Advisories

Make sure to check the current State Department travel advisory for Kenya.

FCPA

The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) is an important anti-corruption tool designed to discourage corrupt business practices in favor of free and fair markets. The FCPA prohibits promising, offering, giving or authorizing giving anything of value to a foreign government official where the purpose is to obtain or retain business. These prohibitions apply to U.S. persons, both individuals and companies, and companies that are listed on U.S. exchanges. The statute also requires companies publicly traded in the U.S. to keep accurate books and records and implement appropriate internal controls.

A party to a transaction seeking to know whether a proposed course of conduct would violate the FCPA can take advantage of the opinion procedure established by the statue. Within 30 days of receiving a description of a proposed course of conduct in writing, the Attorney General will provide the party with a written opinion on whether the proposed conduct would violate the FCPA. Not only do opinions provide the requesting party with a rebuttable presumption that the conduct does not violate the FCPA, but DOJ publishes past opinions which can provide guidance for other companies facing similar situations.

More information on the FCPA and DOJ opinion procedure can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud

 

 

 

 

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Economic Opportunity