Commonwealth Trade MSME Exporter Portal

馃嚢馃嚜 Kenya 路 Category 1 of 9

Compliance requirements

Verified 路 18 May 2026

Every Kenyan exporter must be a registered business with a KRA PIN and meet product-specific standards before goods can clear for export.

Overview

Before you can export from Kenya, your business must be formally registered (sole proprietorship, partnership or company via the Business Registration Service) and hold an active Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) Personal Identification Number (PIN) enrolled on the iTax platform. Most regulated goods, especially food, agricultural produce and manufactured items, must conform to a Kenyan or international standard administered by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS); products destined for markets that run a conformity programme may also need a Certificate of Conformity. For a small exporter the practical path is: register the business, get the KRA PIN, obtain the relevant standardisation mark or product certification from KEBS, and confirm your specific product's requirements on the InfoTrade Kenya portal, which lists the step-by-step procedure and every agency you will touch. Getting compliance right upfront is what prevents consignments being held at Mombasa or JKIA.

Key requirements

  1. 1

    Registered business and KRA PIN

    You need a registered legal entity and an active KRA PIN on iTax; the PIN is quoted on every export declaration and tax filing.

  2. 2

    Product standards conformity (KEBS)

    Regulated products must meet the applicable Kenya Standard; manufacturers apply for the KEBS Standardisation Mark (SM) or a Diamond Mark of Quality for qualifying goods.

  3. 3

    Sector licences where applicable

    Tea, coffee, horticulture and other scheduled crops require a licence or registration from the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) directorate covering that crop.

  4. 4

    Single-window registration (KenTrade)

    Register on the Kenya TradeNet System / InfoTrade so declarations, permits and payments flow through one electronic platform.

Documents you will need

  • Certificate of business registration / incorporation
  • KRA PIN certificate
  • KEBS product certification or Standardisation Mark permit
  • Sector or crop licence (AFA directorate) where applicable
  • Manufacturer's or exporter's TradeNet account credentials
  • Product test report / analysis certificate