Kenya is the gateway to East Africa and remains the largest economy in the EAC. Its neighbours within the East African Community (EAC) are important trading partners. A member of the EAC and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) economic groupings, Kenya is generally considered to be the finance, trade, and transport hub of East Africa. The country has significant potential to further capitalize on regional markets and strengthen its position as the region’s economic powerhouse. In 2013, Kenya rolled out a devolved system of governance, instituted by the 2010 Constitution. Devolution offers an opportunity to reach out to the people and promote a more balanced socio-economic development across the country. Kenya’s economy is service-based, with a relatively small industrial sector. It, however, boasts impressive infrastructure that includes the port of Mombasa, providing sea access to Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and South Sudan, and Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, which functions as an effective air hub between Africa and Europe, and Asia. Nairobi is also the financial hub for the region.

Kenya operates a liberal economy that promotes trade and investment.

The country has abolished price and exchange controls. The Government has also instituted measures to sustain macro-economic stability such as prudent fiscal and monetary policies, improvements in economic governance, and privatization of some public enterprises. These policies continue to promote growth by providing a more secure environment for private sector investment decisions.