Because of industry expansion in Kenya, domestic production has partly been used to substitute import of consumer goods, since the independence of the country.
This has therefore led to reduction in total imports from 27% to 13% in 1963 and 1995 respectively.

Kenya’s commercial balance has remained negative regardless of this drop in imports, having it’s imports accounting for $ 3050 million in 1998.

The $ 3050 is basically due to petroleum products taking 12% in 1995, equipment, machinery and transport goods occupying 31% and consumer goods taking 13%.

United Kingdom, South Africa, Germany and United Arab Emirates, are the countries from which most of Kenya’s imports come, supplying 13.2%. 7.6%, 7.4% and 8.2% of the imports respectively.

Exports of Kenya like coffee, sisal, pyrethrum and tea, were historically restricted to a narrow product range.
As a result of this, Kenya was opened to the swings of a small group of markets.
Growth of non-traditional exports like fruits, consumer goods and vegetables has been the result from the government’s efforts over the past years.
Tea taking 18% and coffee occupying 155 are however still the major exports.
$ 2000 million in 1998 is accounted for by Kenya’s total exports and Germany, Uganda, United Kingdom and Tanzania, are the major countries, each taking 7.5%, 16.1%, 10.4% and 12.8% respectively, to which they are destined.