Kenya and Rwanda Sign Deal to Strengthen Logistics Collaboration, Boost Regional Trade

Kenya, 24 January 2026 - Rwanda and Kenya have formalised a new agreement to deepen cooperation on logistics and trade facilitation, a move aimed at strengthening regional integration and improving the efficiency of cargo movement across East Africa.

The memorandum of understanding signed this week between Rwanda’s Ministry of Infrastructure and the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) will see the establishment of a KPA liaison office in Kigali, bringing port services closer to the Rwandan business community and streamlining freight operations.

Officials described the pact as a milestone in bilateral relations, signalling a shared determination to enhance trade performance through better coordination, reduced delays and stronger institutional linkages between Rwanda’s transport networks and operations at the Port of Mombasa, one of the region’s busiest gateways for goods.

The Kigali office is expected to simplify cargo clearance, cut logistics costs for Rwandan traders and improve communications between shippers and port authorities, shortening transit times and smoothing supply chain flows.

Rwanda’s move aligns with its broader strategy to diversify trade routes and reduce reliance on a single transit corridor.

While a majority of Rwandan imports have historically passed through Tanzania’s Port of Dar es Salaam, Rwandan diplomats and trade officials have increasingly urged cargo agents to leverage Mombasa’s enhanced capacity, including its inland container depots and improved road and rail networks, to bolster reliability and competitiveness for Rwanda-bound goods.

The cooperation agreement underscores the importance of the Northern Corridor, the principal artery linking the Port of Mombasa to inland markets such as Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Enhancing logistics services along this corridor is not only a bilateral priority but part of a wider regional push to improve freight transport infrastructure, reduce trade barriers and integrate East African markets.