By Benadeta Mwaura - Reporter
Kenya, June 11 , 2026 - Kenya is positioning itself to tap into a regional consumer market of more than 100 million people through the strengthening of the Mombasa–Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) transport corridor, President William Ruto has said.
The initiative is part of a broader regional trade and logistics strategy aimed at reinforcing Kenya’s role as a gateway between East and Central Africa, while expanding access to global markets through upgraded transport infrastructure and cross-border connectivity.
In a statement shared on his X account on Thursday, June 11, 2026, following Kenya–Belgium bilateral talks with King Philippe, Ruto said the discussions focused on deepening trade infrastructure links across the region.
“Strengthening the Mombasa-DRC corridor to support regional trade and mineral exports,” Ruto said.
The corridor is expected to enhance the movement of goods between the Port of Mombasa and mineral-rich regions of the DRC, a country whose vast resource base has increasingly become central to regional trade and geopolitical competition.
Ruto said the broader objective is to position Kenya’s transport infrastructure as the preferred trade route for East and Central Africa, strengthening Nairobi’s influence as a logistics and commercial hub.
“Position Kenya’s transport networks as the preferred trade route for East and Central Africa,” he said.
The President further emphasized that the corridor will significantly expand Kenya’s access to Central Africa’s consumer base, which he estimated at more than 100 million people.
“Enhance Kenya’s role as a gateway to the 100 million consumer Central African market,” he said.
The strategy is expected to unlock new investment opportunities in logistics, warehousing, port services, and transport infrastructure, sectors that have become central to Kenya’s long-term economic transformation agenda.
By leveraging the Port of Mombasa as a regional entry point, the government aims to strengthen trade flows not only into the DRC but also into neighbouring landlocked countries that depend on regional corridors for imports and exports.
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The push also aligns with Kenya’s broader diplomatic and economic strategy of expanding regional integration through infrastructure-led growth, particularly under frameworks linked to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
In a separate engagement in Oslo, Norway, Ruto also highlighted Kenya’s growing cooperation with Nordic partners in the maritime and blue economy sectors.
“We are advancing Kenya’s maritime and blue economy agenda through cooperation with Norway, exploring opportunities for investment, knowledge exchange, skills development, technology transfer, and job creation across the maritime economy,” he said.
The President noted that Kenya has secured commitments from Norwegian shipping firms to expand employment opportunities for Kenyan seafarers, with projections indicating 1,000 jobs by 2030, including 120 positions expected by the end of this year.
“We are advancing Kenya’s maritime and blue economy agenda…” he added, underscoring the government’s efforts to diversify employment opportunities beyond traditional domestic sectors.
The developments reflect Kenya’s dual-track strategy of expanding regional trade corridors while also pursuing global partnerships in maritime and logistics industries.
At the core of this strategy is an ambition to strengthen Kenya’s position as a regional gateway economy, linking landlocked Central African markets to global trade routes through Mombasa, while simultaneously building capacity in shipping, port services, and blue economy industries.
As implementation of the corridor agenda advances, attention will now turn to infrastructure financing, regional coordination, and the speed at which planned logistics upgrades can translate into tangible trade growth and employment opportunities.
For now, the Mombasa–DRC corridor remains a flagship symbol of Kenya’s push to reposition itself as a regional trade powerhouse anchored on connectivity, minerals trade, and expanded consumer access across Central Africa.