By Andrew Wasike
NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) - Kenya announced Wednesday that it will challenge a decision by the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) that halted the implementation of its Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union, warning the ruling has unsettled traders who ship over $1 billion worth of goods to Europe each year.
In a statement sent to media houses, Trade Minister Lee Kinyanjui said the Nov. 24 ruling, issued in a case filed by the non-governmental organization the Centre for Law, Economics and Policy on East African Integration, had introduced “uncertainty” for Kenyan businesses that rely on the EU market.
The case will remain before the regional court while the government seeks to overturn the suspension.
Kinyanjui described the Kenya–EU EPA as a cornerstone of the country’s export growth and a key source of income for many households, noting that the agreement underpins the government’s broader development and job-creation plans.
He said that last year, Kenya exported goods worth $1.56 billion to the EU, while imports from the bloc totaled about $2.09 billion.
The minister stressed that despite the injunction, Kenyan exporters would “continue to access the EU market.”
“The Kenya–EU EPA is the lifeline of our booming exports and a source of livelihood to a large majority of Kenyans,” Kinyanjui said.
“We wish to confirm to all Kenyans and our trading partners that Kenya will continue to trade with the EU, and steps are being taken to ensure continuity, predictability and protection of our existing commercial arrangements.”
According to the statement, the ministry, working with the Office of the Attorney General, has already begun using appellate mechanisms to seek redress and have the injunctive orders lifted so that implementation of the EPA can resume while the reference before the court is heard and determined.
Kinyanjui said Nairobi will also engage other East African Community (EAC) partner states on the intent of Article 37 of the EAC protocol, arguing that the provision is meant to promote transparency in external trade deals rather than block sovereign trade decisions.
He cautioned that turning the article into a frequent litigation tool risked shrinking policy space and making the region appear hostile to investment.