When the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) officially commenced trading on January 1, 2021, it promised to create a single market of over 1.3 billion people. For a growing number of Kenyan women entrepreneurs, this historic agreement is proving to be more than policy—it is a powerful catalyst for building cross-border business empires.

Pioneers like Caroline Ng'ang'a, founder of Crafts with Meaning, exemplify this shift. Her social enterprise, which began in 2018 to provide a sustainable market for women artisans from counties like Turkana, Makueni, and Kilifi, now employs 35 full-time staff and collaborates with over 250 artisans. Initially focused on exporting to the United States, the COVID-19 pandemic forced a strategic pivot. "When Covid-19 came, exports stopped overnight," Ng'ang'a stated in a November 2025 interview. The disruption, however, opened up local and regional opportunities as supply chains from China were interrupted.

The AfCFTA framework has been instrumental in this regional expansion. "AfCFTA has opened up a wider regional market for us," Ng'ang'a explained, noting growing interest from corporate clients in Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Ethiopia. Her story is one of many, illustrating a broader trend of women-led businesses in Kenya tapping into the continental market for products ranging from handcrafted goods to industrial supplies.

A Strategic Gateway for Kenyan Enterprise

Kenya has positioned itself as a key player in the AfCFTA initiative. The country was among the first to ratify the agreement and was selected in June 2022 as one of seven nations to pilot its implementation. In August 2022, the government launched its National AfCFTA Implementation Strategy (2022-2027), a roadmap designed to consolidate and expand exports to African markets. The strategy specifically prioritizes sectors with high export potential, including textiles, pharmaceuticals, and financial services, while promoting the inclusion of women, youth, and small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).

The government's commitment was further emphasized in June 2025, when the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry announced it was fast-tracking implementation to unlock opportunities for local businesses. Speaking at the Kenya IATF2025 Business Roadshow in Nairobi, Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui highlighted the government's vision to establish Kenya as a trade and industrial hub. This ambition is supported by initiatives from the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) to update customs systems and sensitize the business community on AfCFTA provisions. The first Kenyan consignment under the AfCFTA framework was exported to Ghana on October 5, 2022.

Overcoming Persistent Hurdles

Despite the significant opportunities, formidable challenges remain, particularly for women traders who constitute a majority of informal cross-border traders in Africa. A primary obstacle is the high cost of logistics. "It can cost more to send goods from Nairobi to Lagos than from Nairobi to London," Ng'ang'a noted, attributing this to low intra-African trade volumes. Non-tariff barriers, such as complex customs procedures, visa restrictions, and high airfares, also hinder the free movement of goods and people that the AfCFTA agreement envisions on paper.

Furthermore, women traders frequently face harassment, discrimination, and corruption at borders. Reports from as recently as February 2023 indicate that women are often overcharged, intimidated, or have their goods confiscated. In some cases, women traders have reported being asked for sexual favors by border officials. These gender-specific challenges are compounded by systemic issues like limited access to finance and land, which are critical factors of production. Organizations like the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) are actively advocating for safer environments and providing platforms for women to report harassment.

The Path to Inclusive Growth

For the AfCFTA to realize its full potential for gender equality and inclusive development, targeted support is crucial. The agreement's protocols on digital trade and women and youth in trade are seen as vital steps. Organizations such as the East African Women in Business Platform (EAWiBP) are partnering with entities like GIZ to conduct workshops aimed at empowering Kenyan women with the knowledge and skills to succeed under the new trade regime. These initiatives focus on navigating the AfCFTA's Protocol on Trade in Goods and leveraging digital trade to access wider markets.

The success of women entrepreneurs under AfCFTA is not merely an economic victory but a testament to their resilience and leadership. Their ability to transform local creativity into cross-border success stories is redefining Kenya's role in the integrated African market. As Mary-Ann Musangi, chairperson of Women in Manufacturing (Wim) at KAM, has emphasized, Kenyan-made products are highly valued in regional markets. By addressing the remaining structural barriers and fully implementing the AfCFTA's provisions, Kenya can unlock a powerful engine for sustainable and equitable growth, driven by the very women who are already charting the course.