President Trump Extends AGOA Lifeline

Hello 👋🏽 It's Brian from The Kenyan Wall Street.

In today's newsletter…

•  After months of apprehension over the expiry of AGOA, President Donald Trump signs the extension of the deal.

• The gov't has been faulted for leaving out many local rice farmers in its domestic buyout.

• End of the road for Uber in Tanzania. 

These and more…

President Trump Extends AGOA Lifeline 

By Fred Obura  

Apparel factories and EPZ zones in Kenya are getting a temporary lifeline thanks to President Donald Trump’s signing of the AGOA extension through 2026, keeping duty-free access alive for critical exports like textiles, tea, and coffee. The relief comes with strings attached: Washington is demanding reforms, reciprocity, and proof of political and economic progress. While the extension buys exporters breathing room amid currency swings and global trade uncertainty, it also signals that preferential access may not last without structural change. African governments are being nudged toward market diversification and deeper regional integration under the AfCFTA, or risk losing their foothold in the world’s largest consumer market.

Read the full article here >>>>>

“Prioritize Local Rice Farmers!” - Court Tells Gov't

By Brian Nzomo

The High court has ordered the government to buy local rice before resuming the second half of a 500,000-tonne duty-free import program, protecting farmers from being undercut by cheaper imports. Despite earlier approvals, only a fraction of unsold rice (less than 11,000 bags) had been purchased, leaving farmers holding millions of bags from the main harvest. The ruling demands a 30-day nationwide mop-up, covering all major rice-producing regions, before imports continue in three tranches. How the government navigates this balancing act between food security and protecting local producers could set a precedent for agricultural trade policy across the country.

Read the article here >>>>>

The Tanzanian Market was too Suffocating for Uber?

By Brian Nzomo 

Uber has exited Tanzania after a decade, unable to operate under strict rules imposed by the country's regulator, which treated ride-hailing like conventional taxis with capped fares and fixed commissions. The 15% commission ceiling and bans on surge pricing stripped Uber of its core tools for balancing supply and demand, offering driver incentives, and funding promotions. Temporary reprieves in 2023 proved insufficient as regulators reinstated tight controls, leaving the platform unprofitable and prompting the withdrawal. While local competitors are positioned to benefit, being more adaptable to the regulatory framework, many drivers will be left with fewer options.

Read about it here >>>>>

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During KIICO 2026, Kenya will also host the 2nd COMESA Investment Forum on March 26 and the Africa Green Industrialization Initiative (AGII) on March 27th.

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