One Partner, End-to-End
Sourcing → procurement → shipping → customs → delivery → compliance. One point of contact. One invoice. One accountable partner.
General Traders
Your Trading Partner Across East Africa
From factory floor to final delivery — we source, import, export, and distribute across the East African Community's 331-million-consumer market. One partner. Eight countries. Zero friction.
Request a Trade Consultation331 million
EAC market size (2026)
US$356 billion
EAC combined GDP
US$52.3 billion
EAC Q2 2026 trade, up 37% year-on-year
8 countries
Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, DRC, Somalia
43.1%
Kenya's share of the EAC economy
East Africa Is the Fastest-Growing Trade Corridor in Africa. You Need a Partner Who Knows the Ground.
The East African Community recorded US$52.3 billion in trade in Q2 2026 — up 37% year-on-year — and posted its first regional trade surplus of the year. Kenya anchors the bloc at 43.1% of the EAC's economic basket, with a GDP of US$120 billion and a services sector representing 60% of output.
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) opens a 1.3-billion-consumer market. The Kenya-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (in force since July 2024) provides duty-free, quota-free access to European markets. The Africa Trade Gateway (Afreximbank + EABC, launched 2023, now operating in 45+ African countries) connects 25,000 verified companies with a US$4.5 billion opportunity pipeline.
But the opportunity is only as good as your execution.
Intra-EAC trade remains at just 12.5% of total EAC trade — meaning the regional market is far from tapped. Non-tariff barriers, border delays, fragmented regulations, and logistics gaps still undermine the bloc's potential. The businesses that win are those with a single, accountable partner on the ground who navigates customs, compliance, distribution, and the human relationships that move goods in East Africa.
That's what we are.
“Kenya is tapping only about 10% of its available EU market opportunity, citing information gaps.”
Five Pillars. One Accountable Partner.
home.pillar 1Import & Export Facilitation“We Move Your Goods. You Move Your Business.”home.explorehome.pillar 2Sourcing & Procurement“We Buy What You Need. Where You Need It. At the Right Price.”home.explorehome.pillar 3Market Entry & Business Development“Enter the East African Market Without the Guesswork.”home.explorehome.pillar 4Trade Compliance & Regulatory Navigation“We Know the Rules. So You Don't Have To.”home.explorehome.pillar 5Distribution & Logistics“From Port to Project. From Factory to Final Customer.”home.explore
From First Call to Final Delivery — In 5 Steps
- 11 call (30–45 min)
Trade Consultation
We understand your needs: what you're trading, where, in what volume, and on what timeline.
- 23–5 days
Proposal & Agreement
Scope defined. Fees agreed. SLA (Service Level Agreement) signed. Dedicated account manager assigned.
- 3Varies (see below)
Execution
Sourcing, procurement, shipping, customs, delivery — per your chosen service.
- 4Ongoing
Tracking & Reporting
Real-time tracking. Weekly status reports. Document vault access. You're never in the dark.
- 5Project completion
Delivery & Handover
Goods delivered. Documentation handed over. Post-delivery support (warranty, claims, returns).
Typical Timelines
| gt.colService | gt.colDuration |
|---|---|
| Import (China → Mombasa → Nairobi) | 35–50 days (sea freight + clearance + delivery) |
| Import (India → Mombasa → Nairobi) | 20–35 days |
| Import (UAE → Mombasa → Nairobi) | 10–20 days |
| Export (Nairobi → EU) | 25–40 days (sea freight + documentation) |
| Intra-EAC (Nairobi → Kampala) | 3–7 days (road) |
| Intra-EAC (Nairobi → Kigali) | 2–5 days (road) |
| Market Entry (registration to first sale) | 8–16 weeks |
Transparent. Competitive. No Hidden Costs.
| gt.colService | gt.colFee |
|---|---|
| Import / Export Facilitation | 3–5% of transaction value (covers sourcing, shipping, customs, delivery) |
| Sourcing & Procurement | 2–4% of procurement value + freight at cost |
| Market Entry | KES 300,000–1,000,000 (one-time, covers registration, licensing, market research, go-to-market) |
| Trade Compliance | KES 20,000–50,000/month (recurring, covers tax filing, customs compliance, regulatory monitoring) |
| Distribution & Logistics | Quoted per shipment (based on weight, volume, distance, and service level) |
| Full-Service Package (Trade + Compliance + Logistics) | Custom quote — typically 5–8% of total trade value |
All fees are agreed in writing before work begins. No success fees. No hidden charges. You see every invoice.
Why Businesses Trust General Traders With Their East African Supply Chain
On-the-Ground Presence
We're in Nairobi, Mombasa, and expanding to Kigali and Kampala. We don't operate from a call center. We walk the port. We inspect the cargo. We meet the customs officer.
Verified Suppliers Only
Every supplier we use is vetted: trade license, tax compliance, quality certifications, and (where required) factory audits.
Regulatory Expertise
We track KRA, URA, TRA, RRA, KEBS, NEMA, NCA, BORAQS, and AfCFTA/EPA compliance. When the rules change, we know before you do.
Diaspora-Ready
We understand the specific needs of Kenyans abroad: time zones, remittance channels, remote approval workflows, and the need for absolute transparency.
Integrated Ecosystem
Our trading arm feeds our industrial parks (construction materials, UHPC components, geothermal equipment) and our diaspora construction services (procurement for client builds). One company. Full value chain.
Built for the Sectors That Are Building East Africa
| gt.colSector | gt.colProvide |
|---|---|
| Construction & Real Estate | Cement, rebar, UHPC components, precast panels, roofing, plumbing, electrical, finishing materials. Full procurement for diaspora builds and industrial park construction. |
| Energy & Power | Geothermal components, solar panels, batteries, transformers, switchgear, generators. Sourcing for EGS power plants and WTE facilities. |
| Manufacturing & Industrial | Machinery, automation systems, CNC machines, conveyors, packaging equipment. Import facilitation for industrial park tenants. |
| Agriculture & Agribusiness | Seeds, fertilizers, irrigation, processing equipment, cold chain. Export development for tea, coffee, horticulture, and value-added products. |
| Technology & ICT | Servers, networking, CCTV, access control, IoT sensors. Import facilitation and local distribution. |
| Healthcare & Pharma | Medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, laboratory supplies. PPB registration, KEBS certification, cold chain logistics. |
| FMCG & Consumer Goods | Food, beverages, household products, personal care. Distribution, warehousing, last-mile delivery. |
Real Clients. Real Trades. Real Results.
“We needed 2,000 tonnes of rebar and 500 cubic meters of UHPC components for a project in Nairobi. General Traders sourced from three verified suppliers in China and India, handled the shipping, cleared customs at Mombasa, and delivered to site in 42 days. We saved an estimated KES 4.2 million compared to local procurement. The quality certificates were spotless.”
“We're exporting value-added coffee products from Kenya to the UAE. General Traders handled the KEBS certification, the export documentation, the shipping, and the customs clearance on both ends. Our first container cleared in 18 days. They've now become our permanent trade agent.”
“We were entering the Rwandan market for the first time. General Traders registered our company with RDB, obtained our sector-specific licenses, identified a local distribution partner, and got our first three shipments through customs in Kigali. We were selling in 14 weeks. Without them, it would have taken 6 months.”
Trading in East Africa — Answered
Your East African Trade Partner. Ready When You Are.
Whether you're importing a single container or building a regional distribution network — we've got your back.
Request a Trade Consultation
Tell us what you're trading and where. We'll come back with a routing, timeline and fee plan within one business day.
gt.preferEmailinfo@sharqafriqiya.com.