KenTrade

What KenTrade does

KenTrade (legal name: Kenya Trade Network Agency) is a Kenyan state agency under the National Treasury, established in 2011 and mandated under the National Electronic Single Window System Act, No. 25 of 2022, to facilitate cross-border trade by operating the National Electronic Single Window System (NESWS). The platform provides a single electronic entry point through which traders, importers, exporters, clearing and forwarding agents, and shipping lines submit trade documentation — including Import Declaration Forms (IDFs), permits, bonds, sea manifests, and Marine Cargo Insurance (MCI) certificates — to multiple government agencies in a standardized format, replacing fragmented paper-based submissions.

The technical architecture comprises multiple integrated portals: the Trade Facilitation Platform (TFP), TradeNet Portal, Trader Portal, and PGA Portal as the core trade-documentation stack, augmented by the InfoTrade Kenya portal (trade statistics and market intelligence), Maritime Single Window (port operations), i-Screen Kenya (global watchlist screening via partnership with World Compliance Technologies), and an e-Learning portal (SOMA). The system integrates with 15+ Partner Government Agencies including KRA (iCMS for customs), KEBS (standards), KEPHIS (plant health), AFA (agriculture), and Kenya Ports Authority, with connectivity extended to five major border points (Namanga, Busia, Taveta, Malaba, Isebania), JKIA, and the Port of Mombasa. A secondary data centre at the East Africa Data Centre provides disaster recovery with a 99.982% uptime target.

Revenue derives from nominal transaction-based fees (notably $10 per Unique Consignment Reference/UCR), annual access/registration fees per company, and training service charges, supplemented by development partner funding from IFC, TradeMark East Africa, World Bank Group, and UNCTAD. The organization employs 51–100 staff, is headquartered in Nairobi, and has won multiple awards including the 2018 African Public Service Day overall winner and recognition in the World Bank Ease of Doing Business Report 2018.

Name

KenTrade

Legal name

Kenya Trade Network Agency

Website

https://kentrade.go.ke

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

KenTrade is a Kenyan state agency operating the National Electronic Single Window System, providing a unified electronic platform through which traders, importers, exporters, and clearing agents submit trade documentation and permits to multiple government agencies for cross-border trade facilitation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Facilitation Software / Government Single Window System

NAICS

Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518210), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518), Information (51)

akta.pro primary industry

Customs Declaration & Filing (Import/Export Entry) Platforms (TLAEAOAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Trade Document Generation & Management (Commercial Invoice, Packing List, COO, Certificates) (TLAEAOAF), Maritime Single Window & Regulatory Reporting Systems (TLAHAOAB), Sanctions, Embargo & Export Controls (EAR/ITAR) Compliance Tools (TLAEAOAI), Digital Documentation & Trade Facilitation (eBL, eDO, eManifest, eGate Pass) (TLAHAOAF), Cargo Security & Regulatory Filing Systems (ACI/AMS/ISF/ENS/ICS2) (TLAEAOAJ)

Keywords

• Trade facilitation platform
• Electronic single window
• Customs documentation system
• Government trade portal
• Cross-border trade automation

Headquarters

HQ city

Nairobi

HQ country

Kenya

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Service Charges and Fees: KenTrade levies charges for services rendered through the National Electronic Single Window System. This includes UCR (Unique Consignment Reference) fees, registration fees, and various transaction-based charges for trade documentation processing.
2. Registration Fees: Annual access fees charged per company for system access to Trade Facilitation Platform services. Registration is renewable annually and required for all system users including declarants.
3. Training Services: Fees charged for training services on Kenya TradeNet Services. KenTrade also offers optional and premium services for enhanced functionality.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

KenTrade operates Kenya's National Electronic Single Window System (NESWS), an electronic trade facilitation platform that enables importers, exporters, shippers, and clearing agents to submit trade documentation, permits, and customs declarations electronically to multiple government agencies through a single entry point. The platform manages import declaration forms (IDF), permits, bonds, sea manifests, and Marine Cargo Insurance certificates, with integration to over 15 Partner Government Agencies and the Kenya Revenue Authority's customs system. Additional services include the InfoTrade Kenya trade information portal, the i-Screen Kenya watchlist screening system, e-Learning, and the e-Supplier procurement portal.

Product overview

KenTrade operates a platform-plus-modules architecture centered on the National Electronic Single Window System (NESWS) / Kenya TradeNet System, which is Kenya's core government platform for facilitating cross-border trade. The system integrates multiple portals including the Trade Facilitation Platform (TFP), TradeNet Portal, Trader Portal, and PGA Portal, enabling traders to submit standardized documents electronically to multiple government agencies through a single entry point. Supporting the core platform are the InfoTrade Kenya Portal (providing trade information and market data), Maritime Single Window Portal (for port operations), and i-Screen Kenya System (for watchlist screening of trading partners). Additional modules include the e-Learning Portal (SOMA) for training, User Registration System, e-Supplier Portal for procurement, and the Global Trade Helpdesk for trade intelligence. The platform was established under the National Electronic Single Window System Act, No. 25 of 2022, and rolled out in 2013 with services now including fee-based processing of Unique Consignment References (UCRs), import declarations, permits, bonds, and sea manifests.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Trade Facilitation Platform: National Electronic Single Window System for trade facilitation
• TradeNet Portal
• InfoTrade Kenya Portal
• Maritime Single Window Portal
• KenTrade e-Learning Portal
• i-Screen Kenya System

Products and services

• National Electronic Single Window System (NESWS) / Kenya TradeNet System The core government electronic single window platform that automates and harmonizes cross-border trade processes by enabling traders to submit standardized information and documents electronically to multiple government agencies through a single entry point.
• Trade Facilitation Platform (TFP) Web-based portal providing access to single window services including trade facilitation, maritime single window, and related trade documentation processing.
• TradeNet Portal Core portal for Kenya TradeNet Services enabling traders to lodge import declaration forms, permits, bonds, and sea manifests electronically.
• Trader Portal Dedicated portal for traders to access and manage their trade documentation and declarations through the single window system.
• InfoTrade Kenya Portal Trade information portal providing market data, trade statistics, and regulatory information to support MSME participation in regional and international trade. First in East Africa and sub-Saharan Africa to comply with WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement.
• Maritime Single Window (MSW) Portal Electronic portal for maritime trade facilitation enabling shipping agents and port users to submit vessel and cargo documentation through a single window, streamlining port operations at the Port of Mombasa.
• i-Screen Kenya System Global watchlist screening solution for screening potential trading partners against lists of sanctioned, high-risk, or convicted individuals and organizations. Implemented in partnership with World Compliance Technologies (WCT), available 24 hours with subscription-based tiers.
• KenTrade e-Learning Portal (SOMA) Online learning platform for training traders, customs agents, and other stakeholders on Kenya TradeNet services and trade facilitation processes.
• User Registration System Web-based registration portal for new users to access Trade Facilitation Platform services, with annual renewal requirements and validation processes.
• e-Supplier Portal Electronic procurement portal for managing supplier registration, tenders, contract awards, and procurement processes for KenTrade.
• TradeNet SMS Notification Service SMS-based service for checking status of IDF, Permits, Bonds, Sea Manifest, and Marine Cargo Insurance documents via shortcode 22392 at Ksh 10 per query.
• PGA Portal Portal for Partner Government Agencies (PGAs) to participate in the single window system, enabling electronic processing and approval of trade-related permits and clearances.
• Kenya TradeNet System Secondary Data Centre Disaster recovery infrastructure at East Africa Data Centre ensuring 99.982% system uptime target with failover capabilities for the Kenya TradeNet System.

Quantifiable outcome

• Single point of entry replacing multiple agency submissions
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, significant, major and minor.

• Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS)coreTechnology or IntegrationPartner Government Agency integrated into the single window system. KEBS handles standards certification and quality verification for imported and exported goods through the TradeNet platform.
• Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA)coreTechnology or IntegrationIntegration with KRA's Integrated Customs Management System (iCMS) for seamless customs workflow. Training partnership for traders on Kenya TradeNet System and iCMS integration. Joint meeting in September 2019 to enhance connectivity towards 100% paperless workflow.
• Kenya Ports Authority (KPA)coreTechnology or IntegrationIntegration at the Port of Mombasa for cargo clearance. KenTrade participates in Mombasa Port Community Charter and Northern Corridor initiatives.
• UNCTADsignificantStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical collaboration on trade facilitation and support for Global Trade Helpdesk implementation. UNCTAD representatives have visited KenTrade for technical exchanges.
• Global Alliance for Trade FacilitationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership agreement signed to work together towards making trade with Kenya simpler, faster and more cost-effective. Currently collaborating on a trade facilitation project to introduce risk-based pre-arrival processing.
• World Compliance Technologies (WCT)coreTechnology or IntegrationImplementation partner for the i-Screen Kenya System, a screening solution for checking trading partners against global watchlists.
• Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS)significantStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to facilitate provision of trade statistics in Kenya. KenTrade serves as central repository for international trade data.
• Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA)coreTechnology or IntegrationPartner agency through which horticulture and agricultural export certifications are processed via the single window system.
• Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS)coreTechnology or IntegrationPartner agency for phytosanitary certifications for agricultural exports including the avocado export initiative to China.
• Kenya International Freight & Warehousing Association (KIFWA)significantChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCollaboration agreement for transforming import and export trade business in Kenya. KIFWA represents freight and warehousing companies.
• Shippers Council of Eastern AfricasignificantChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRepresenting shippers and engaged in Mombasa Port Community and Northern Corridor Charter activities.
• Democratic Republic of Congo - OGEFREMminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExploratory discussions with DRC-based agency on how Congolese traders using Kenyan ports can benefit from trade facilitation interventions.
• Nigerian Ports AuthorityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBenchmarking visits from Nigerian delegation to learn about single window implementation.
• Ghana Shippers AuthorityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBenchmarking visit from Ghana Shippers Authority to study KenTrade's operations.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Indonesia National Single Window (INSW): Indonesia's National Single Window Agency (LNSW) integrates customs and trade licensing under one platform, similar mandate to KenTrade as a state agency managing a national trade facilitation system.
• Ghana National Single Window (GCNet): Ghana Community Network Services operates Ghana's single window for trade and customs, integrating agencies and processing trade declarations. Closely comparable mandate, scale, and African regional context.
• Nigeria Single Window (Nigeria Trade Hub): Nigeria's national single window initiative for trade facilitation, integrating customs and partner agencies. Comparable mandate at larger scale, also with African regional relevance.
• Tanzania TradeNet Authority (TANCIS): Operates Tanzania's National Electronic Single Window System for customs and trade facilitation, with a similar mandate to integrate government agencies and process trade documentation. Directly comparable in scope, statutory basis, and regional East African context.
• Rwanda Single Window (RRA): Rwanda Revenue Authority operates a single window for trade facilitation in Rwanda with electronic cargo and customs clearance. Comparable mandate at smaller scale within the East African region.

Others

• Crimson Logic: Singapore-based trade technology vendor that has provided implementation support for KenTrade's secondary data centre migration. Operates in the same trade facilitation ecosystem as a technology partner/vendor.
• Webb Fontaine: Technology provider delivering single window, customs, and trade facilitation solutions to governments, often partnering with national single window operators. Comparable ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor.
• UNCTAD ASYCUDA: UNCTAD's Automated System for Customs Data, a widely deployed customs and single window framework used by many developing countries. Alternative technology platform to KenTrade's NESWS in the same ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• Korea Customs Service (UNI-PASS): Korea's national customs ICT platform UNI-PASS provides integrated single window functionality and is widely benchmarked globally. Directly comparable single window model with more advanced technical maturity.
• Singapore Networked Trade Platform (NTP): Operated by Singapore Customs, NTP is a globally leading trade digital platform providing single window services, permitting, and trade compliance. More advanced and mature than KenTrade, but operates a directly comparable national single window mandate.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kentrade_g2b
• Facebookfacebook.com/KenTradeG2B
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kenya-trade-network-agency

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about KenTrade