Strategies For Kenya’s Leverage On The Kenya-United States Of America Free Trade Agreement (KUSFTA) Negotiations

Executive Summary

Kenya’s position in the Kenya-United States Free Trade Area Agreement (KUSFTA) negotiations is bound to be affected by internal and external socio-political dynamics. These include the structure of Kenya’s negotiating team, the political developments in the two countries, stakeholder participation, the China-US trade war and regional politics. While some of these factors strengthen Kenya’s position, others amplify her limitations and threaten her influence. The country’s ability to navigate these factors will determine her strategic leverage on the US, a more robust and distinctly advantaged state. This paper recommends depoliticizing the negotiation process, formulating evidence-based negotiation objectives, inclusive stakeholder participation, instituting reforms in the business environment, leveraging Chinese infrastructure and building alliances with regional partners.