Guide · Kenya
Export wine to Kenya: the 2026 guide
Updated 31 Oct 2026 · Checked against official sources · Reviewed each year
Key points
- Kenya imported USD 22.4 million of wine in 2025, flat since 2018; sparkling more than doubled since 2022.
- South Africa leads with 44% of value, France second with 18%.
- Duty is 35% (EAC tariff); excise has been KSh 22.50 per centilitre of pure alcohol since December 2024; then fees and 16% VAT: taxes about equal the CIF value.
- Since February 2026, wine from the EU, UK, South Africa, USA, Australia and New Zealand no longer needs pre-export inspection: it is inspected on arrival, with a Free Sale Certificate.
The market in numbers
Kenya imported USD 22.4 million of wine in 2025 (8.9 million litres), against USD 22.7 million in 2024 and USD 23.4 million in 2018: value has been flat for seven years after growing from USD 14.2 million in 2015. The growth segment is sparkling, from USD 1.75 million in 2022 to USD 4.07 million in 2025.
| Origin, 2025 | USD m (Kenyan customs) | Share |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 9.87 | 44.1% |
| France | 4.12 | 18.4% |
| Italy | 2.55 | 11.4% |
| Spain | 1.52 | 6.8% |
| Argentina | 1.02 | 4.5% |
| Chile | 0.91 | 4.1% |
Duties and taxes
- Customs duty: 35% of CIF (EAC common external tariff since July 2022). The EU reads the EU-Kenya agreement as capping wine at 25%; as of May 2026 Kenya still applies 35%.
- Excise: KSh 22.50 per centilitre of pure alcohol since 27 December 2024, so it now depends on the alcohol content.
- Import declaration fee 2.5% and railway development levy 2% of CIF.
- VAT: 16% of CIF + duty + excise. Plus KSh 5 per excise stamp.
| One bottle, 13% ABV, CIF USD 5.00 (KSh 649.75) | KSh |
|---|---|
| Import duty 35% | 227.41 |
| Excise (9.75 cl of pure alcohol) | 219.38 |
| Declaration fee and railway levy | 29.24 |
| VAT 16% | 175.45 |
| Excise stamp | 5.00 |
| Total taxes and fees | 656.48 (101% of CIF), duty-paid about USD 10.05 |
Exchange rate KSh 129.95 per USD (Central Bank of Kenya, 28 Oct 2026). At 14.5% ABV the excise rises to KSh 244.69 per bottle. Inspection fees are per consignment (0.6% of customs value, minimum USD 300).
Who imports, inspection and excise stamps
- The importer registers with the Kenya Revenue Authority for an excise licence and orders excise stamps at least 60 days before the goods arrive. Labels and packages are declared to KRA; any new brand or label change needs 30 days' notice.
- Inspection (KEBS, from February 2026): wine from the EU, UK, Switzerland, Norway, all of Africa, the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand is inspected on arrival and needs a Free Sale Certificate. Wine from Chile, Argentina and other Latin American, Asian or Gulf origins still needs a Certificate of Conformity before shipment.
- Liquor licensing is a county matter; your importer holds the licences.
Labels
- English (Kiswahili also accepted), with a statement of constituents and the country of origin.
- At least two health warnings from the law's list, together covering at least 30% of the package surface; importers must sticker non-compliant bottles on arrival.
- A KRA excise stamp on every bottle; no containers under 250 ml.
Documents and samples
- Commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, the import declaration through the KenTrade single window, the Free Sale Certificate (or Certificate of Conformity), and a Certificate of Origin, mandatory since July 2025.
- Samples with no commercial value are excluded from the origin rule; whether they pay excise is not settled in the texts we read: ask us.
How the market works
A national leader distributes many brands; modern grocery is led by a few chains. Kenya is East Africa's hub, with regular wine fairs in Nairobi and Mombasa.
Events: The Wine Fair Kenya, Nairobi every August and Mombasa every December.
Mistakes we see
- Pricing with old rules: 25% duty, excise per litre, a 3.5% declaration fee.
- Asking for a pre-export certificate for EU or South African wine instead of a Free Sale Certificate.
- Ordering excise stamps late or changing a label without notice.
- Health warnings under 30% of the surface; shipping without a certificate of origin.
How we work in Africa
Our Africa team, run from Paris, has sold into more than 20 African countries and worked with over 90 importers. Kenya is one of its three main markets, with Côte d'Ivoire and Nigeria.
Sources
- UN Comtrade, imports reported by Kenya, HS 2204, 2015 to 2025, United Nations Statistics Division, link (official data)
- EAC Common External Tariff, 2022 version (p. 89), East African Community, hosted by KRA, link (primary)
- Adjustment of excise duty rates, Tax Laws (Amendment) Act 2024, Kenya Revenue Authority, link (primary)
- Excise duty and excise stamps, Kenya Revenue Authority, link (primary)
- Mandatory Certificate of Origin on imports, Kenya Revenue Authority, link (primary)
- PVoC Program Operations Manual v15 (19 Feb 2026), Kenya Bureau of Standards, copy hosted by IIB, link (primary, reproduction)
- Excise Duty (EGMS) Regulations 2017, Kenya Gazette, hosted by WHO, link (primary, reproduction)
- Alcoholic Drinks Control Act 2010, s.32 (labelling), Tripartite NTB portal, link (summary of primary)
- Promotional events, wine and alcoholic beverages, ICE Italian Trade Agency, link (organiser)
This guide summarises official texts for exporters; it is not legal or tax advice. Rules change: check with your importer or with us before shipping.
Contact me
Exporting to Kenya? Talk to Alexis.
Alexis Sourzac
General Manager EMEA
Tell us about your wines and the markets you have in mind. A person answers within one working day.