• He admits that predicting the future is difficult, but stresses that the war already has an impact on Kenya. The escalating conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States is disrupting trade routes and air cargo operations, threatening one of Kenya’s most important export markets.

Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary (CS)Mutahi Kagwe says Kenya is looking for alternative markets for meat and goats previously exported to Iran.

He notes that Iran has been a reliable buyer. “We have been sending about 300 million shillings per week to the Middle East in terms of meat, goats, and related products. This is going to be impacted,” Kagwe said.

He admits that predicting the future is difficult, but stresses that the war already has an impact on Kenya. The escalating conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States is disrupting trade routes and air cargo operations, threatening one of Kenya’s most important export markets.

For tea, Kagwe says Kenya is not as exposed.

“There was an issue in the tea sector. We have not been exporting there. We however have distribution and testing centers in Dubai. It has not impacted us badly, but we cannot predict,” he explained.

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He praised young Kenyans who are packaging tea locally, ensuring that exports leave the country already branded. Much of Kenya’s tea avoids the Strait of Hormuz, instead passing through the Red Sea.

"Egypt is the biggest consumer of tea. We have not seen any impact. We are, however, sensitive to the whole issue. We have a team within government monitoring the likely impact,” Kagwe said.

He emphasized that farmers remain central to the agricultural chain. “The most important aspect in the whole farming chain is the farmer,” he added.

The United States and Israel are engaged in a major military conflict with Iran, aimed at dismantling its nuclear program, missile capabilities, and regional proxies. The war, now entering its third week, followed internal unrest in Iran and has already resulted in significant strikes on Iranian infrastructure and leadership, including the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

The stated goals remain dismantling Iran’s military capabilities and achieving regime change, but the fallout is reverberating far beyond the battlefield reaching Kenya’s farms, exporters, and trade corridors.

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