Kenya and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) have officially launched the Electronic Certificate of Origin (eCOO) system expected to transform cross-border trade by reducing paperwork, cutting costs and curbing fraud in customs transactions.

The Department of Trade Principal Secretary Regina Ombam said the adoption of the eCOO aligns with Kenya’s trade and ICT frameworks, positioning the country to benefit more from regional and continental integration.

In a speech read on her behalf by Director of ICT at the State Department of Trade Timothy Were the PS emphasised that the system will simplify trade processes, reduce fraud, and boost competitiveness.

“Kenya’s embrace of the eCOO reinforces our commitment to the Comesa Free Trade Area and the African Continental Free Trade Area. For businesses, it means faster processing, lower costs and greater market access, while customs will benefit through enhanced transparency and reduced fraud,” Ombam explained.

The principal secretary explained further that ECO is grounded in Articles 49 and 50 of the Comesa Treaty and the Protocol on Rules of Origin, which call for harmonised and simplified customs procedures.

She added that Kenya’s adoption is consistent with the Customs and Excise Act, the East African Community Customs Management Act and the Kenya Information and Communications Act, all of which recognise digital systems and electronic transactions.

Comesa Secretary General Chileshe Mpundu Kapwepwe, in remarks delivered on her behalf by Dr Christopher Onyango, the director of trade and customs, hailed Kenya for joining Eswatini, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe as the fifth member-state to operationalise ECO.

“This launch marks an important milestone in advancing our regional integration agenda under the Comesa Digital Free Trade Area programme,” Kapwepwe said.

“The ECO is a game-changer for inter-regional trade. It will save time and costs for exporters, improve efficiency and security and enhance the reliability of trade data to guide policy. Kenya’s leadership is a clear demonstration of its commitment to modernising trade facilitation and inspiring other member states to follow suit,” she added.

The Secretary General also noted that the launch comes just days before the 24th Comesa Heads of State Summit to be held in Nairobi on October 9, where regional leaders will deliberate on further steps to strengthen economic integration.

From the domestic front, the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) emphasized that the eCOO would not only benefit traders but also enhance efficiency in customs operations and strengthen revenue mobilisation.

KRA’s Rules of Origin Manager Josephine Makokha said the authority has automated the registration, issuance and approval of certificates of origin through the Integrated Customs Management System (iCMS), which now incorporates a rules of origin module.

“This is more than a system upgrade; it is a strategic shift in how KRA delivers services. The eCOO will facilitate faster clearance of goods, reduce paperwork, improve authentication of origin documents, and eliminate opportunities for fraud,” Makokha said.

She pointed out that Kenya was ready to support other Comesa member states still developing their eCOO frameworks by sharing experiences and providing technical support.

Automated Systems Expert at Comesa Gift Lukhele, explained that Kenya’s system has now been successfully integrated with the regional eCOO platform.

He said since the regional rollout in November 2024, more than 5,400 electronic certificates had been issued by participating states, with 10.5 per cent destined for Kenya.

“Kenya’s participation is vital, given its central role in Comesa trade. The eCOO is web-based, allowing exporters to register and apply for certificates online, with customs authorities verifying and transmitting approvals electronically. This eliminates manual bottlenecks and ensures real-time data sharing across borders,” Lukhele noted.

Customs Officer at KRA Winfred Musili demonstrated how the iCMS module now streamlines exporter registration and ECO issuance.

“Previously, traders had to manually fill out triplicate certificates of origin and physically submit them for approval. Now, the entire process, from exporter registration to approval, inspection and notification, is digitised. The system even pulls data directly from export declarations, reducing duplication and saving time,” she said.

Musili explained that the eCOO platform is integrated with the East African Community’s Single Customs Territory, further reinforcing Kenya’s role as a trade hub in the region.

KRA and Comesa representatives stressed that while the system promises efficiency, its success will depend on sustained collaboration between governments, customs administrations, private sector actors and regional institutions. They highlighted the need for capacity building, awareness campaigns and investment in ICT infrastructure to ensure smooth adoption across all Comesa member states.

The eCOO initiative is supported by the European Union under Comesa’s Trade Facilitation Programme, which has provided financial and technical assistance in system development, training, and integration of national platforms.

Ombam said the initiative signalled Kenya’s readiness to champion the digital transformation of trade within Africa.

“This launch is a signal to our region and continent that Kenya is ready to drive forward digital trade, regional integration and continental unity. The ECO is not just a tool, it is a commitment to building a stronger, more competitive and inclusive Africa,” she said.

Kenya now joins the growing list of Comesa member states advancing towards a paperless trade environment, positioning itself as a leader in digital integration ahead of the Nairobi summit.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Darlene Kuria and Samuel Kivuva

Delegates from the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), State Department for Trade and the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) during the official launch of the Electronic Certificate of Origin (eCOO) system at a Nairobi on Thursday October 2, 2025. Photo by Darlene Kuria.