It is a very difficult time for importers of products from Italy and Europe to Kenya, amidst current issues surrounding the transit of commercial cargo from the Red Sea, but also other situations related to fuel prices and the devaluation of the Kenyan shilling against the dollar. Rising prices on goods that we have always considered 'basic necessities', both for European residents in Kenya and for tourism and catering, such as pasta, rice, olive oil and wine, are matched by delays in the arrival of containers and those due to the Kenyan government's new rules to combat corruption, which provide for several steps to obtain the necessary authorisations, through online platforms.

All this results in significantly higher prices in supermarkets or directly from importers, as well as inefficiencies and product shortages.
Yesterday, the Kenya Seafarers' Association (KSAA) warned the public of looming shortages and rising prices of imported goods due to militant operations along the Red Sea. In their statement released to the media, the KSAA denounced the problems of sea transport companies that have increased their expenses due to the armed escorts needed to cross the Red Sea as well as Yemen, which is grappling with attacks by Houthi rebels.

Other ships have decided to transit the Cape of Good Hope, but in this case both the journey and delivery time for goods and the fuel used increases.
"Our companies clearly need security, although for now the American ones are particularly at risk," explains importer Roberto Miano of Gourmet Master. "We would not want the Kenyan authorities to take advantage of the situation, as at the same time the number of licences to be obtained through the new online systems has increased.
The economy at this time is unfavourable in all aspects, because in addition to the devaluation of the shilling, the prices of products in Italy have also risen.

"We should get out of this logic that it is always the fault of wars or international contingencies, when it would be decisive for the local government to take a stand, to consider products imported from Europe as basic necessities, think pasta or olive oil, and not luxury goods," explains Miano. It is in everyone's interest, except for the few who want to take advantage of this and play neither the governments' game, nor that of the market, let alone tourism, that a solution be found so as not to bring the import system, which fuels earnings for so many Kenyans and entrepreneurs living in the country, to collapse.