How to Choose a Reliable Exporter in Kenya & East Africa (and Avoid Import Scams)
A practical checklist to verify suppliers, spot scams and protect your payments.
East Africa offers excellent products — but, as in any market, buyers must verify who they deal with.
Verification checklist
- Registered company with a verifiable trading name and legal entity.
- Export licences for the product (AFA for tea, coffee and horticulture; KEPHIS for plant health; mining licences for minerals).
- Samples and specifications before contract, and independent inspection (SGS, Bureau Veritas, Intertek) before loading.
- Formal documents: proforma invoice, contract, certificate of origin, phytosanitary and quality certificates.
- Bank account in the company's name matching the registered entity.
Red flags
Gold or gemstones far below world prices; requests to pay personal accounts; no permits or lab reports; refusal of inspection; "urgent" deals. Read our licensed gemstone and mineral guide.
Safer payment
Use Letters of Credit or Cash Against Documents for larger orders, and start with a sample lot. See payment terms.
Use one accountable partner
A regional sourcing partner verifies suppliers in each country, controls quality and handles documents — see how our regional sourcing works and who we are.
Frequently asked questions
What are common import scam warning signs?
Prices far below market, pressure to pay quickly to personal accounts, no export permits or lab reports, refusal of inspection, and gold or gemstone offers without licences.
Why import with ProExporters Kenya?
ProExporters Kenya is your single, accountable partner for importing from Kenya and East Africa — from the first quotation to the bill of lading.
- 10 source countries, one partner — Kenya plus DR Congo, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Burundi, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia.
- Verified, licensed suppliers — auction-registered buyers, KEPHIS-registered packhouses, certified factories and licensed mineral dealers.
- Quality you can check — pre-shipment samples, lab analysis and independent inspection before loading.
- Documents handled — export permits, certificates of origin, phytosanitary, EUDR and due-diligence files.
- Transparent sample pricing — instant calculation and an emailed proforma invoice.
- Fast answers — formal FOB / CIF / DAP quotations, usually within 24 hours.
- Registered company — ProExporters is a brand and trading name of PROTECH CONSULTING, a company registered in Kenya.
