Kenya Launches Electronic Warehouse Receipt System to Transform Agricultural Trade

The Warehouse Receipt System Council (WRSC) has unveiled a new digital platform that is set to transform agricultural trade in Kenya. 

The Electronic Warehouse Receipt System Central Registry(eWRS-CR)system will help cut post-harvest losses, connect farmers and agribusinesses to structured markets and unlock easier access to financing across the country.

Launched in partnership with TradeMark Africa (TMA), with funding support from the British High Commission in Kenya the system is a secure, government-owned digital platform that automates, centralises and manages warehouse receipts issued under the Warehouse Receipt System.

By enhancing transparency, traceability, and accountability, the platform builds trust and enables seamless participation by farmers, warehouse operators, financial institutions, traders, regulators and other key players across the agricultural value chain.

Speaking when he officiated the launch, the Principal Secretary for Industry, Dr.Juma Mukhwana, underscored the platform’s critical role in strengthening trust, improving transparency, and catalysing broader participation across the agricultural value chain.

“The e-WRS Central Registry is not merely a technology platform; it is a confidence-
building intervention designed to catalyse participation across the agricultural value
chain. By enhancing transparency, strengthening trust, and enabling access to finance,
this system empowers farmers, attracts private sector investment, and contributes to
Kenya’s broader economic transformation,” said the Principal Secretary.

He noted that the initiative aligns closely with the government’s key development priorities, including Kenya Vision 2030, the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) and positions Kenya to take full advantage of regional and global trade opportunities under frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Area(AfCFTA)which opens access to expanded markets for Kenyan agricultural commodities.

“By strengthening structured trade and improving quality assurance, the system enhances Kenya’s competitiveness as a regional agricultural hub,” said Dr.Mukhwana.

He reaffirmed the government’s commitment, to ensuring that warehouses developed under the County Aggregation and Industrial Parks (CAIPs) meet the certification and licensing requirements under the Warehouse Receipt System.

He noted that this will strengthen both backward and forward linkages within the value chain by guaranteeing manufacturers consistent access to quality raw materials, supporting optimal production capacity and driving industrial growth.

Agriculture remains central to Kenya’s economy, with smallholder farmers contributing over 75% of national agricultural output. Yet, access to formal credit is limited, with less than 5% of bank lending directed to the sector, while post-harvest losses estimated at 30–40 percent for some commodities and continue to undermine farmer incomes and national food security.

The eWRS-CR addresses these challenges by enabling farmers and commodity owners to safely store produce in certified warehouses and receive electronic warehouse receipts as proof of ownership. These receipts can be used as collateral to access financing, empowering farmers to meet immediate financial needs while avoiding distress sales and allowing them to sell when market conditions are most favourable. The system also strengthens structured trade, improves price discovery, and enhances market efficiency.

The Chairman WRSC Patrick Mbogo, highlighted the system’s role in advancing Kenya’s agricultural and economic transformation.

“The launch of the Electronic Warehouse Receipt System Central Registry marks a defining moment in Kenya’s journey toward a modern, transparent and efficient agricultural marketing system. This platform strengthens trust among market participants, enhances commodity security, and unlocks access to financing for farmers and agribusinesses. It lays a firm foundation for structured agricultural trade and positions Kenya as a regional leader in agricultural market innovation,” said Mbogo.

WRSC Ag. CEO and Registrar, Lucy Komen, emphasized the private sector’s growing participation in warehouse operations and its impact on value chains.

“We are encouraged by the private sector’s embrace of warehouse operations, which is critical to the success of the system. The Warehouse Receipt System provides an enabling environment for private sector engagement. Structured market systems enable farmers to focus on production while ensuring their commodities are safely stored, financed, and traded within a secure marketplace. We encourage both public and private sector players to adopt this solution to strengthen Kenya’s agricultural value chains,”said Komen.

Country Director TradeMark Africa, Lilian Mwai highlighted the platform’s role in regional trade.

“By improving traceability and enabling access to finance, this platform empowers farmers and agribusinesses to compete more effectively in domestic and regional trade. The No Stop Border initiative becomes practical by fixing systems at source. Goods moving across Africa should not face unnecessary delays caused by fragmented systems. Systems like the Electronic Warehouse Receipt platform ensure that commodities are traceable, trusted and trade-ready from the moment they enter the value chain,”said Mwai.

Deputy High Commissioner and Development Director at the British High Commission -Kenya Diana Dalton reaffirmed the United Kingdom’s support for Kenya’s agricultural modernization and financial inclusion agenda.

“Kenya and the UK are injecting innovation into agriculture. Not only does this system put more money into farmers’ pockets, but it also allows produce like maize to be used as collateral for short-term loans, enabling farmers to meet immediate needs without selling at lower prices. The renewed Strategic Partnership between Kenya and the UK is driving modernisation for businesses of all sizes, adding crucial value to produce before export,”said Dalton.

The launch marks Kenya’s transition from pilot phase to nationwide adoption of a structured and digitized Warehouse Receipt System, positioning the eWRS-CR as a key driver in strengthening agricultural markets and expanding farmers’ access to finance.

The system has been fully tested end-to-end and is now operational, with 114 warehouse receipts covering nearly 600,000 kilograms of deposited commodities already registered.