A China sourcing agent on the ground for Kenyan importers
We sit between you and the factory in China and stay with the order to the port of Mombasa. Contract, payment control, quality checks and freight handled as one chain, with a local point of contact in Nairobi.
The China to Kenya corridor runs on two things: a verified supplier and a controlled payment. Most loss on imports from China to Kenya happens when a buyer wires the full order to a factory and then has no leverage if quality slips or the goods never ship. China sourcing for Kenya removes that gap. We hold the supplier contract, control disbursement against milestones, inspect before the cargo leaves, and book shipping from China to Kenya through Mombasa for sea and Nairobi for air.
Tiles, sanitaryware, fittings, fasteners and construction hardware for the Nairobi and coastal building trade.
Phones, accessories, small appliances and components, matched to factories with an export and certification track record.
Agricultural, processing and workshop machinery plus spare parts, with capacity and quality history checked before quotation.
Garments, fabrics, footwear and home and kitchen lines, including private-label and OEM development where needed.
Sea freight moves through Mombasa as full container (FCL) or consolidated (LCL); air cargo lands at Nairobi. Transit is typically ~25-35 days by sea depending on origin port, sailing and congestion, plus port handling and customs at both ends. We arrange the lane, insurance and customs clearance through licensed partners.
Transit times are indicative and vary with carrier, season and customs.
You sign one bilingual contract with Makehe rather than wiring an unknown factory direct. We structure escrowed milestone payments, releasing funds to the supplier in stages tied to a signed order, passed pre-shipment inspection, and the bill of lading. For larger orders we coordinate a Letter of Credit with your bank so payment moves against shipping documents. Quotes and settlement can be referenced in KES, with currency conversion handled transparently. Makehe is a sourcing agent, not a bank; we structure and coordinate these terms, we do not issue them.
How our payments work →Our Nairobi office gives Kenyan importers a contact in the same time zone for quotes, order updates and shipment status, while procurement, inspection and supplier payment run from Shanghai. You deal locally and we run the China side. Reach the Nairobi desk for a quotation or to discuss an existing order.
By sea to Mombasa it is typically ~25-35 days in transit depending on origin port, sailing schedule and congestion, with port handling and customs adding several days at each end. Air cargo to Nairobi is faster, roughly a week. We confirm a current estimate against the actual lane when we quote.
We can reference quotes and settlement in KES and handle the conversion transparently. We disburse to Chinese suppliers in RMB on agreed milestones, so you deal with one counterparty instead of wiring factories direct.
The supplier contract is in Makehe's name and we control the milestone payments. If goods fail inspection we negotiate rework, replacement or refund before releasing the balance, so the leverage stays on your side rather than chasing a factory from Kenya.
Ready to expand your business with China?
Let us handle the complexity while you focus on growth. Get in touch today for a free consultation or sourcing quote.