Nairobi is lobbying individual nations within Comesa to grant it a further extension to protect its struggling sugar industry.
The current extensions expired on November 25, and if not renewed, might open the market to cheap imports from the region.
Sources say the President William Ruto has been seeking support of friendly nations within the bloc to support a new extension.
In November 2023, Kenya secured another two-year extension. Comesa then said the move was to enable the government of Kenya to transform the sugar industry.
This year, Kenya handed over four state owned mills to private players under a 30-year lease program. This move the ministry of Agriculture said was to modernize the over five-decade old factories and make new investments
In the deal, Sony Sugar in Migori was handed over to Busia Sugar Industry, Nzoia Sugar in Bungoma was given to West Kenya Sugar Company by the state. Muhoroni and Chemelil factories in Kisumu County were leased to West Valley and Kibos Sugar companies, respectively.
Kenya has been relying on the safeguards from Comesa since 2002. The deal was aimed at safeguarding struggling local sugar industry under the weight of debt and obsolete technology.