By Maximilla Wafula, Sub-County
The County
Diary News
Kenya has
officially set in motion a major campaign to expand market access for local
enterprises across the East African region. This follows the official flag-off
of the Kenyan delegation for the 26th East African Community (EAC) Micro,
Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Exhibition and Trade Fair, scheduled to
take place from October 30 to November 8, 2026, at the Gikondo Expo Grounds in
Kigali, Rwanda.
The
flag-off ceremony, led by MSME Development Principal Secretary Ms. Susan Auma
Mang’eni at the Kariobangi Centre of Excellence in Nairobi, highlighted Kenya’s
strategy to leverage cross-border trade, establish international partnerships,
and enhance value addition—particularly within the priority leather and
horticulture sectors.
Addressing
exhibitors and trade leaders, PS Mang’eni called for the decisive removal of
persistent trade barriers and non-tariff hurdles along regional transport
corridors. Reaffirming historic regional integration frameworks first
championed by East African Heads of State under the World Trade Organization
(WTO) in 1999, she stressed that seamless cross-border mobility remains vital
for unleashing economic potential across the bloc.
As the
region’s largest economy, Kenya is preparing to showcase roughly 600 local
exhibitors alongside an additional 600 participants from the diaspora. The
10-day regional exhibition provides direct access to an expanded market of over
300 million consumers across the EAC.
Beyond
displaying products, Kenya’s participation will feature daily trade symposia
focused on solving logistics challenges, strengthening regional value chains,
and capitalizing on opportunities created under the African Continental Free
Trade Area (AfCFTA).
PS
Mang’eni urged Kenyan logistics providers and traders to optimize supply chain
efficiency along the Northern Corridor, encouraging carriers transporting goods
to Rwanda to secure return cargo rather than returning empty. Emphasizing
productivity and decent job creation, she expressed confidence that Kenyan
enterprises will secure lucrative contracts, seal strategic deals, and champion
the "Buy Kenya, Build Kenya" vision across the regional stage.
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