Kenya Flags Off 600 MSME Exhibitors for Kigali EAC Trade Fair

Story by Maurice Momanyi

Kenya has stepped up efforts to expand market access for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), with approximately 600 local exhibitors set to showcase their products at the 26th East African Community (EAC) MSME Exhibition and Trade Fair in Kigali, Rwanda.
The exhibition, scheduled for October 30 to November 8, 2026, at the Gikondo Expo Grounds, is expected to provide Kenyan businesses with opportunities to secure new markets, attract orders, establish cross-border partnerships and strengthen regional trade.
Principal Secretary for MSME Development Susan Auma Mang’eni led the flag-off ceremony at the Kariobangi Centre of Excellence in Nairobi, highlighting the Government’s commitment to enhancing the competitiveness of local enterprises through regional integration and value addition.
Mang’eni called for the removal of trade barriers that continue to impede the free movement of goods and people within the region, noting that such obstacles undermine efforts to facilitate cross-border commerce.
She recalled discussions involving three Heads of State under the World Trade Organization (WTO) framework in 1999, which highlighted the need to re-engineer regional trade and eliminate barriers to doing business.
Now in its 26th year, the EAC MSME exhibition has grown into a major platform for promoting intra-African trade, enabling participating countries to showcase products, exchange knowledge and build strategic business networks.
Last year’s edition attracted participants from eight countries, including Somalia, expanding opportunities for regional collaboration and commercial partnerships.
This year’s event will place emphasis on locally manufactured and value-added products, with approximately 600 Kenyan exhibitors expected alongside another 600 participants from the diaspora.
Daily symposiums will also address persistent trade challenges, particularly non-tariff barriers, and explore practical solutions within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and other regional trade agreements.
The Principal Secretary noted that Kenya has consistently recorded the highest number of exhibitors at the event, reflecting its position as the region’s largest economy.
She expressed optimism that the participating businesses would secure deals, attract new customers and establish strategic partnerships, enabling them to benefit from a regional market of more than 300 million people.
Mang’eni reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to supporting the formalisation and growth of MSMEs through collaboration with business associations and other stakeholders.

She said facilitating the movement of goods and people, while addressing challenges experienced by traders along regional transport corridors, remained critical to unlocking the full potential of regional trade.
The PS also urged Kenyan traders to maximise transport opportunities by ensuring that trucks delivering goods to Rwanda and other regional markets do not return empty.
She encouraged businesses to take advantage of the Northern Corridor, including routes through Mau Summit, to improve the movement of goods, reach new customers and strengthen cross-border commerce.
Mang’eni wished the exhibitors success at the fair and challenged them to compete for awards while prioritising productivity, value addition and the creation of decent employment opportunities.
She noted that improving MSME competitiveness would be essential in driving inclusive economic growth and expanding employment opportunities.
Kenya’s participation in the Kigali exhibition underscores the Government’s efforts to empower small businesses, strengthen regional value chains and create new opportunities for trade, investment and job creation across the East African Community.