KENYA SEND 600 MSMES TO RWANDA FOR REGIONAL TRADE FAIR

By Elijah Odanga | Lolwe Digital MediaNAIROBI, Kenya, October 25, 2026 

 Kenya will support 600 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to participate in the 26th East African Community (EAC) MSME Trade Fair in Kigali, Rwanda, as the government intensifies efforts to expand regional markets, promote locally manufactured products and strengthen economic integration.

Principal Secretary for the State Department for MSME Development Susan Mang’eni announced the initiative during the flag-off of trucks transporting Kenyan goods to Rwanda, alongside Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA) Chief Executive Officer Henry Rithaa.

The exhibition, scheduled to run from October 31 to November 8, 2026, at the Gikondo Expo Grounds in Kigali, is expected to attract nearly 1,200 exhibitors, including 600 Kenyan businesses and enterprises from Rwanda and other participating countries.

Mang’eni said the annual trade fair provides a platform for businesses to showcase locally manufactured products, exchange knowledge, establish commercial partnerships and secure new markets across the East African region.

She said the exhibition was founded on the principle of leveraging the competitive advantages of EAC partner states, including agricultural productivity, industrial capacity and manufacturing expertise, to promote shared prosperity.

“If we could exchange values from our various competitive advantages, our strengths, our agricultural productivity and our industrial competence, then we could stay together as brothers and sisters, in harmony, prosper together and deepen our regional integration,” Mang’eni said.

The trade fair has been held annually for 26 years, rotating among EAC partner states between October and December. Last year’s edition was hosted in Nairobi, bringing together businesses from across the regional bloc to showcase products and explore commercial opportunities.

Mang’eni emphasised that participating enterprises must exhibit products manufactured within East Africa rather than imported goods, saying the requirement was intended to promote local industries, strengthen regional value chains and increase trade among member states.

She said the products being transported to Rwanda were locally manufactured, including goods from light industrial areas and other manufacturing zones across Kenya.

According to the PS, Kenya has consistently recorded the highest number of exhibitors at the regional exhibition, reflecting its position as the region’s largest economy and the growing capacity of its MSME sector.

She noted that previous participants had secured commercial orders, established business relationships and identified new opportunities, enabling them to expand beyond the domestic market.

The East African market, with a population exceeding 300 million people, presents significant opportunities for Kenyan businesses seeking to increase sales, grow production and expand their regional footprint.

Mang’eni said the government was facilitating participation through the identification and registration of businesses, transport arrangements for exhibitors and their goods, and coordination with business associations and relevant government agencies.

She added that the government was working with the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders to put in place measures to safeguard participants amid public health concerns following the Ebola outbreak in the region.

Security agencies, the Ministry of Interior and the State Department for Immigration were also involved in facilitating the safe movement of exhibitors and their goods across borders.

The PS credited President William Ruto’s administration with providing budgetary support and securing Cabinet approval for Kenya’s participation in the exhibition.

She said the government remained committed to supporting MSMEs as part of broader efforts to promote local manufacturing, increase exports, create business opportunities and strengthen the country’s competitiveness in regional and international markets.

Mang’eni further said the exhibition would provide an opportunity for stakeholders to address challenges affecting cross-border trade, particularly non-tariff barriers that continue to hinder the movement of goods and services within the EAC.

Daily symposiums during the 10-day event will bring together stakeholders to discuss outstanding trade issues, identify practical solutions and explore ways of improving regional business cooperation.

She said stronger trade relations within East Africa would provide a foundation for businesses to benefit from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), adding that enterprises needed to establish strong regional markets before expanding into continental and global markets.

Kenya’s national day at the exhibition is scheduled for November 5 and will feature cultural performances, music and other activities showcasing the country’s heritage.

Mang’eni said the celebrations would also provide Kenyans living and doing business in the region with an opportunity to promote the country’s products, cultural identity and entrepreneurial potential.

The trucks transporting Kenyan products are expected to use the Northern Corridor, travelling through the Rift Valley and the Malaba and Busia border areas before proceeding through Uganda to Rwanda.

Mang’eni said the consignment was expected to arrive in Kigali by October 28, giving exhibitors time to prepare their stands ahead of the official opening of the exhibition.

She expressed confidence that Kenyan enterprises would perform strongly at the trade fair, urging participants to secure more awards and demonstrate the quality, innovation and manufacturing capabilities of locally produced goods.

The government, she said, would continue supporting MSMEs in accessing new markets, boosting exports and creating sustainable business opportunities, while positioning Kenya as a regional centre for manufacturing, innovation and entrepreneurship.

Mang’eni wished the participating businesses success, saying their performance at the exhibition would help strengthen Kenya’s reputation as a source of quality products and competitive enterprises within the East African market.