Kenyan MSMEs Set for Major Regional Market Push at Kigali Trade Fair

CS for Cooperatives and MSME Development Dr. Wycliffe Oparanya (right) and PS State Department for MSME Development (centre) during a media address on Kenya’s participation in the 26th EAC MSMEs Trade Fair in Kigali, Rwanda.

By: Gladys Karuga

Kenya has stepped up preparations for its participation in the 26th East African Community (EAC) Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Trade Fair, scheduled to take place in Kigali, Rwanda, from October 30 to November 8, 2026.

Cabinet Secretary for Co-operatives and MSME Development Dr. Wycliffe Oparanya has commissioned a multi-sectoral National Organizing Committee tasked with coordinating Kenya's participation in the regional business exhibition.

The 10-day trade fair will be held under the theme “Advancing Regional Value Chains in Leather and Horticulture”, with the leather and horticulture sectors taking centre stage because of their potential to drive industrialisation, create jobs, increase value addition and expand regional trade.

The EAC Secretariat says the event will bring together MSMEs, investors, policymakers, researchers and development partners, providing businesses with opportunities for trade, networking, knowledge exchange, innovation and partnerships.

Kenya's participation is being spearheaded by the Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA), which plans to facilitate 500 Kenyan MSEs to exhibit at the fair.

Speaking during the commissioning of the National Organizing Committee, CS Oparanya said Kenya would enter the Kigali trade fair from a position of strength, noting the existing commercial ties between Kenya and Rwanda.

He said more than 1,300 Kenyan companies are already trading in Rwanda, underscoring the importance of the Rwandan market for Kenyan enterprises. He further emphasized that Kenyan products destined for Kigali must be genuinely Kenyan-made and meet international market requirements.

“Kenya enters Rwanda from a position of strength, with more than 1,300 Kenyan companies already trading in the market,” Oparanya said, stressing the need for products headed to Kigali to be 100 per cent Kenyan-made and meet international market requirements.

The push is expected to give Kenyan MSMEs an opportunity to move beyond domestic markets and establish stronger regional and international linkages.

The EAC has identified the leather sector as one of the areas with considerable room for growth. Regional footwear demand increased from about 130 million pairs in 2017 to nearly 290 million pairs in 2024, while regional production remains significantly below demand at around 17 million pairs. Demand is projected to reach approximately 385 million pairs by 2030.

The figures point to a significant market opportunity for enterprises involved in leather production, footwear manufacturing, accessories and related value chains.

Horticulture will also receive significant attention during the fair, with the sector seen as critical to food security, incomes and exports across the region. The EAC notes that agriculture contributes more than 25 per cent of the region's GDP, making stronger value-chain linkages, technology adoption and compliance with quality standards important for improving competitiveness.

Principal Secretary Susan Mang'eni said the EAC's growing regional market presents a major opportunity for Kenyan MSMEs to access new customers and integrate into regional and global value chains.

She highlighted the EAC's estimated population of 331 million people and combined GDP of about USD 356 billion, describing the regional market as a significant opportunity for enterprise expansion.

“The EAC market of 331 million people and a combined GDP of USD 356 billion presents a real opportunity for our MSMEs to enter regional and global value chains,” Mang'eni said.

MSEA Board Chairman James Mureu emphasized that access to markets remains a critical prerequisite for enterprise growth, job creation and productive investment within the MSME sector.

He said creating opportunities for businesses to sell their products is essential to ensuring that enterprises can expand their operations and contribute more significantly to employment and economic development.

MSEA Chief Executive Officer Henry Rithaa said the Authority was also putting in place mechanisms to ensure Kenyan enterprises continue benefiting from market opportunities beyond the Kigali exhibition.

Rithaa noted that products from Kenyan MSEs will be marketed through MSEA's online marketing portal, with technology-enabled fulfilment helping enterprises connect with customers and markets.

He added that MSEA is championing forward linkages and aggregation of MSME products to enable businesses to continue accessing the EAC market and other regional markets after the trade fair ends.

The strategy is also expected to position Kenyan MSMEs to take advantage of the wider African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) market, which provides access to a continental market of more than one billion people.

The Kigali trade fair is therefore expected to serve not only as an exhibition but also as a platform for Kenyan enterprises to establish long-term commercial relationships, identify buyers, attract investment and explore opportunities for expansion.

The EAC has described the annual MSME Trade Fair as a key regional platform for promoting the development of small businesses, enhancing intra-regional trade and accelerating industrialisation.

The 2026 edition will also feature the EAC Quality Awards 2026, which will recognise enterprises demonstrating excellence in quality management, standards compliance, innovation and continuous improvement.

The event is scheduled to be held at the Gikondo Expo Grounds in Kigali, with the exhibition running for 10 days.

The organisers have urged MSMEs and other stakeholders to register early and prepare products that meet quality, safety and market requirements.

For Kenyan enterprises, the Kigali fair presents an opportunity to showcase locally manufactured products, strengthen the Buy Made in East Africa agenda and build partnerships capable of opening doors to larger regional and continental markets.

With Kenya targeting the participation of 500 MSEs, the mobilisation effort is expected to provide a major platform for entrepreneurs seeking to grow their businesses through regional trade.

Registration for Kenyan participation is currently being encouraged ahead of the September 30, 2026 deadline, as preparations intensify for the Kigali exhibition.

The 26th EAC MSMEs Trade Fair will bring together businesses from across the EAC Partner States and is expected to strengthen the bloc's efforts to promote value addition, industrialisation, employment creation and intra-regional trade.