Kenya Targets Bigger Regional Market for MSMEs at Kigali Trade Fair

Kenya Targets Bigger Regional Market for MSMEs at Kigali Trade Fair

From left: Principal Secretary for MSMEs Susan Mang’eni, Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and MSMEs Dr Wycliffe Oparanya, and Micro and Small Enterprise Authority Chairman James Mureu address the media in Nairobi on preparations for Kenya’s participation in the 26th East African Community MSME Trade Fair in Kigali, Rwanda.

By Jeff Oyugi 

Nairobi - August 25, 2026

Kenya is stepping up efforts to give thousands of small businesses a foothold in the growing East African market as preparations gather pace for the 26th East African Community MSME Trade Fair in Kigali, Rwanda.

The government plans to support about 500 Kenyan exhibitors drawn from all 47 counties, with officials saying the event will provide entrepreneurs with a rare opportunity to secure new markets, forge business partnerships and showcase products beyond Kenya’s borders.

Cooperatives and MSMEs Cabinet Secretary Dr Wycliffe Oparanya said the trade fair was an important part of Kenya’s strategy to unlock the potential of micro, small and medium enterprises, which employ millions of people and make a significant contribution to the economy.

Oparanya said the government considers MSMEs a critical pillar of the Bottom Up Economic Transformation Agenda because of the large number of Kenyans whose livelihoods depend on small businesses.

“MSMEs are one of the key sectors of the economy that, if focused on, can change the economy of this country,” he said.

The CS said more than 21 million people are estimated to be involved in MSMEs, while the sector contributes more than 30 per cent of Kenya’s Gross Domestic Product. He added that the government was preparing a fresh survey to establish the current size and contribution of the sector.

The government, he said, is concentrating on improving access to affordable finance, expanding markets and accelerating digital transformation to enable small businesses to grow into sustainable enterprises.

On financing, Oparanya cited the Hustler Fund and other government backed programmes aimed at helping entrepreneurs access capital. He said more than Sh90 billion had already been disbursed through the Hustler Fund, with about 27 million people having participated in borrowing.

The government has also expanded the programme to include a bridging loan facility that allows small businesses and individuals to access up to Sh150,000 to support business expansion.

Oparanya said entrepreneurs could eventually graduate to larger financing opportunities through institutions such as Kenya Industrial Estates, which provides financing for businesses undertaking industrial activities.

The government is also working towards legislation that would create a stronger framework for nurturing small enterprises, he said.

Oparanya argued that many businesses require more than short term financial assistance to become sustainable and proposed that enterprises should be nurtured for up to three years before being expected to operate independently.

Market access remains another major challenge facing MSMEs. Oparanya said the government was investing in modern markets across the country while creating opportunities for Kenyan enterprises to access regional and international markets.

The Kigali trade fair is expected to provide a major platform for this expansion by bringing together businesses from the eight EAC partner states and exposing Kenyan entrepreneurs to a regional market of more than 300 million people.

Principal Secretary for MSMEs Susan Mang'eni said Kenya expects about 500 exhibitors to participate in the event, with all 47 counties represented.

She said each county would have more than five exhibitors, ensuring that participation is spread across the country rather than concentrated in a few regions.

The delegation will also include about 100 beneficiaries of the NYOTA programme, giving young entrepreneurs an opportunity to test their products in a regional market, develop business connections and gain practical experience in cross border trade.

Mang'eni said the exhibition would feature symposiums focused on some of the major challenges affecting businesses across the region, including access to trade finance, digital technology, women participation in trade, capacity building and market linkages.

Different EAC member states will have dedicated days to showcase their products and discuss opportunities within specific value chains.

Kenya will use its designated day to showcase the leather value chain, which Mangeni described as one of the strategic sectors under the government’s Bottom Up Economic Transformation Agenda.

The preparations will involve several government agencies, including the Kenya Bureau of Standards, immigration, foreign affairs and security agencies, to ensure that exhibitors, products and equipment move smoothly to Kigali.

Mang'eni said the government was also seeking additional support from partners to increase the number of Kenyan exhibitors beyond the initial 500.

Micro and Small Enterprise Authority Chairman James Mureu said the trade fair should be viewed as more than a commercial exhibition, describing it as a practical demonstration of regional integration and the EAC Common Market Protocol.

He said the event gives entrepreneurs an opportunity to benefit from the free movement of goods, services and people while building relationships with businesses across East Africa.

Mureu said the MSME sector had undergone significant transformation over the 26 years of the trade fair, with Kenyan businesses increasingly moving into high value production.

He cited emerging enterprises involved in precision machinery, high quality leather products, organic cosmetics and digital agricultural technology as evidence that East African businesses were becoming more innovative and competitive.

He challenged Kenyan entrepreneurs to stop viewing fellow African businesses as their main competitors and instead prepare to compete with enterprises from across the world.

The 25th edition of the trade fair demonstrated the potential of regional commerce, attracting more than 1,500 MSMEs from EAC partner states and about 55,000 visitors. Targeted business to business sessions also helped participating enterprises establish commercial connections.

As preparations for Kigali intensify, Oparanya urged Kenyan exhibitors to place quality and innovation at the centre of their participation.

He said entrepreneurs must ensure their products meet the standards required in regional and international markets if they are to turn exhibition opportunities into lasting business deals.

The government has proposed about Sh200 million to support the Kenyan delegation, with Oparanya expressing optimism that the necessary resources would be secured.

For Kenyan MSMEs, the Kigali trade fair is therefore shaping up as more than an opportunity to display products. It could become a launchpad for businesses seeking new customers, investment, partnerships and a stronger presence in the East African market.

With all 47 counties expected to participate, officials hope Kenya’s presence will demonstrate the depth of the country’s entrepreneurial sector while giving small businesses the exposure needed to grow from local enterprises into regional and eventually global players.