KENYA READIES 500 MSMEs FOR EAST AFRICA TRADE SHOWDOWN

By Michael Nyamai -

NAIROBI, KENYA August 25, 2026  — Kenya is stepping up efforts to position its micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) at the heart of regional trade, with the government unveiling an ambitious plan to expose hundreds of local businesses to the wider East African market.

Cooperatives and MSME Development CS Wycliffe Oparanya and PS Susan Mang’eni (centred) consult during the official commissioning of the EAC MSME Trade Fair 2026 National Organizing Committee in Nairobi, as Kenya steps up preparations to showcase 500 enterprises from all 47 counties

Speaking during the official commissioning of the EAC MSME Trade Fair 2026 National Organizing Committee, Cooperatives and MSME Development Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya said the government considers MSMEs a critical engine of economic growth, employing millions of Kenyans and contributing more than 30 percent of the country’s GDP.

“If it is focused on MSMEs, then it will change the economy of this country,” Oparanya said, stressing the need for greater government support to enable small businesses to grow into major industries.

Oparanya said the government is prioritizing access to finance, markets and digital transformation, arguing that small enterprises cannot thrive without capital and reliable avenues to sell their products.

He pointed to the Hustler Fund, saying more than KSh90 billion has already been disbursed to over 27 million borrowers, while the fund has been expanded to allow individuals and small businesses to access loans of up to KSh150,000.

The CS also announced plans to strengthen the policy and legal framework governing MSMEs, including consideration of longer incubation periods to give businesses enough time to mature before operating independently.

“We need legislation that will allow us to nurture these institutions for three years so that now they can be mature to be on their own,” he said.

On markets, Oparanya said the government is supporting the development of modern markets across the country while also opening opportunities for Kenyan enterprises to access international markets.

He urged exhibitors heading to the trade fair to prioritize quality and innovation, warning that Kenyan businesses must raise their standards if they are to compete effectively in the regional and international marketplace.

The government, he said, is seeking approximately KSh200 million to support about 500 Kenyan exhibitors participating in the trade fair.

Meanwhile, Cooperatives and MSME Development Principal Secretary Susan Mang’eni said preparations for the regional exhibition are gathering pace, with Kenya targeting representation from all 47 counties.

Mang’eni said Kenya expects to sponsor about 500 exhibitors, with every county set to have more than five exhibitors represented at the regional event.

She said the national organizing committee will play a crucial role in coordinating logistics, certification, border movement, security and the movement of both exhibitors and their goods.

“This thing will be very critical,” Mang’eni said, emphasizing the urgency of preparations ahead of the regional exhibition.

The PS further revealed that at least 100 Nyota beneficiaries will form part of Kenya’s delegation, describing their participation as an opportunity to expose young entrepreneurs to regional markets and help them expand their businesses.

“It was not just something that was a one-off. We’ll work with them, even after the end of the program,” she said.

The 26th EAC MSME Trade Fair is expected to bring together thousands of exhibitors and stakeholders from across the region, providing businesses with opportunities to showcase products, exchange ideas, build partnerships and expand beyond their domestic markets.

For Kenya, the government says the focus is clear: turning MSMEs from small survival enterprises into competitive regional and international businesses.

Oparanya challenged Kenyan exhibitors to seize the opportunity, insisting that quality, innovation and digital transformation will be critical in determining whether local enterprises can penetrate the expanding East African market.

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