NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 28 – The Nairobi International Trade Fair is placing innovation and export opportunities at the centre of its 2026 edition, with organisers seeking to connect Kenyan businesses with investors, customers and international markets.
The fair, scheduled for Sept. 28 to Oct. 4 at the Jamhuri Park showground, will bring together over 500 exhibitors from agriculture, manufacturing, technology, education, hospitality, construction, real estate, textiles and small and medium-sized enterprises.
Floice Mukabana, chief executive of the Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency, said the fair offered Kenyan businesses an opportunity to strengthen their presence in domestic, regional and international markets.
“Through the Made in Kenya Initiative, the agency is promoting greater appreciation and adoption of locally produced goods and services, while strengthening confidence in Kenyan products in the domestic, regional, and international market,” she said.
Mukabana, the event’s chief guest, said the agency was supporting businesses through market intelligence, product development, trade facilitation, international market development and nation-branding initiatives.
“Ultimately, our mission is to help Kenyan businesses grow, compete and succeed in original international markets while showcasing the very best that Kenya has to offer,” she said.
She noted that the trade fair could also help businesses develop partnerships and identify new markets beyond the event itself.
“Let it be a platform for building partnerships, creating new markets, sharing innovative ideas, and demonstrating solutions that will drive Kenya’s sustainable economic growth,” she said.
The fair is expected to attract international participants from more than 25 countries, including Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria, France, Belgium, India, Israel, Indonesia, Turkey, the Netherlands, China, Japan, Qatar, Ethiopia and Egypt.
Agricultural Society of Kenya chief executive Bertram Muthoka said innovation and technology were part of the society’s broader strategy to strengthen its trade and agricultural platforms.
“Your participation remains central to the success and relevance of our cultural shows and trade fairs. ASK continues to evolve in response to the changing needs of agriculture, trade, and enterprise,” he said.
“Our vision is to be a world-class agricultural and trade forum, and we are progressively strengthening our platforms to deliver greater value for exhibitors, partners and the public.”
Muthoka noted that ASK’s 2025-2029 strategic plan places emphasis on institutional capacity, partnerships, resource mobilisation, research, innovation and technology, as well as marketing and stakeholder engagement.
“The Nairobi International Trade Fair is a key part of this journey. The trade fair provides a strategic forum for organizations to showcase solutions, assess markets, build partnerships, and engage directly with their stakeholders,” he said.
The society is also upgrading facilities at the Jamhuri Park showground ahead of the event. The works include construction of an enhanced arena and a borehole through a partnership between ASK and the Kenya Defence Forces.
The National Youth Service is supporting road improvements within the showground, while ASK is working with stakeholders on water reticulation.
“These investments form part of our long-term commitment to modernizing the showground and ensuring that our facilities keep pace with the evolving needs of exhibitors and the public,” he said.
Levi Mukhweso, chairman of the Nairobi International Trade Fair, said the 2026 event was being held under a theme focused on climate-smart agriculture, trade and sustainable economic growth.
“The Nairobi International Trade Fair remains a significant platform for showcasing products, technologies and ideas while creating opportunities for business, learning and partnership,” Mukhweso said.
Organisers said exhibitors would have opportunities to meet local and international customers, launch products and services, develop partnerships, engage government agencies and promote their brands through exhibition spaces and the official trade fair catalogue.
Innovation will also feature in the judging process, with organisers introducing a digital system that will allow judges to assess exhibitors using smartphones and submit results through an application. The system is intended to make judging paperless and standardise evaluation across 63 classes.
OCPD Anthony Ikunda said police would focus on common incidents associated with large gatherings, including phone snatching and children becoming separated from their parents or teachers.
“We are prepared for this event on the matters of safety and security. We are going to work with other agencies. We are going to have the Adminitration Police here and also the General Service Unit,” he said.
A police station will be established at the showground, while officers will work with private security personnel and conduct patrols around the venue.
