Africa (Commonwealth Union) _ Nairobi will host the 26th anniversary of Buildexpo Kenya 2025, East Africa’s biggest construction and infrastructure show, from July 16 to 18 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC). The event this year falls during a critical period for Kenya’s building industry, which needs to bounce back from recent challenges and reposition itself as a crucial catalyst for economic growth.
The exhibition, to be opened by Principal Secretaries Charles Hinga (Housing and Urban Development), Regina Ombam (Trade), and John Ololtuaa (Tourism), is expected to bring with it over 43 countries’ exhibitors, with innovations in the fields of construction, lighting, mining, water systems, and more.
“Buildexpo this year is not only an event, but a life-altering platform,” said Duncan Njage, Regional Marketing Director for East Africa of Expogroup. “We look forward to revolutionary technologies and synergy that can spark the future of infrastructural growth within the region.”
The significance of the expo comes at a time when the construction industry is on a high. The sector, representing some 5.2% of Kenya’s GDP, fell by 2% in Q3 2024, with a further added impact of a moderation in private sector performance illustrated by the May 2025 reading of the Stanbic PMI at 49.6. There is hope in the air, though. The government also allocated Sh504.6 billion for energy and infrastructure in the 2025/26 budget, fueling hopes of a 2.9% recovery in the current year and a 5.5% growth rate annually between 2026 and 2029.
With the support of leading agencies such as Konza Technopolis, the Association of Construction Managers of Kenya, and the Kenya Professional Realtors Association, the event is cementing its role as the flagship construction destination of East Africa. Newcomers from Europe, Asia, and the Middle East will join up with regional heavyweights such as Lesol City Ltd, LinkMisr International, and Mobikey Truck and Bus, with several of them featuring innovative, eco-friendly building materials.
As Kenya charges forward toward its vision of one million affordable units by 2027, events like Buildexpo are becoming the center point for the initiative. “This is where the real business is gotten,” Njage said. “It’s not just networking it’s creating the partnerships and solutions that will define East Africa’s skyline for years to come.”.
