NAIROBI, KENYA — 26 OCTOBER 2026
What would happen if the next major export success story in East Africa originated from a small workshop or a family business rather than a multinational company’s office? Kenya is set to test the idea of whether it can succeed in exporting products made locally with its micro-, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to Rwanda to take part in a regional trade fair.
On 25 October 2026, Kenya sent its goods across the border for the 26th East African Community (EAC) MSME Trade Fair that will run between 30 October and 8 November 2026. Susan Mang’eni, the Principal Secretary for MSME Development, flagged off the goods at the Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA) Centre of Excellence in Kariobangi, Nairobi. The trade fair is expected to attract around 600 exhibitors from Kenya.
The EAC MSME Trade Fair this year revolves around the theme “Advancing Regional Value Chains in Leather and Horticulture,” and more than just a platform for showcasing products, the event may offer promising chances for Kenyan companies to find partners and clients for their products.
A market that consists of 331 million individuals
The potential economic opportunity is enormous. Mang’eni has stated that the EAC market includes around 331 million individuals and the sum of the gross domestic product is equal to US$356 billion. For small enterprises, entering this market could enable them to access this clientele to enhance their production capabilities and efficiency and generate new jobs.
The leather sector serves as an example. According to an EAC survey, the requirement for footwear on the market increased from about 130 million pairs in 2017 to nearly 290 million pairs in 2024, while the local production level of around 17 million pairs remained the same.
Kenya comes to the fair with already well-established business connections. Kenya is among the top five suppliers of goods to Rwanda, and more than 1,300 registered companies in Kenya are active in this state. Kenya is also the second biggest exporter of agricultural products to Rwanda and the biggest exporter of goods from Africa.
In addition to the exhibition stalls
According to MSEA Director General Henry Rithaa, the authority is working on various online marketing initiatives and product aggregations that should provide the opportunity for as many businesses as possible to continue reaching customers even after fairs are over. These initiatives may also open up access to the African Continental Free Trade Area, which will include around 1.3 billion people.
However, the success of the fairs won’t be measured solely by the number of products presented at the exhibit. The sustainable business relationships, repeated orders, employment, and investments that follow the event will be the measure instead.
Thus, for small Kenyan businesses, the trip to Rwanda could constitute the beginning of something much more significant than just an exhibition—a major chance for transforming local production into an opportunity for regional economy development.
