More than 400 local exhibitors have converged at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) as the ninth edition of the Changamka Kenya Shopping Festival officially got underway.

Organised by the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) in collaboration with the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry (MITI), the five-day expo runs from November 3 to 7, 2026. The annual gathering is a dynamic marketplace designed to showcase locally produced goods, link manufacturers directly with consumers, and unlock regional and international market opportunities.

KAM Board Chairperson Hitesh Mediratta noted that while building a captive domestic base is essential, Kenya’s manufacturing future lies in competing across global frontiers.

Mediratta pointed to expansive opportunities under major trade pacts, including the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the Kenya–European Union Economic Partnership Agreement (Kenya-EU EPA), the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), and COMESA. However, he cautioned that tariff-free access alone will not guarantee success.

“Market access alone is not enough,” Mediratta said. “We must address the cost of production, improve access to affordable financing, strengthen infrastructure, and ensure that our manufacturers can meet the standards required in these markets.” He called for predictable regulatory policies, affordable power, and dependable transport corridors.

Echoing these remarks, KAM Chief Executive Tobias Alando underscored the ripple effects of every purchase made on the expo floor:

“The products being showcased here today demonstrate what Kenyan manufacturers are producing and the markets they are serving—from our own households to the United States and the European Union. Supporting Kenyan businesses also supports the workers, farmers, suppliers, and transporters connected to manufacturing.”

The festival will serve as the backdrop for the 4th Industrialization Summit on November 4, 2026, held under the banner: “Driving Industrial Growth through Investment, Manufacturing, Trade, Innovation and Sustainable Financing.”

The centerpiece of the summit will be a Presidential Round Table featuring President William Ruto, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, CS Lee Kinyanjui, and leading industry executives. The closed-door session is slated to address policy blockages, industrial incentives, job creation targets, and strategies to fast-track domestic value addition.

The 2026 festival is supported by a coalition of development and corporate partners, including the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), East Africa Development Bank, Network International, Mitchell Cotts, Kenya Breweries Limited, and SME Blue Pages.