The Italian Trade Agency (ITA) estimates that trade between Kenya and Italy reached approximately Sh40.95 billion last year

Italian Trade Agency Nairobi Director Alessandra Rainaldi (right) engages Italian exhibitors at the Italian Trade Agency stand during the ongoing Big 5 Construct Kenya on October 21, 2026/ HANDOUT

Italy has brought 21 companies to the Big 5 Construct Kenya exhibition in Nairobi as it seeks to expand its presence in Kenya’s construction market, where bilateral trade between the two countries grew by 39 per cent in 2025.

The figures point to opportunities for Italian manufacturers supplying construction machinery, pumps, piping systems and building materials, although Italy accounts for only about 2 per cent of the market covered by the selected product categories.

The ninth edition of Big 5 Construct Kenya runs from October 21 to 23 at the Sarit Expo Centre in Nairobi, bringing together manufacturers, contractors, suppliers and other players in the construction and infrastructure sectors.

Italy’s pavilion has expanded from 17 companies at the previous edition to 21 this year, with participating firms seeking to establish new commercial relationships and strengthen existing ones.

Italian Ambassador to Kenya Vincenzo Del Monaco said the increased participation reflected growing interest in Kenya and the wider African market.

“Italy is back because we strongly believe in the potential of the Kenyan and the regional market,” he said.

The Italian Trade Agency said Kenya’s construction sector grew by 6.8 per cent in 2025, while the country faces an estimated annual housing deficit of 200,000 units. Demand for roads, railways, ports, water infrastructure and housing also presents opportunities for suppliers of specialised equipment and materials.

However, the trade figures show that Italian companies have varying levels of market penetration across different product categories.

Italian Pavillion at the ongoing Big 5 Construct Kenya expo 2026/ HANDOUT

Pumps are among Italy’s more established construction-related exports to Kenya. Italian pump exports were valued at approximately Sh946.5 million in 2025, up 5 per cent from the previous year, giving Italy a 9.61 per cent share of the Kenyan market and ranking it fourth among suppliers.

Exports of centrifugal pumps reached about Sh760.5 million, an increase of 8 per cent, while other liquid pumps recorded exports of approximately Sh74 million, up 26 per cent.

Other categories recorded smaller market shares. Italian exports of plastic pipes and fittings stood at about Sh101.8 million, representing 3.36 per cent of Kenya’s market, while ceramic tile exports reached approximately Sh165 million, giving Italy a 2.49 per cent share.

Italian exports of boring and piling equipment were valued at about Sh29.2 million, while cranes and derricks accounted for approximately Sh35.7 million. Earth-moving machinery exports stood at around Sh14.7 million.

The figures suggest room for growth in several categories, but they also show that Italian suppliers face competition from manufacturers in other countries.

The 21 companies at the exhibition cover five broad areas, including heavy machinery and precast concrete systems, piping and plumbing, ceramics and architectural finishes, structural fasteners and safety systems, and environmental and industrial technologies.

Participating firms include manufacturers of concrete mixers, batching plants, reinforced-concrete processing equipment, water-distribution systems, tiles, stone finishes and construction fasteners.

Other companies are presenting technologies linked to power generation, industrial services and waste management.

Italian Trade Agency Nairobi Director Alessandra Rainaldi said the delegation included companies entering Kenya for the first time as well as those seeking to expand existing business relationships.

She said the agency hoped to turn the exhibition into practical commercial partnerships and investment opportunities.

“Kenya is a strategic partner for Italy and a hub for the wider African markets,” Rainaldi said.

Del Monaco said Italian manufacturers compete through engineering, technology and product design rather than low prices.

“We do not sell cheap products. It’s always a guarantee of quality because behind every Italian product there is technology, there is experience and there is also somehow beauty with a capital B,” he said.

The exhibition comes as Kenya and Italy pursue closer cooperation under the Kenya-Italy Action Plan for 2026-2029, against the backdrop of 65 years of diplomatic relations.