NAIROBI, Kenya | October 14, 2026 — The government and the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) have intensified preparations for the 2026 Kenya Industrialisation Summit and Changamka Shopping Festival, scheduled to run concurrently in Nairobi from November 3 to 7.
The events, set to take place at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), will bring together government officials, manufacturers, investors, development partners and other industry stakeholders to explore strategies for accelerating industrial growth, attracting investment and promoting locally manufactured products.
The summit will be held under the theme “Driving Industrial Growth through Investment, Manufacturing, Trade, Innovation and Sustainable Financing,” with discussions expected to focus on investment promotion, industrial partnerships, policy dialogue and innovation.
Speaking during a stakeholder briefing in Nairobi on Wednesday, Principal Secretary for Industry Dr Juma Mukhwana said the summit would prioritise strengthening the competitiveness of Kenyan products and expanding their visibility in local and international markets.
Mukhwana said the event, which is expected to be graced by President William Ruto, reflects the government’s commitment to placing manufacturing at the centre of Kenya’s economic transformation agenda.
“With this Summit, we seek to strengthen competitiveness of Kenyan products in the global market, create stronger linkages between government, industry, academia and partners as well as increase visibility of Kenyan-made products,” Mukhwana said.
He called for closer collaboration between the government, private sector and other industry players to advance Kenya’s industrialisation agenda and strengthen the country’s position in global markets.
KAM Pushes for Buy Kenya, Build Kenya Initiative
KAM Board Chairperson Hitesh Mediratta said the Changamka Shopping Festival would strengthen cooperation between the government and the private sector while encouraging consumers to purchase locally manufactured goods.
Mediratta noted that supporting Kenyan-made products would help sustain industries, create jobs, build skills and stimulate investment across the economy.
“When we buy what Kenya produces, we support the industries that create jobs, build skills, stimulate investment and drive our economy forward. We also strengthen the enterprises, supply chains and productive capabilities that will build Kenya’s economic future,” Mediratta said.
The festival is expected to provide manufacturers with a platform to showcase their products, increase brand visibility and establish stronger connections with consumers and other businesses.
UNIDO Calls for Accessible Financing for Manufacturers
United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) representative Lynette Luvai called for innovative and accessible financing to support industrial development, particularly among micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and businesses led by women and young people.
Luvai said adequate financing would be critical to helping African countries translate their industrial ambitions into sustainable economic opportunities.
“The theme highlights a simple reality: Africa’s industrial ambitions must be matched by adequate, innovative and accessible financing. This is especially important for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and women and youth-led businesses,” she said.
She added that Kenya needed to turn industrial opportunities into viable investment projects while supporting manufacturers to adopt cleaner technologies and access wider markets.
“For Kenya, this means transforming industrial opportunities into investable projects, supporting manufacturers to adopt cleaner and more efficient technologies, and expanding access to finance and markets. It also means ensuring that women, young people and smaller enterprises participate meaningfully in industrial value chains,” Luvai stated.
Summit to Feature Exhibitions, Investor Engagements
The week-long Kenya Industrialisation Summit 2026 will feature high-level plenary sessions, thematic panel discussions, exhibitions, business-to-business (B2B) meetings and business-to-government (B2G) engagements.
Participants are expected to include senior government officials, industry leaders, investors, development partners, academia, micro, small and medium industries (MSMIs), and regional and international stakeholders.
Organisers say the summit will seek to mobilise investment, promote sustainable partnerships and highlight opportunities in value addition, technology adoption and digital transformation within the manufacturing sector.
The Changamka Shopping Festival will complement the summit by showcasing locally manufactured products and strengthening links between Kenyan producers and consumers.
Together, the two events are expected to provide a platform for stakeholders to identify investment opportunities, establish partnerships and develop strategies to position Kenya as a regional industrial hub.