Kenya is stepping up efforts to boost manufacturing, reduce import dependence and expand exports, with the ninth Changamka Shopping Festival and Kenya Industrialisation Summit set to bring manufacturers, investors and policymakers together in Nairobi in November 2026.
The Changamka festival will run from November 3 to 7 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, alongside the industrialisation summit scheduled for November 4 and 5, as the government seeks to shift the economy from exporting raw materials towards producing higher-value finished goods.
Industry Principal Secretary Dr Juma Mukhwana says manufacturing contributes about 8% of gross domestic product and employs nearly 500,000 people, adding that Kenya should aim to manufacture half of the goods it consumes.
Kenya Association of Manufacturers Chairperson Hitesh Mediratta says stronger domestic demand should be matched by export-led growth, allowing businesses to expand production, diversify customers and earn foreign exchange.
Mediratta says trade agreements, including the African Continental Free Trade Area, the Kenya-European Union Economic Partnership Agreement and the African Growth and Opportunity Act, offered manufacturers opportunities to reach wider markets, but exploiting them would require affordable financing, reliable infrastructure and compliance with export standards.
Organised by the Kenya Association of Manufacturers in partnership with the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry, the events will showcase locally made products and discuss investment, innovation and industrial competitiveness.