NAIROBI — President William Ruto on Wednesday opened the Nairobi International Trade Fair with a promise: Kenya is ready for bigger business.
At the Jamhuri Park Showground, the president laid the foundation stone for the China–Kenya International Commerce Centre, a Sh5 billion development set to rise on the site of one of the country’s oldest exhibition grounds.
The project, covering more than 68,000 square metres, will feature a state-of-the-art trade and exhibition centre, a five-star hotel, and other commercial facilities. Officials say it will directly create 3,000 jobs and help position Nairobi as a regional hub for commerce.
“This moment marks the beginning of the commercial transformation of our ASK facilities, turning underutilised government assets into engines of growth,” Mr Ruto said, referring to the Agricultural Society of Kenya, which has long hosted the annual fair.
The president described the development as a sign of investor confidence in Kenya’s economy. “Our country offers a stable and predictable environment that supports enterprise and ensures fair returns for investors,” he told participants.
The Nairobi fair, one of the country’s most prominent agricultural and trade showcases, brought together farmers, entrepreneurs, and international exhibitors. From livestock displays to agritech demonstrations, the event remains a barometer of Kenya’s economic ambitions.
Also in attendance were Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, who welcomed the project as a boost to both local business and the city’s status as a gateway for trade.
According to government plans, the new commerce centre is only the first step. Authorities intend to repurpose ASK facilities across the country, converting them into modern commercial hubs designed to attract investment and stimulate regional economies.
The initiative comes as Kenya courts foreign investors through infrastructure-led development, hoping to strengthen trade, tourism, and services. Construction on the new centre is expected to begin soon, with phased implementation overseen by government and private partners.
For many who attended the fair, the launch carried symbolic weight. It underscored Kenya’s push to blend its agricultural heritage with new ambitions in global trade — a balancing act that could define the country’s growth trajectory in the years to come.
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