By Magdalene Wanja - Reporter
Kenya, August 26, 2026 — Kenya stepped in at short notice to host a major African trade and standards meeting after an Ebola outbreak forced the relocation of the event from Uganda, with hundreds of delegates gathering in Mombasa to push for fewer barriers to the movement of goods across the continent.
The 32nd General Assembly of the African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO), being held at Sarova Whitesands in Mombasa from August 24 to 28, has brought together about 400 delegates from 58 countries, including 36 African nations.
The assembly was initially scheduled to take place in Uganda but was moved to Kenya following the Ebola outbreak.
Kenya's ability to take over the hosting of the continental meeting at short notice has also put the country's conference and hospitality industry in the spotlight.
Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade and Industry Lee Kinyanjui said the relocation demonstrated the confidence placed in Kenya's ability to host major international gatherings.
“On very short notice, Kenya successfully hosted the 32nd General Assembly of the African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO) in Mombasa, bringing together 400 delegates from 58 countries, including 36 African nations.”
Kinyanjui said the meeting had initially been planned for Uganda before being moved following the Ebola outbreak.
“The Assembly was initially scheduled to take place in Uganda but was moved to Kenya following the Ebola outbreak. Kenya’s ability to step in and deliver such a major international gathering demonstrates confidence in our country and the strength of our growing hospitality sector.”
Uganda declared its 2026 Ebola outbreak over on July 28 after recording 20 confirmed cases and two deaths, according to the country's health authorities.
The change of venue has given Kenya an opportunity to showcase its ability to accommodate large international conferences while the substantive discussions remain focused on trade.
At the centre of the five-day assembly is the harmonisation of standards, a move intended to make it easier for products manufactured in one African country to access other markets without facing unnecessary or repeated technical requirements.
Kinyanjui said this was particularly important given the relatively low level of trade between African countries.
“Most importantly, the Assembly advanced discussions on harmonising standards to facilitate the seamless movement of goods across the continent.”
Africa's intra-continental trade remains significantly lower than its trade with markets outside the continent, highlighting the gap between the ambition of the African Continental Free Trade Area and the reality faced by businesses seeking to export within Africa.
Kinyanjui said African countries needed to remove obstacles that prevent locally produced goods from reaching consumers in other countries.
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“Intra-African trade currently stands at only 17%, yet African countries conduct up to 70% of their trade with markets outside the continent. We must remove unnecessary barriers, open African markets to African products, and create wealth and jobs for our people.”
He added: “Africa must conquer the African market.”
The standards discussions are particularly significant for manufacturers, who can face different certification, testing and technical requirements when entering different African markets.
Greater harmonisation could reduce duplication, lower compliance costs and make regional expansion more attractive for businesses.
For Kenya, the push could also create opportunities for local manufacturers looking to expand beyond the domestic market as implementation of the AfCFTA gathers pace.
Kinyanjui said he attended the assembly alongside Deputy President Kithure Kindiki at the Mombasa venue.
The meeting was also attended by ARSO President Botsile Kebapetse, International Organisation for Standardization (ISO) Secretary-General Sergio Mujica and Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) Managing Director Esther Ngari.
The meeting comes as African governments seek to turn the AfCFTA from an agreement on paper into increased movement of goods, investment and services across national borders.
While common standards alone will not eliminate all trade barriers, proponents say they can address one of the less visible costs facing African businesses: complying with different technical requirements in multiple markets.
For Kenyan manufacturers, a more unified system could make it easier to scale into other African markets.
For the wider continent, the objective is to make African markets more accessible to African producers.
The sudden relocation from Uganda to Kenya has consequently added an unexpected dimension to a meeting whose wider goal is integration, demonstrating how regional cooperation can continue even when unforeseen disruptions force countries to adapt at short notice.