By Kepher Otieno - Reporter
Kenya, 19 July 2026 - The Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK) Kisumu Branch has unveiled an ambitious strategy to transform this year's Kisumu National Show into a major regional trade and investment marketplace, banking on climate-smart agriculture, technological innovation and stronger stakeholder partnerships to attract record participation.
As part of the preparations, the Society announced that proceeds from its annual Harvest Festival will be channelled to support special needs education, with Maseno School for the Deaf and Kibos School for the Blind set to benefit from donations received in cash and kind.
Speaking during the Harvest Festival service at the Voice of Salvation and Healing Church in Kisumu, ASK Kisumu Branch Chairperson Rose Omondi said the charitable initiative reflects the Society's commitment to ensuring that economic growth generated through agriculture also delivers social value to vulnerable communities.
Attention, however, is firmly fixed on the five-day Kisumu National Show, which opens on July 22 and runs until July 26 at the Mamboleo Showground.
Omondi said the exhibition has been repositioned as a regional business platform where farmers, investors, manufacturers and innovators will showcase new technologies, build commercial partnerships and unlock fresh market opportunities.
She projected a significant increase in the number of exhibitors compared with previous years, attributing the expected growth to aggressive marketing campaigns and wider engagement with public and private sector stakeholders.
"This year's show is more than an agricultural exhibition. It is a business and investment platform that connects innovators, entrepreneurs, farmers and industry players while promoting sustainable economic growth," she said.
Held under the theme, "Promoting Climate-Smart Agriculture and Trade Initiatives for Sustainable Economic Growth,"the exhibition is expected to host more than 200 exhibitors drawn from agriculture, manufacturing, financial services, education, technology and government institutions.
According to Omondi, visitors will have an opportunity to explore emerging agricultural technologies, climate-resilient farming solutions, industrial innovations and value-addition enterprises expected to shape the future of the region's economy.
She said the Society has deliberately rebranded this year's event after recognising that the exhibition industry has struggled to fully recover from the economic disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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"We realised that returning to business as usual would not restore the show's competitiveness. We have embraced a new strategy, a fresh outlook and renewed purpose to make the Kisumu Show a premier commercial exhibition once again," she said.
Beyond the exhibition halls, organisers have lined up arena entertainment, educational demonstrations and networking forums designed to attract families, investors and business leaders from across the Lake Region. Special school delegations will also enjoy subsidised entry rates to encourage broader participation.
Earlier, Kisumu Deputy County Commissioner Tom Tarus officially flagged off the Harvest Festival procession led by the Kenya Forest Service Band, describing the annual show as a key economic event that stimulates trade, tourism and investment within the county.
Tarus appealed to residents to attend in large numbers and assured exhibitors, investors and visitors that comprehensive security measures had been put in place throughout the exhibition period.
Hosting the Harvest Festival, Voice of Salvation and Healing Church Bishop Winnie Owiti challenged corporate organisations, institutions and individuals to complement economic success with social responsibility by supporting disadvantaged members of society.
She urged cheerful giving, saying prosperity carries a responsibility to uplift vulnerable communities through acts of generosity.
With preparations entering the final stretch, ASK believes this year's Kisumu National Show will not only showcase agricultural excellence but also reaffirm the exhibition's role as one of western Kenya's leading platforms for business networking, innovation, trade and sustainable economic transformation.