President Ruto Opens 25th EAC MSMEs Trade Fair at Uhuru Gardens

Kenya, 11 November 2025 – President William Ruto on Tuesday officially opened the 25th East African Community (EAC) Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Trade Fair at Uhuru Gardens, describing the event as a cornerstone of regional economic integration and grassroots prosperity.

Under the theme “25 Years of EAC Integration: Advancing Innovation and Regional Value Chains for Competitive MSMEs Towards Sustainable Development,” the five-day fair has attracted over 1,200 exhibitors from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Somalia.

Stalls overflow with handmade crafts, organic honey, textile innovations, and technology-driven agricultural solutions – a vibrant showcase of East Africa’s entrepreneurial spirit.

Accompanied by MSMEs and Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, MSMEs Principal Secretary Susan Auma Mang’eni, and other leaders, President Ruto toured the exhibits, sampling products, artefacts, and innovations.

He noted that the EAC treaty began with three founding members in Arusha, but now includes eight countries.

“MSMEs trade fairs help bridge technological and knowledge gaps,” he said.

The President urged partner states to remove non-tariff barriers and harmonise standards to boost intra-EAC trade, that is currently 15-20% share of total trade.

He added that the government is expanding digital infrastructure and internet access to connect buyers and sellers across the bloc.

Targeted grants, he said, would enable young entrepreneurs to thrive, adding that public Wi-Fi will reach 1,450 wards, with government services delivered via the eCitizen platform.

A Tanzanian exhibitor praised Kenyan beekeeping techniques, noting that while Tanzania produces high-quality organic honey from small forest bees, Kenya relies on larger species.

When President Ruto jokingly asked if she implied Kenyans had destroyed forests, she replied, “In Tanzania, we truly know how to preserve our forests.”