President William Ruto
President William Ruto. [Photo/@WilliamsRuto/X]

Kenya is preparing to host the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Summit from October 7th to 9th, a high-level gathering that is expected to shape the future of regional trade and integration across Africa.

The summit, which will bring together Heads of State, ministers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs from 21 member countries, will mark Kenyaโ€™s third time hosting the event, following previous summits in 1999 and 2007. This yearโ€™s edition is particularly significant as President William Ruto assumes the chairmanship of the bloc.

Trade Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui said Kenya is entering the summit from a position of strength, describing the country as a rising global investment hub.

โ€œKenya is steadily positioning itself as a global investment hub, backed by a young and educated workforce, affordable labor, and favorable trade agreements that open access to markets in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East,โ€ Kinyanjui said.

The CS noted that the government is actively tackling trade barriers, digitizing services, and supporting local businesses to seize opportunities created by international and regional agreements.

โ€œWe are bridging the gap between major trade agreements and local producers by taking information directly to counties, farmers, and manufacturers. Through this approach, small-scale farmers and value chain players gain clarity on standards, seasons, and market access, ensuring they benefit fully from global opportunities,โ€ he explained.

One of the summitโ€™s hot topics will be currency integration and reducing dependency on the U.S. dollar.

โ€œTo overcome currency barriers in African trade, countries can now transact using their local currencies instead of relying on the U.S. dollar. This new system is already working, allowing Kenya to trade seamlessly with partners like Morocco in Kenyan shillings,โ€ said Kinyanjui.

He added that stronger financial institutions such as Equity and KCB, which already operate in several African countries, are key to ensuring reliable cross-border payments and deepening regional commerce.

The government is also prioritizing the growth of MSMEs, positioning them as the multinationals of the future.

โ€œSupporting MSMEs is key to building the multinationals of tomorrow, and the government has set up dedicated structures such as an MSME department and the KIE incubation center to nurture them,โ€ Kinyanjui said.

On her part, Foreign Affairs and Trade Principal Secretary Regina Ombam said COMESA remains a vital vehicle for Africaโ€™s economic integration.

โ€œRegional economic blocs like COMESA play a vital role in driving Africaโ€™s integration by creating larger market spaces. With easier movement of goods and services, trade becomes more effective and beneficial across the continent,โ€ she said.

The PS emphasized that the summit comes at a crucial moment for Africa, as governments recognize the urgent need to harmonize policies and dismantle barriers that hinder intra-African trade.

โ€œAs Kenya assumes the chairmanship of COMESA under President Rutoโ€™s leadership, the focus will be on advancing an integrated approach to trade and development for a more outward-looking Africa,โ€ Ombam noted.

The summit will also highlight the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a complementary framework to COMESA, with leaders pushing for value addition, SME support, and industrial growth to transform Africa from a raw-material exporter into a competitive global market.

Beyond the high-level meetings, the summit will feature EU Connect, a private sector business forum, ministerial sessions, and exhibitions that will showcase innovations from small-scale entrepreneurs and youth across member states.

Ombam urged Kenyans, particularly entrepreneurs and youth, to actively take part.

โ€œKenyans are encouraged to register and take part in the upcoming COMESA Summit, which comes at a defining moment for rethinking Africaโ€™s trade. The summit offers a chance to advance regional integration, harmonize systems, and build a free, efficient, and sustainable trade mechanism for the future,โ€ she said.

As Kenya takes on a leadership role in COMESA, the summit is expected to spark transformative conversations on trade, investment, and developmentโ€”conversations that could redefine Africaโ€™s place in global commerce.


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