Kenya has confirmed its readiness to host the 24th Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Summit of Heads of State and Government in Nairobi next week.
The high-level meeting will take place on October 9, 2025, at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).
It will be preceded by the COMESA Business Forum on October 7 and the Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs on October 8.
Investments, Trade and Industry CS, Lee Kinyanjui, said the Summit comes at a critical time for Africa’s trade agenda.
He noted that President William Ruto will assume the chairmanship of COMESA during the meeting, positioning Kenya to play a bigger role in driving intra-African trade.
“The COMESA Summit is critical as it provides a platform for engagement at a time of global turbulence, particularly on matters of trade,” Kinyanjui said.
His Tourism and Wildlife counterpart, Rebecca Miano highlighted the strategic value of hosting such international gatherings.
She stated that beyond diplomacy, global conferences boost Kenya’s visibility and reinforce its reputation as a preferred destination for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE).
“Such platforms are powerful drivers of destination branding and economic growth,” Miano said.
According to the government, the benefits of hosting summits extend well beyond the conference halls.
Hotels, airlines, transport providers, banks, and even small traders are expected to gain from the influx of delegates and visitors, creating a ripple effect across the economy.
The Summit is also aligned with the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which seeks to expand opportunities, create jobs, and grow incomes.
Both the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife and the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry pledged to continue bidding for more international conventions to cement Kenya’s position as Africa’s premier MICE destination.
The government has invested heavily in infrastructure ahead of the Summit.
KICC has undergone major renovations to meet international standards, while plans for the Bomas International Convention Centre are underway to further strengthen Kenya’s competitiveness in hosting global events.