NAIROBI: The Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM), in collaboration with the Ministry of Investments, Trade, and Industry (MITI), announced the launch of the 7th Annual Changamka Kenya Shopping Festival, scheduled to occur from November 5 to November 9, 2024, at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi. The festival aims to highlight the excellence of locally made products and address various policy issues impacting the industry.
According to Kenya News Agency, Dr. Juma Mukhwana, the Principal Secretary of the State Department of Industry at the Ministry of Investments, Trade, and Industry, emphasized the festival’s role in showcasing Kenya’s manufacturing capabilities. “Industrialization is crucial for sustainable economic growth, and this event helps highlight our progress and potential,” Dr. Mukhwana stated during the launch event in Nairobi. He noted the government’s efforts in establishing affordable housing and industrial services across 19 counties, particularly focusing on regions
like Nairobi, Kiambu, Machakos, and Kilifi which constitute about 90 percent of the country’s industrial activities.
Dr. Mukhwana also discussed the government’s strategy to boost rural industrialization by developing industrial spaces on government-owned land, in partnership with county governments. Additionally, he highlighted the development of special economic zones in Mombasa and Naivasha, with several companies already allocated spaces in these zones. The recent conclusion of the Kenya-UK economic partnership agreement was also mentioned, which will facilitate Kenyan products’ entry into the UK market.
Tobias Alando, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of KAM, outlined the organization’s aim to foster national prosperity through sustainable industrialization and employment growth in the manufacturing sector. “The Changamka festival is not just an event but a movement to excite the public about the capabilities of local manufacturers,” Alando said. He underscored the importance of local competitiveness
as a stepping stone to global competitiveness and mentioned that the event would help promote employment, enhance the tax base, and support local manufacturers under the ‘Buy Kenya, Build Kenya’ initiative.
The festival is expected to feature over 200 exhibitors, including 100 manufacturing SMEs, which represent 62 percent of KAM’s membership. This significant participation underscores the event’s role as a crucial platform for public education on the benefits of purchasing locally produced goods, which directly supports job creation and economic growth.
