The Changsha delegation was led by Mr. Li Weiqun, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of Changsha Municipal People’s Congress, and Mr. Yang Zhiren, Deputy Director of the Changsha Municipal Bureau of Commerce.

A key outcome of the meeting was the positioning of Changsha as a strategic entry point for Kenyan goods into China. The delegation made clear that goods entering through Changsha have the advantage of national distribution across China — a proposition that significantly enhances the commercial case for Kenyan exporters looking to scale their presence in the Chinese market.

The discussions identified several sectors of shared interest:

• Kenyan Agricultural Exports — Tea, coffee, macadamia nuts, flowers, avocados, and the emerging category of sausages were presented as Kenya’s primary export offer to the Chinese market.
• Chinese Manufacturing Strengths — Changsha’s industrial capabilities in heavy machinery, biomedical devices, and new energy were highlighted as areas of direct relevance to Kenya’s development agenda.
• Chinese Investment in Africa — The delegation noted that Chinese enterprises are actively seeking investment opportunities across Africa, and called on KNCCI to play a facilitation and orientation role for incoming investors.

Dr. Rutto drew attention to a stark but telling statistic: Kenya imports approximately KES 7.8 billion worth of goods from China annually, while exports to China stand at only KES 230 million — a significant trade imbalance that both sides acknowledged as an urgent opportunity to address. Growing Kenya’s export volumes to China is not only a commercial priority but a national economic imperative.

To build on the momentum of this engagement, a visit by a Kenyan delegation to Changsha’s biomedical companies has been proposed, with a view to exploring concrete investment and trade linkages in that sector.

KNCCI also committed to supporting the facilitation of Chinese investors eyeing opportunities in Kenya, further cementing the Chamber’s role as the bridge between Kenya’s business community and global markets.

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Members of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) across all business sectors will soon benefit from enhanced long-term financial planning tools following a strategic partnership meeting. While the collaboration places a strong initial focus on the Women in Business (WiB) framework, the initiative is set to expand across the Chamber’s entire entrepreneurial membership base.

The foundational discussions, aimed at formalizing a partnership and co-creating a joint implementation program, were led by KNCCI CEO KK Mutai, KNCCI National Director & WIB Chair Zainab Mohamed and Ken Mwenda alongside KNEST representatives Lucy Kamau and Morris Andande. The upcoming joint program is designed to integrate pension education and KNEST’s flexible, mobile-first savings solutions directly into KNCCI’s national program calendar and county outreach forums.

By establishing this structured framework, KNCCI and KNEST seek to equip entrepreneurs with the necessary resources to build sustainable financial resilience. The joint initiative will empower business owners to secure their future, bridging the gap in retirement preparedness and fostering long-term financial security across Kenya’s diverse entrepreneurial ecosystem.

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During the meeting, KNCCI Chief Executive Officer, Mr. KK Mutai, delivered his remarks highlighting the importance of strengthening partnerships with KIPPRA, particularly in undertaking joint evidence-based research and supporting the dissemination of KIPPRA’s research findings to KNCCI members across all 47 counties. He noted that collaboration between the two organizations presents a unique opportunity to bridge research-driven policy recommendations with real business experiences from the private sector.

Key Areas of Collaboration discussed included:
1. Joint Evidence-Based Research
2. Dissemination of KIPPRA Research.
3. Co-Development of the Annual State of the Business Environment in Kenya
(Business Barometer Reports)
4. Co-Hosting National and County-Level Policy Roundtables
5. Joint Forums and Conferences
6. Capacity Building and Training on Public Policy Making

For the next steps the two teams agreed on drafting a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) capturing the agreed key areas of
collaboration, signing of the MoU during the 9th KIPPRA Annual Regional Conference, scheduled for 20th – 22nd May 2026 in Mombasa and planning a courtesy call to KIPPRA to strengthen engagement

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Held under the theme “Enhancing Africa’s Trade Efficiency and Competitiveness through Digitalization,” the conference brought together over 300 senior government officials, heads of customs administrations, port and logistics authorities, development partners, technology innovators, and private sector leaders from across the continent.

KNCCI CEO, Mr. KK Mutai, joined a high-level panel on “Public-Private Sector Collaboration for Regional Trade Growth – Business Engagement,” where he made the case for deeper, structured partnership between government and the business community in shaping Africa’s digital trade future. Speaking on behalf of businesses across Kenya’s 47 county chapters, the CEO emphasised that:

– The private sector must be brought into regulatory design from the beginning, not invited to “validate” rules already written.
– Trade facilitation performance data captured by systems like Kenya TradeNet should be made public to drive accountability and end the cycle of blame between government and business.
– Practical interventions such as the AfCFTA’s ADAPT platform, mutual recognition of electronic certificates, the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS).
Inclusion must remain central particularly for SMEs, women cross-border traders, and informal traders who stand to benefit most from digital reforms but risk being left behind without targeted support.

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The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) successfully hosted its “Business Coffee & Conversations” forum, a high-level targeted engagement designed to empower Kenyan exporters. The event brought together key strategic partners including DHL Express Kenya, Absa Bank, and Rubis Energy Kenya to address critical gaps in logistics, trade finance, and operational efficiency.

KNCCI CEO KK Mutai: A Call to Expand Kenya’s Export Footprint

In his opening remarks, KNCCI CEO KK Mutai set a clear agenda: the need to aggressively expand Kenya’s export footprint in the competitive global marketplace. Highlighting the sector’s potential, Mutai noted that while Kenya’s export sector generated KSh 1.1 trillion in 2024, this performance represents “just the beginning of what our exporters can achieve”.

Mutai addressed the structural challenges hindering African businesses, specifically citing a trade finance gap exceeding $120 billion annually and regional transport costs that run between $5 to $8 per kilometer—significantly higher than the $1 to $2 average in Asia.

“This forum represents a unique convergence of three critical enablers,” Mutai stated, emphasizing the strategic roles of the partners present:

• Logistics efficiency: Tackling high movement costs with DHL.
• Financial solutions: Bridging the trade finance gap with Absa Bank.
• Operational reliability: Ensuring cost-effective energy supply with Rubis Energy Kenya.

He concluded by urging participants to leverage KNCCI as a gateway to export support services, challenging them to “convert insights into action” to unlock the full potential of their enterprises.

DHL Express Kenya MD Paul Makolosi: AI and Connectivity for SMEs

A key highlight of the forum was the message delivered by DHL Express Kenya Managing Director, Paul Makolosi. Reinforcing DHL’s position as a purpose-driven organization, Makolosi emphasized the company’s commitment to “connecting people, improving lives” by linking Kenyan companies to global trade opportunities.

Addressing the evolving landscape of international business, Makolosi highlighted how DHL is utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) to interconnect the world, specifically making global markets more accessible for e outlined how AI-driven logistics solutions are simplifying complex supply chains, allowing Kenyan SMEs to compete effectively on the world stage. By integrating advanced technology with their global network, DHL aims to remove barriers for local exporters, ensuring that Kenyan goods can reach international customers with speed and reliability.

A Unified Approach to Export Success

The forum, which included interactive Q&A sessions and networking segments, served as a platform for exporters to engage directly with industry leaders. By aligning the logistics expertise of DHL, the financial muscle of Absa Bank, and the energy solutions of Rubis, KNCCI continues to champion a holistic approach to business growth, ensuring Kenyan exporters are well-equipped to thrive in 2025 and beyond.

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Marsabit County was represented by its Trade and Tourism leadership, including the CEC Jeremy Ledani, the Director of Trade Hussein Kasa, and the County Director of Tourism Abdulahi Ibrahim, CEO Trade and Tourism Mahad Mohamed alongside other technical officers. The engagement focused on identifying areas of collaboration that will support Marsabit’s ambition to position itself as a top investment destination in Kenya and the Horn of Africa.

The Marsabit County Government team highlighted several comparative advantages that make it a strong prospect for investors. The county is richly endowed with gold, coltan/derilium, salt, copper, and other minerals, offering significant potential for mining and value addition. Its strategic location along the cross-border corridor between Kenya and Ethiopia also positions it as a gateway for regional and international trade.

Beyond natural resources, Marsabit boasts exceptional tourism assets such as Lake Paradise, the Chalbi Desert sand dunes, Lake Turkana, and unique wildlife heritage—including the legendary Ahmed, Kenya’s most iconic elephant. The county is also known for its rich cultural heritage and diverse communities, providing opportunities for cultural tourism, conservation investments, and eco-tourism development.

Both KNCCI and the Marsabit County Government agreed to jointly organize pre-investment conferences in Nairobi in the coming months. These forums will aim to create awareness, mobilize partners, and attract both local and international investors ahead of the main expo.

KNCCI reaffirmed its commitment to supporting counties in promoting trade, investment, and enterprise development, and emphasized that the Chamber will continue to work closely with Marsabit to ensure the success of the 2026 Investors Expo.

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