Kenya is set to host the 24th Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa(COMESA) Summit of Heads of State and Government from October 7–9, 2025, at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi.
The announcement was made on Thursday, September 17, during the official launch of the summit, where the Host Agreement was formally signed between the Government of Kenya and the COMESA Secretariat.
The signing ceremony was attended by Dr. Dev Haman, Assistant Secretary-General of COMESA; Hon. Hassan Kibeya, Burundi’s Minister of Mines, Energy, Industry, Trade & Tourism; Principal Secretary for Trade Regina Ombam and other dignitaries.
Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade and Industry, Lee Kinyanjui, welcomed delegates to Nairobi and described the summit as a “pivotal moment” for the COMESA region.
“It is with immense pride and great privilege that the Republic of Kenya welcomes you to Nairobi, the heart of our vibrant nation, for this official launch,” he said, adding that hosting the event demonstrates Kenya’s strong commitment to regional economic growth and cooperation.
The summit will focus on boosting intra-African trade, which currently stands at just 17%.
Key events lined up include a high-level Business Forum, governance and peace sessions and the Heads of State meeting, where leaders are expected to deliberate on strategies to unlock the region’s full trade potential.
As Vice-Chair of the COMESA Bureau, Kenya is aligning the summit with its own economic agenda.
“Kenya prioritises industrialisation, value addition and creating a conducive environment for trade and investment. We are actively expanding our Special Economic Zones and Export Processing Zones to shift from raw exports to higher-value processed products,” said Kinyanjui, during the event attended by News 9 Kenya.
This year’s theme, “Leveraging Digitalisation to Deepen Value Chains for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth,” is particularly timely. Kinyanjui emphasised that digital technology is key to breaking down barriers and enabling seamless cross-border trade.
“Digital technology is the great equalizer. By embracing digitalization, we can dismantle long-standing barriers, streamline trade processes and empower our entrepreneurs and SMEs,” he said, citing Kenya’s global leadership in mobile money and fintech as proof of how digital innovation can boost financial inclusion and spur growth.
Kinyanjui also lauded the recent operationalisation of the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Free Trade Area, which brings together three major regional blocs into Africa’s largest integrated market.
“However, challenges persist. We must continue to work collectively to remove Non-Tariff Barriers and harmonise our policies to unlock the full potential of intra-COMESA trade,” he noted, calling for sustained political will and collaboration among member states.
With just weeks to go, the Cabinet Secretary expressed confidence that the 24th COMESA Summit will deliver practical outcomes that strengthen trade and economic resilience across the region.
“This launch sets the stage for a summit that I am confident will be both productive and transformative. It is an opportunity to chart a new course for our common market and reinforce our position as a formidable economic force on the continent,” he concluded.
The summit is expected to attract Heads of State, government ministers, business leaders and policy experts from across COMESA’s 21 member states, making Nairobi a key hub for continental dialogue on trade, investment and regional stability.
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