Kenya: Govt Urges Firms to Boost Local Production and Regional Trade

What the report says

Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade and Industry, Lee Kinyanjui, has called on local firms to raise domestic production and pursue regional markets as a way to support jobs and cut dependence on imports. The remarks were delivered at KCB Group’s PowerTalk forum in Nairobi on October 13, according to Capital FM’s report distributed by AllAfrica.

Kinyanjui urged businesses to focus on manufacturing and value addition in Kenya rather than importing finished goods. He said local banks could play a role by financing expansion and helping companies reach markets across East Africa and beyond. The event brought together government and business leaders to discuss investment, trade and Kenya’s competitiveness.

Other speakers highlighted wider economic conditions affecting business planning. KCB Group CEO Paul Russo said companies should keep long-term strategies in place despite political cycles, while KCB Group Treasurer Anthony Mulisa pointed to growth opportunities in infrastructure, agricultural processing, extractive industries and regional connectivity. The discussion also touched on risks from global conflicts, energy price swings and climate-related disruptions, alongside calls for more predictable taxes and simpler licensing rules.

The broader policy message fits with Kenya’s push to strengthen local industry and deepen trade ties within the region. More generally, East African integration has often been seen as a route for firms to scale up, though the article presents this forum mainly as a venue for urging private sector investment and reducing business costs.