Kitui to host agricultural and investment expo to market county's potential

Kitui Governor, Julius Malombe at the end of the Kitui County Budget and Economic planning at a Mombasa hotel on Friday./MUSEMBI NZENGU

The Kitui government is set to hold an agricultural show in mid next year to market the county’s potential.

The Kitui County Budget and Economic Forum (CBEF) chaired by Governor Julius Malombe said the Kitui Agricultural Show, Traders Fair and Investment Expo 2026 will take place in July.

The decision to hold the event is among the key resolutions made during a week-long CBEF retreat held in Mombasa.

Malombe said the show will highlight climate-smart agricultural technologies, value addition, trade and investment opportunities across the county.

“Through this merger, the county seeks to maximise efficiency, attract partnerships and promote Kitui as a regional hub for agribusiness, innovation and sustainable economic growth,” he said.

The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises as a means of fostering inclusive economic growth.

He said the forum recommended empowerment of MSMEs as key engines of local wealth creation and job generation.

“This will be achieved through promotion of cooperative and Sacco-based financing, development of market and industrial infrastructure, as well as targeted capacity building in business management, digital literacy and value addition,” Malombe said.

He said the county will also facilitate market access for local enterprises through e-commerce platforms and preferential local procurement, positioning Kitui as a hub for enterprise growth and innovation.

Youth empowerment and employment creation will be prioritised as a key pillar in the county’s development agenda, Malombe said.

He said significant efforts will be made to expand youth access to training, mentorship and innovation opportunities.

The county also plans to establish and operationalise ICT Innovation hubs, agribusiness incubation centres and creative industry programmes across all Kitui subcounties to empower the youth.

“Partnerships with private sector actors, learning institutions and development agencies will be strengthened to enhance skills development, access to finance and job creation in key sectors such as agriculture, ICT, tourism and manufacturing,” Malombe said.

CBEFs act as think-tanks for county governments on matters of budgeting, economic policy and financial management.

Malombe said the deliberations at the Mombasa retreat were aimed at building consensus on key policy priorities to guide the 2025-26 financial year planning and budgeting cycle, as well as the county’s long-term development strategy.