Business boom as 70,000 attend revived Kitui show

The curtains have fallen on the three-day revived Kitui agricultural show and trade fair 2023, which registered more than 70,000 attendees.

The bonanza was officially closed on Saturday by Kitui Trade executive Rose Mutuku at a ceremony held at the Ithookwe show grounds also attended by Deputy Governor Augustine Kanani.

An elated Kanani said the Kitui show, which has been moribund since it was last held in 2017, registered more than 70,000 attendees, leading to a business boom.

“A Kitui hotelier confided in me that since Monday this week, his hotel has remained booked to capacity,” he said.

“He said he could not take in any more guests. It is an indicator that the show caused business to thrive.”

Kanani said the Culture department will take over the running of the Ithookwe show grounds and ensure facilities are not vandalised as before, costing millions in repair work.

The deputy governor said most county events, including sporting activities, will henceforth be held at the show grounds to ensure the place does not get into a state of utter disuse and degradation.

Before officiating the closing ceremony, Mutuku led other guests in touring various exhibition stands. They were taken round by Agriculture executive Stephen Kimwele.

Mutuku hailed the show as having provided an opportunity for exhibitors to showcase their products.

They also interacted with potential customers and networked with other players in their respective value chains, she said.

“Through the show, businesses have been exposed to new technologies and emerging trends that can be exploited,” Mutuku said.

“Potential investors have also been provided with information on areas of investment.”

She said the theme sits well with her department’s mandate of providing an enabling environment for trade, industry and investments.

The theme was: Promoting Climate Smart Agriculture and Trade Initiatives for Sustainable Food and Nutrition Security and Economic Growth.

“To achieve this objective, my ministry has come up with initiatives to support our traders, MSMEs and cooperatives to advance various value chains that our county has comparative advantage in,” Mutuku said.

She said her docket was keen to collaborate with the national government and her development agencies, other county departments, potential investors and stakeholders to achieve the industrialization agenda for the people of Kitui.

“My ministry has done great milestones in supporting micro, small and medium enterprises, and efforts are geared toward creating a 24hr economy,” the executive added.                                                                    

The executive welcomed the support of County Aggregation and Industrial Parks through a collaboration between the national and county governments across Kenya.

Mutuku said the parks will be used to gain economies of scale for bulk purchasing and selling of various agro-produce in Kenya.

“It is a farmer-centric and export-oriented approach to ensure small-scale farmers and producers contribute to the aggregation, marketing and export of produce from across the country,” she said.

She further said the aggregation and industrial parks will serve to boost overall national agro-processing, increase farmer income, create jobs and reduce post-harvest loss.

Mutuku said another benefit would be to connect counties through commodity exchange and warehouse receipting, as well as consolidating Kenyan produce for the export market.

“In addition, CAIPs will serve as vehicles to enhance industrialisation to transform both rural and urban economies, hence increased incomes and improved livelihoods,” the executive said.