President William Ruto chairs Cabinet meeting at State House on December 15, 2025 / PCSThe Cabinet has approved the rollout of the Kenya National Convention Bureau as part of preparations for the country’s hosting of the 4th COMESA–EAC–SADC Tripartite Summit scheduled for mid-2026.
The move is aimed at positioning Kenya as a leading global destination for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE).
In a Cabinet dispatch dated December 15, the President William Ruto–led Cabinet said the initiative is expected to strengthen Kenya’s role in regional integration, promote economic cooperation, and boost high-value tourism.
The Kenya National Convention Bureau will coordinate the planning, marketing, and delivery of international conventions and events, ensuring the country maximises the economic and diplomatic benefits of hosting major regional and global gatherings.
Cabinet Secretaries noted that the establishment of the bureau aligns with broader national priorities to attract investment, enhance Kenya’s international profile, and support the growth of the MICE sector as a key source of jobs and revenue.
“Cabinet was briefed on Kenya’s hosting of the 4th COMESA–EAC–SADC Tripartite Summit in mid-2026 and approved the rollout of the Kenya National Convention Bureau to position the country as a leading global destination for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE), reinforcing Kenya’s commitment to regional integration, economic cooperation and high-value tourism,” the dispatch read.
The Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) brings together the COMESA, EAC, and SADC regional blocs, representing one of Africa’s most ambitious integration initiatives.
It covers 29 countries, with a population of more than 700 million people and a combined GDP exceeding USD 1.4 trillion.
On November 5, the National Organising Committee (NOC) for the 4th Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) Summit of Heads of State and Government was officially launched.
Senior Deputy Secretary for Administration at the State Department for Trade, M’mbetsa Omar Beja, inaugurated the NOC in Naivasha on behalf of Principal Secretary Regina Ombam.
The multi-agency committee, comprising representatives from various government ministries, departments, and agencies, will provide strategic, technical, and logistical guidance in the planning and preparation of the summit, which is scheduled to take place next year.
