Nakuru Expo Targets Regional Business Growth As Exhibitors Hit 150

By Staff Writer

Tourism operators, traders, investors and entrepreneurs are expected to use this month’s Nakuru Trade and Tourism Expo to forge new business partnerships and expand regional market opportunities through business-to-business and public-private engagements.

The second edition of the expo organized by TJ Premier Events runs from May 28 to 30 at the Great Rift Valley Club in Nakuru City, themed “Connecting Trade, Tourism, and Investment for Inclusive Growth.”

The three-day event will feature exhibitions, a full-day conference, and structured networking sessions designed to link trade and tourism ecosystems with investors, government agencies and entrepreneurs.

Organisers expect over 150 exhibitors to participate, including an international exhibitor from South Africa, marking a significant expansion from the inaugural edition held last year.

“For those people who want to do research, for those people who want to learn, for those people who want to buy, for those people who want to get partnerships, this is a good opportunity for you to come and learn and grow your brand,” said Josephat Nyongesa, a director at TJ Premier Events.

Entry to the expo is free, with organisers actively encouraging broad public participation from Nakuru County and surrounding regions attending to network, learn and explore commercial opportunities.

Supporting partners include the Nakuru County Government’s Department of Trade, Kenya Wildlife Service, the Tourism Regulatory Authority and the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce, which are mobilising the business community.

The second day will feature a dedicated trade and tourism conference running from morning to evening, with sector experts addressing inclusive growth, innovation and sustainable business practices.

Ecotourism Kenya is serving as sustainability and conference partner, leading sessions that will address responsible business conduct across both the trade and tourism industries.

“We are hoping to engage them on sustainability matters, to demystify what it is. There is the ethical business aspect as well as the social-cultural aspect that is often missed out,” said Mary Kioo, Communications Officer at Ecotourism Kenya.

Exhibitors span diverse sectors, including agro-machinery, wildlife conservancies, food manufacturing and fashion retail, reflecting the expo’s broad vision of inclusive economic participation.

Soysambu Conservancy, which borders Lake Elementaita and spans 48,000 acres, will present its integrated livestock and wildlife management model, including rare Rothschild giraffes, Colobus monkeys and unique birdlife.

Monica Njeri of Soysambu Conservancy noted that domestic tourism remains an underutilised growth engine, adding that business would thrive through local networks and community-level support rather than relying solely on international visitors.

Participating companies also include CAMCO Equipment Kenya Limited, a regional agro-machinery dealer, alongside clothing manufacturer Tiankara Creations and biscuit company Sandvit Foods Limited, which will offer free product sampling.

Nakuru’s profile as an agricultural and tourism hub has made it an attractive venue, with exhibitors seeking to connect with buyers, partners and customers across the wider Rift Valley region.

“We are thanking TJ Events for giving us this platform to showcase our products, improve visibility, and be able to reach out to our customers here and beyond this region,” said Elkana Ng’etich, Senior Sales Engineer at CAMCO Equipment Kenya Limited.

Attendees will also access free medical check-ups through a partnership with hospitals, adding a public health dimension to the event’s broader socio-economic development agenda.