NAIROBI, Kenya – President William Ruto on Wednesday presided over the official opening of the 2025 Nairobi International Trade Fair (NITF) at Jamhuri Grounds, where a spirited livestock auction and showcases of climate-smart innovations headlined the event.
The highlight came when Ruto placed the top bid of Sh700,000 for a supreme champion Boran bull weighing 720 kilograms.
Another Boran bull, weighing 660 kilograms, fetched Sh750,000, purchased by Al-faraz Meat experts. Agriculture CS Mutahi Kagwe joined the high-profile bidders, paying Sh600,000 for a reserve champion crossbreed, while Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja bought another reserve supreme crossbreed at Sh500,000.
Beyond the spectacle of champion animals, this year’s trade fair, running from September 29 to October 5, drew more than 250 exhibitors from Kenya and abroad, including delegations from China, India, Ghana, Tanzania, South Africa, and Nigeria.
Themed “Promoting Climate Smart Agriculture and Trade Initiatives for Sustainable Economic Growth,” the fair spotlighted innovations in resilient farming systems.
Exhibitors such as the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) and Simlaw Seeds showcased new drought-resistant crops like sorghum and tomato varieties tailored for both open-field and greenhouse farming.
We are deliberately and strategically reforming and supporting our agricultural and trade sectors — the twin turbo-engines of Kenya’s prosperity — to ensure that the hard work of our farmers is translated into real incomes and jobs.Over the last three years, we have registered
Yet, notable absences included long-time exhibitors like JKUAT, the University of Nairobi, the National Irrigation Authority, and New KCC, who have traditionally launched groundbreaking technologies at the fair.
Tickets are priced at Sh300 for adults and Sh250 for children, giving Kenyans access to one of the region’s most influential agricultural platforms.
The fair has become a convergence point for farmers, agribusinesses, researchers, policymakers, and youth-led enterprises, blending tradition with cutting-edge innovations.
Ruto praised the fair as a space for bridging gaps between innovation and markets, stressing the government’s commitment to supporting farmers.
“We must invest in climate-smart solutions to ensure food security for our people while creating new opportunities for agribusiness,” he said during his address.
As the livestock auctions drew excitement, analysts pointed to the broader importance of the fair in aligning Kenya’s agricultural sector with the realities of climate change and global trade.
With agriculture contributing nearly 22 P.c of GDP and employing millions, the innovations and deals struck at the Nairobi Trade Fair could prove critical to the nation’s resilience.
