Kisumu: The government has announced plans to establish a Jumuiya Market in Kisumu to strengthen cross-border trade within the East African Community (EAC) and connect local traders to broader regional markets. East African Community Affairs Principal Secretary Dr Carolyn Karugu said the flagship initiative under her State Department targets the EAC's 130 million consumers, positioning Kisumu as a gateway to the region's growing trade opportunities.
According to Kenya News Agency, Dr. Karugu, during a courtesy call on Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang' Nyong'o, emphasized that the EAC currently accounts for 29 percent of Kenya's total trade, making it the country's largest trading bloc. She stated that the project's first phase, which is already underway, entails a feasibility and market assessment study to identify viable products, trade volumes, and preferred markets across the region.
Dr. Karugu noted that Kisumu was chosen for the pilot phase due to its strategic connectivity by road, lake, and air, as well as its historical role in regional commerce. The Jumuiya Market will be integrated with Kisumu's County Aggregation and Industrial Parks to create a seamless supply chain for locally processed products reaching regional markets. The initiative also aims to build trade capacity through training on cross-border trade protocols, including the EAC Treaty, rules of origin, and market requirements.
Identified traders will be trained and facilitated to travel to key cities across the region, such as Dar es Salaam, Kigali, and Kinshasa, for exposure and networking with their counterparts. Insights from the Kisumu pilot will inform the rollout of the initiative in the remaining 46 counties to create a wider reach for Kenyan products across the EAC region. Plans are underway to establish trade accelerator hubs in major East African cities, including Kisumu, to support Kenyan traders launching operations in neighboring countries.
Dr. Karugu clarified that the project does not necessarily involve building new markets and that the feasibility study will assess whether existing markets such as Kibuye, Uhuru, or Jubilee can host the Jumuiya Market operations. Access to finance is also central to the project, with the State Department engaging banks, telcos, and other financial institutions to unlock credit for participating traders.
Governor Nyong'o welcomed the initiative, saying it aligns with the county's vision to transform Kisumu into a regional trade hub. He reaffirmed the county's commitment to supporting the project and working closely with the national government to ground the trade framework in local realities.