- Nyanza farmers urged to meet export standards and protect market access
- Government pushes value addition for crops with export potential
- Kisumu outlines plans to attract investment and promote local products
Farmers and traders in Nyanza risk losing export markets when produce is rejected, Trade Principal Secretary (PS) Regina Ombam has warned. She said the region must add value to its products and meet international standards to keep those markets open.
Ombam spoke in Kisumu on Friday, September 11, 2026. Her audience included officials from the national and county governments and members of the private sector. They had gathered to explore ways of growing trade and investment across the region.
According to Ombam, some farmers were previously encouraged to plant avocados and sesame for foreign buyers. Sadly, their harvests were turned away because they did not meet the rules of the target markets.
To prevent a repeat, the government is working with private players and the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI). Together, they want producers and entrepreneurs to understand what buyers expect before they commit money to production.
She stressed that farmers must receive complete and accurate information. Only then, she said, can they respond properly to what the market demands.
Nyanza, Ombam noted, has strong potential in groundnuts, sesame and sunflower. However, she said the region should stop shipping these crops in raw form. Processing them into higher-value goods would earn better prices abroad.
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She added that global trade conditions are shifting. As a result, businesses must prioritise sustainability, efficiency and consistency to stay competitive.
Small enterprises and farmers were also urged to make use of trade agreements signed by Kenya. Understanding their terms, she said, would help local producers reach destinations such as the European Union (EU) with greater success.
Ombam said the government is also looking past traditional activities. In her view, Lake Victoria offers more than fish. She pointed to a growing creative economy and a thriving sporting economy around the lake.
Furthermore, she said Nyanza could gain from rising investment in science, technology and healthcare. Better infrastructure, she added, would also connect the region to buyers in Uganda, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Central Africa.
Kisumu Deputy Governor Mathews Owili said the county is preparing policies to make doing business easier. The aim is to draw investors and to encourage residents to spend on locally made goods.
He believes Kisumu can reclaim its status as a leading commercial hub. Its airport, port and road network, he said, give the city a strong base.
Under the “Buy Kisumu, Build Kisumu” campaign, Owili argued that residents should not look elsewhere for products that are already available at home.
By Benedict Aoya
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