AfricaSMESummit2026
Thursday 15 October 2026
VenueOle Sereni
One day, 15 October
7.4 million enterprises.
One of them is yours.
Kenya’s small businesses carry 80% of the workforce and get almost none of the support. This is the one day that changes that — the capital, the buyers, the county governments and the thirteen universities that can move them forward, all in one room.
Keynote
Before the tracks open
Two Vice-Chancellors, the summit’s own convener, the CEO of the Teachers Service Commission, Nairobi County’s CECM for Business and Hustler Opportunities, and two Principal Secretaries — Basic Education, and Science, Research & Innovation — setting the tone before six tracks open.
Keynote speaker
Prof. Shaukat Abdulrazak
Principal Secretary, Science, Research & Innovation
Ministry of Education
Keynote speaker
John Lekakeny Ololtuaa
Principal Secretary, Basic Education
Ministry of Education
Keynote speaker
Eng. Mike Mutungi
Founder & CEO
I Choose Life – Africa
Keynote speaker
Prof. Eng. Ayub Gitau
Vice-Chancellor
University of Nairobi
Keynote speaker
Prof. Njenga Munene
Vice-Chancellor
Zetech University
Keynote speaker
Evaleen Mitei
CEO
Teachers Service Commission
Keynote speaker
Dr. Anastasia Mutethya Nyalita
CECM, Business & Hustler Opportunities
Nairobi City County Government
On stage
The people you came to meet
Twenty panel speakers across six tracks, one room, one day.
There is room on the programme for one more — propose a session.
Six tracks
Pick what your business actually needs
One day to attend
Built differently for three kinds of visitor
Same summit, three different reasons to be here — pick the one that matches why you are coming.
SMEs & corporates
You run an SME, or you serve one
Meet the person who runs SME banking at NCBA. Put a university research team on a problem in your business, exhibit, speak, or sponsor a track — and meet enterprises already screened through the ICL programme, whichever side of that table you're on.
- ✓Capital and market access
- ✓Research support at no cost to you
- ✓Exhibition and speaking slots
- ✓Profile to 10,000+ across ICL platforms
Universities
You teach or research
Submit a paper through the call. Place your students on live enterprise problems that count towards their qualification. Join 13 universities already in the programme.
- ✓Papers call and publishing
- ✓Student placement into real businesses
- ✓Industry partners for ongoing research
County government
You govern where they operate
Nairobi, Machakos, Laikipia and Uasin Gishu county governments are all in the room — a direct line to the MSMEs registered in your jurisdiction, and to the corporates who procure from them.
- ✓Direct access to registered MSMEs
- ✓Buyers, banks and business owners in one room
- ✓Policy conversations grounded in real businesses
Why people give up a working day
Five reasons the summit is worth it
Not five features — five things people actually leave with.
01
Capital
The head of SME banking at NCBA is in the room, and so are the funds and guarantee schemes most owners have never been walked through.
02
Research
Thirteen universities looking for live enterprise problems. Bring yours and leave with a team on it.
03
Buyers
Four county governments participating, plus the corporates who procure from businesses this size.
04
Proof
The gallery walk puts your product in front of people who can place an order, not just admire it.
05
The room
Everyone here runs or serves a small business in Kenya. No tourists.
The confirmed running order
15 October, hour by hour
Hover to preview the running order, or get the full confirmed programme — every slot, every facilitator.
Get the full programme (PDF)Tickets
Early bird sold out — book standard now before seats go
Early bird
Sold out
KES5,800
- ✓Full-day access to all six tracks
- ✓Innovation Expo and gallery walk
- ✓Lunch and refreshments
- ✓Delegate pack and certificate
Standard
From 16 September
KES6,800
- ✓Full-day access to all six tracks
- ✓Innovation Expo and gallery walk
- ✓Lunch and refreshments
- ✓Delegate pack and certificate
Student
Sold out
KES2,000
- ✓Full-day access to all six tracks
- ✓Innovation Expo and gallery walk
- ✓Lunch and refreshments
- ✓Bring your student ID to registration
Exhibiting or sponsoring? Booths from KES 30,000 and packages from KES 125,000.
Group rate for four or more from one organisation — ask us for a code.
2026 partners
Convened alongside
Before you book
Questions
- Is lunch included?
- Yes. Every ticket includes lunch and refreshments through the day.
- Can I send a colleague instead?
- Yes. Tickets are transferable up to 48 hours before the summit — send us both names on the contact page.
- Is there parking at Ole Sereni?
- Yes, on-site parking is available for delegates. Registration opens at 07:30, and spaces fill through the morning — come early.
- Do exhibitors need a separate ticket?
- Exhibition booths include delegate passes — two with the Startup booth and four with the Corporate booth. Additional team members need standard tickets.
- Will I get a certificate?
- Yes. Certificates of participation are issued to all delegates at the close.
- How do I submit a paper?
- Submit an abstract on the call for papers page — it lists the tracks and the review timeline.
- Is there a group rate?
- Yes, for four or more from the same organisation. Ask on the contact page and we will send you a code.
One day. One room. Bring the business.
Thursday 15 October 2026 · Ole Sereni, Mombasa Road
#SMESUMMITKE