Eldoret National Show Set for Five Days as Organisers Eye 150,000 Visitors
Exhibitors from Tanzania and Uganda will participate according to the organizers, who invited additional regional partners to join the event.
Vice Chairman Silas Maiyo. Photo/Courtesy
By Ruth Sang
The Eldoret National Show will take place during five days this year, as the organizers expect to draw more than 150,000 guests and display up to 200 exhibits.
The Chief Steward and Vice Chairman Silas Maiyo announced during a media briefing that the event will take place from March 4 to March 8 with the Sunday extension of the exhibition period.
“The show will operate for five days now because we added Sunday to the program,” Maiyo said while stating that the team had finished building their new exhibition space which would showcase more advanced designs.
Activities will start at AIC Fellowship with the Harvest Festival scheduled for March 1. The March 3 pre-show will assess exhibitors who will receive their awards based on the judging results.
Focus on Climate-Smart Agriculture
The theme for this year is “Promoting Climate Smart Agriculture and Trade Initiative for Sustainable Economic Growth.” Organisers will use the show to display sustainable farming practices which support agribusiness progress and create trading systems to boost agricultural development.
Maiyo announced that 150 trade exhibitors will participate this year which represents a 25 percent rise compared to the previous year. The livestock exhibitors are expected to include 120 participants who will display 80 sheep and goats and 20 pigs and 30 poultry animals.
Farmers will receive training in modern coffee processing equipment along with other agribusiness solutions which will be part of the innovations that will be displayed.
Participants will be seed companies, pharmaceutical firms, financial institutions, manufacturers, universities, motor vehicle dealers, textile companies, and ministries together with parastatals and hospitality establishments and research institutions and insurance providers.
Affordable Housing and Police Services
The government affordable housing program receives support from housing exhibitors who will present information about home ownership to interested members of the public.
The National Police Service will participate in the exhibition according to the organisers who announced that certificate processing for good conduct would occur within 24 hours during the exhibition.
Chief Guests Line-Up
The five-day event will feature a different chief guest for each day of the program:
* Wednesday (Business Day): Area MP CPA Julius Ruto
* Thursday (Farmers’ Day): County Governor Jonathan Bii
* Friday (Official Opening): President William Ruto
* Saturday (Family Day): Senator Jackson Mandago
* Sunday (Family Day): Eldowas Managing Director Mr. Tanui
The official opening ceremony will include a livestock auction on Friday.
Attendance and Gate Charges
Last year the show attracted 120,000 total visitors to the event. The organizers expect to increase attendance this year by attracting over 150,000 visitors.
The gate charges have been adjusted slightly because adults must pay Sh300 while children need to pay Sh250. Groups with 10 or more people will receive discounts which lower adult prices to Sh250 and child prices to Sh200.
The showgrounds will operate from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day.
Entertainment and Regional Participation
Agricultural and trade exhibitions will be held for visitors who will also experience entertainment through military band performances, livestock parades, acrobatics, traditional dances, comedy acts, local artists, and funfair attractions including merry-go-rounds, water games, bouncing castles, and face painting.
Exhibitors from Tanzania and Uganda will participate according to the organizers, who invited additional regional partners to join the event.
Maiyo asked media representatives to help organisers by promoting the event.
“The public uses your advertisements to learn about us because you are our marketing partners. We should work together to tell Kenyans about the upcoming dates and what to expect” he said.
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