By Business Insider Correspondent, Nairobi
Tanzania has been crowned the overall winner at the 25th East African Community (EAC) Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Exhibition after locally owned automaker, KAYPEE Motors, clinched the region’s top award for environmentally sustainable innovation.
The victory marks a significant moment for Tanzania’s industrial ambitions, placing the country at the forefront of East Africa’s clean-tech manufacturing movement and strengthening its position in the regional SME ecosystem.
KAYPEE Motors, which specialises in designing and manufacturing electric vehicles, won the prestigious Best Exhibitor – EAC (Environmentally Friendly Category), beating thousands of competitors drawn from all eight EAC member states.
The company was recognised for its pioneering work in producing affordable, clean-energy vehicles tailored for African markets – an achievement that highlights both Tanzania’s growing technological capability and its commitment to green industrialisation.
The awards were presented at the closing ceremony of the Jua Kali/Nguvu Kazi Exhibition, held at Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi on 16 November 2025. The long-running expo, founded in 1999, has become the region’s most influential platform for showcasing grassroots innovation, entrepreneurship and manufacturing. This year’s edition attracted more than 3,000 SMEs from Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Somalia.
Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Industry and Trade, Wycliffe Oparanya, who closed the event, praised the exhibition for strengthening ties among member states and promoting homegrown industries. He urged governments to increase budget allocations for SME support, arguing that greater investment will help entrepreneurs produce globally competitive products.
Oparanya also called for renewed efforts to remove non-tariff barriers that continue to choke regional trade.
“Our SMEs cannot scale if we maintain obstacles at our borders. We must work collectively to create a business environment that encourages innovation, investment and cross-border commerce,” he said.
He further emphasised the importance of digital tools in modern business, urging SMEs to adopt technology to expand market access beyond their national borders.
Speaking on behalf of the EAC Secretariat, Deputy Secretary-General for Finance and Trade, Annette Mutaawe, applauded the high level of participation from member states and stressed the role of SMEs in driving regional integration, job creation and industrial transformation.
Leading Tanzania’s delegation, Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office (Labour, Youth, Employment and Persons with Disabilities), Zuhura Yunus, said the Sixth-Phase Government under President Samia Suluhu Hassan remains committed to supporting SMEs to improve productivity, market access and product quality.
She highlighted Tanzania’s strong presence – 375 entrepreneurs from both mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar – reflecting the government’s proactive approach to nurturing small businesses.
Tanzania’s Ambassador to Kenya, Dr. Bernard Kibesse, also congratulated the country’s exhibitors, noting that their strong showing helps enhance Tanzania’s brand image within the regional marketplace.
For KAYPEE Motors, the award represents more than prestige. Production Director Rajab Hassan revealed that the company secured orders for eight vehicles during the exhibition – two placed directly by Kenya’s President William Ruto and six from Kenyan citizens impressed by the firm’s electric models. He said the win reflects a decade of innovation since the company began producing electric vehicles ten years ago.
“This victory belongs not only to KAYPEE Motors but to all Tanzanian entrepreneurs working tirelessly to raise the standard of locally made products,” Hassan said.
The strong performance by Tanzanian exhibitors signals the country’s rising influence within the East African manufacturing ecosystem. With electric mobility gaining momentum globally, KAYPEE Motors’ success positions Tanzania as an emerging player in Africa’s clean-energy industrial future. As the region moves toward deeper economic integration, Tanzania’s dominance at this year’s exhibition underscores the potential of its SMEs to capture new markets, attract investment, and shape the next chapter of East Africa’s industrial growth.
