Feature: Chinese smart machinery wows visitors at Kenyan expo

NAIROBI, June 22 (Xinhua) -- Peter Wairegi paused beside a giant excavator manufactured by Zoomlion, a leading Chinese construction machinery manufacturer, carefully examining its intelligent control system and sleek design at a machinery expo in Nairobi.

Wairegi, executive director of the Kenya Professional Realtors Association, was among hundreds of visitors and buyers attending the recent 2026 Africa International Construction Machinery, Mining Machinery, Agricultural Machinery and International Auto Parts, Electromechanical and Hardware Products Expo.

"I am happy to visit this expo and can see many Chinese companies that have introduced new equipment and innovations for the entire real estate ecosystem, especially in building and construction," said Wairegi.

"At this expo, I was impressed to come across machines for lifting materials in high-rise buildings, elevators, generators, excavators for road works, and graders," he added.

Wairegi said he would mobilize players in the real estate sector, such as developers, to visit the expo and learn about Chinese-made smart machinery and equipment that have been introduced in Kenya and the wider African market.

The majority of the association's members prefer Chinese products such as tiles, windows and cabinets when building homes, he noted, adding that he looked forward to forging stronger ties with Chinese manufacturers of construction materials.

More than 200 Chinese firms dealing in heavy machinery, auto parts, electric motorbikes, clean energy solutions and wastewater treatment technologies are showcasing their products at the expo.

Anthony Njagi, sales and operations manager at CAMCO Equipment Kenya Limited, a local distributor of agricultural machinery, equipment, and generators from China, said many visitors admired the tractors on display for their sleek design and unique features.

"The presence of Chinese agricultural machinery in Africa is a game changer because it is affordable, durable and tailored to the African market," said Njagi.

He said the expo provides an opportunity to demonstrate the popularity of Chinese agricultural equipment among local farmers, aggregators and agro-processors.

Philemona Wambua, a financial services professional, strolled along the exhibition hall while observing Chinese smart industrial and household equipment in the company of her friend.

"My intention in visiting this expo is to discover how technology from China is transforming the way we farm and run our industries. Personally, I was particularly impressed by the trucks and forklift machines," said Wambua.

Mercy Ndongoli, an employee of a local agribusiness firm, said that her purpose in visiting the expo was to learn about modern farm implements such as tractors, irrigation pumps and generators made in China.

"I feel that this expo is really important for us as Africans and for our interaction with the Chinese agricultural sector. Partnership with China will bring many positive changes to our agricultural sector," said Ndongoli.

Running under the theme "Smart Manufacturing Africa, Shared Future," the expo was hailed by Kenyan officials for breaking new ground in trade and industrial cooperation with China.

Juma Mukhwana, principal secretary in Kenya's Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry, said Kenya is keen to utilize modern equipment from China to modernize key sectors such as agriculture, infrastructure and construction.

According to Mukhwana, the government has rolled out fiscal and regulatory incentives to attract capital, technology and modern equipment from China in a bid to promote green manufacturing, value addition for agricultural produce and low-carbon mobility.