Press Release

On 4th April 2019, Zuri Events joined organisations across six continents to support the fourth Annual Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID) at Weston Hotel, Nairobi. Discussions of the event were held around the theme: The Future of the Meetings and Events Industry in Kenya. This was the first GMID event in Eastern Africa, with others held in South Africa and Zambia.

Among the panelists that featured at the event were: Mr. Jonah Orumoi, – Managing Director of Tourism Finance Corporation; Mr. Jeffers Miruka – President of the African Society of Association Executives, Mr. Cosmas Kimanzi – Research Consultant at the Strathmore University School of Business, Beatrice Makawiti – Senior Lecturer, Technical University of Kenya, Janet Chamia -Chairperson of Kenya Association of Women in Tourism. The panel was moderated by Ms. Kezy Mukiri, CEO of Zuri Events

Mr. Chris Kirwa – a Board member of the Event Managers Association of Kenya gave remarks on behalf of EMAK, the only nationally – recognized event managers association in Kenya. The key note speaker of the event was Ms. Keziah Odemba – Director of Tourism at the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife who represented the CS Najib Balala.

Mr. Orumoi challenged hotels to diversify their products, away from the conventional bed occupancy narrative to become competitive in the Meetings Business. “We need hotels to develop their structures with meetings and conferences in mind. For example, instead of building hotels with over 100 rooms, developers need to develop hotels with about 50 rooms and a ballroom that can accommodate hundreds of people”, he said. This was a plea to the hoteliers to be innovative and more technologically driven so as to attract the MICE market which is more lucrative.

Mr. Cosmas Kimanzi stated that there was lack of adequate structures for data sharing from the different stakeholders in the tourism sector therefore making its hard for Kenya to bench mark in the global market. He further added that the School of Business at Strathmore University was in the final stages of developing a research and data centre to collate authentic data for the M.I.C.E industry.

Ms. Makawiti stated that Technical University of Kenya has developed their curriculum with the end goal of producing innovative and industry – conscious graduates who are able to compete globally and position Kenya as a ripe destination for Business Events.

In her keynote address, Ms. Keziah Odemba gave an assurance that the Ministry is in the process of forming a convention bureau that will engage the different stakeholders in the Meetings industry and promote the destination as a hub for Conferences and Business Events. She also pointed out that a report on the Kenyan Meetings Industry is being formulated and would be released from the office of the Principal Secretary, Ministry of Tourism & Wildlife by 12th April, 2019.

In her closing remarks, Ms. Kezy Mukiri, C.E.O. of Zuri Events pointed out that her company had conceptualized the Global MICE Summit in a bid to bring the Meetings Industry stakeholders together to position Kenya as an attractive Conference and Meetings destination. The 2nd edition of the Global M.I.C.E Summit will be themed on Enhancing Africa’s Competitiveness as a Business Events Destination. The summit will be held in September, 2019 at Trademark Hotel, Nairobi.

About Zuri Events

Zuri Events is a Sustainable Brand Management firm based in Nairobi Kenya. Founded 12 years ago, the company has provided event management and brand management solutions for corporate organizations across East Africa. Zuri Events is committed to Sustainability and Green Innovations for the MICE industry and provides Consultancy for Sustainable Event Practices to corporate organizations. Zuri Events is a woman – owned and youth led organization.