Nairobi, Kenya// – Azelia Expo Ltd has announced the Africa Forex Trading Expo 2026, a first-of-its-kind event, with Empire FX confirmed as Main Sponsor, bringing together forex traders, brokers, fintech innovators, Payment Service Providers (PSPs), Crypto Exchanges, and financial educators from across Africa and beyond.
The two-day expo, scheduled for 10th – 11th March 2026 at Sarit Expo Centre, Nairobi, comes at a critical time when Kenya’s forex trading market is experiencing unprecedented growth.
Kenya: A Rising Star in Africa’s Forex Landscape
Kenya has emerged as a major forex hub in Africa, with an estimated 100,000 active retail traders participating in the market.
In 2017, Kenya became the first African country to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework for online forex trading through the Capital Markets Authority (CMA), setting a benchmark for responsible trading across the continent.
The global forex market now trades approximately $9.6 trillion daily (a 28% increase from 2022), making it the world’s largest and most liquid financial market.
The African forex market is projected to experience 30% year-on-year growth in retail trading from 2023 onwards, largely driven by mobile trading platforms, PSPs enabling seamless transactions, and growing interest from countries like Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa.
Addressing Kenya’s Youth Employment Challenge
With over 75% of Kenya’s population under 35 years old and the formal sector absorbing fewer than half of the 800,000 new job seekers entering the market annually, forex trading presents a legitimate alternative income opportunity for skilled individuals.
The expo aims to bridge the knowledge gap and equip young Kenyans with the skills needed for responsible trading.
“This is not gambling – it is strategic, skill-based investment,” Zack Kiratu, Director of Azelia Expo Ltd said. “The Africa Forex Trading Expo will demystify forex trading, promote financial literacy, and connect African traders with legitimate opportunities in the global market.
Unlike gambling, successful forex trading requires education, technical analysis, risk management, and disciplined strategy – skills that can be learned and refined.”
Demystifying Forex: Investment, Not Gambling
Unlike games of chance, forex trading is based on analyzable economic fundamentals, technical chart patterns, and geopolitical events that skilled traders can study and interpret.
Professional traders use sophisticated risk management strategies, including stop-loss orders, position sizing, and portfolio diversification, to protect their capital and generate consistent returns.
“The key differentiator is education and regulation,” Dr Peter Onyango, CEO of Empire FX, Main Sponsor of the expo, explained.
“The CMA’s regulatory framework ensures that Kenyan traders work with licensed brokers who maintain segregated client accounts, provide clear risk warnings, and operate with transparency. This is fundamentally different from unregulated betting.”
What to Expect at Africa Forex Trading Expo 2026
Under the theme ‘Smart Money, Smart Africa; The Future of Forex & Digital Trading’, the expo will feature exhibitor booths from leading international brokers, PSPs, Crypto Exchanges, and fintech companies; presentations and panel discussions from industry experts; live trading demonstrations and market analysis sessions; engagement forums on forex trading best practices; and a dedicated networking lounge for business matchmaking.
Pre-event activities include an exclusive IB (Introducing Broker) cocktail reception on 9th March and a Gala Dinner on 10th March, offering premium networking opportunities for industry stakeholders.
Kenya: The Silicon Savannah Hosts Africa’s Forex Future
Often referred to as the “Silicon Savannah,” Kenya offers the perfect blend of market readiness with robust internet infrastructure and an innovation culture that has produced ground-breaking fintech solutions like M-Pesa.
With smartphone penetration exceeding 50%, increasing internet access, and strong regulatory support from the Capital Markets Authority, Kenya stands as the ideal host for this landmark event.
Who Should Attend
The Africa Forex Trading Expo 2026 welcomes retail and institutional forex traders, forex brokers, Introducing Brokers (IBs) and affiliates, Payment Service Providers (PSPs), Crypto Exchanges, banks, fintech innovators, forex educators and analysts, financial influencers, investors and wealth managers, as well as government regulatory bodies and policymakers committed to shaping Africa’s financial future.
