Impactful 6th CITAM Business Forum (CBF) Conference & Expo, 2025.

Delegates from all CITAM Assemblies, as well as non-CITAM members, engaged in three days of exceptional business exposure, benefiting from a diverse array of speakers hailing from as far afield as the USA and Liberia. This year’s conference was distinctive in several respects; foremost among them was the theme, “Eden Mandate,” which illuminated humanity’s original charge to cultivate and steward the earth. Based on Genesis 2:15, this theme prompted delegates to reevaluate their approach to agribusiness. It became evident to all that success in agribusiness, and indeed in business as a whole, necessitates a focus on the 5Ss: stewardship, sustainability, strategy, servanthood, and sowing.

Secondly, the conference convened Young Professionals, a demographic poised to dramatically reshape the agribusiness landscape towards remarkable profitability. Their energy and enthusiasm, coupled with technological acumen, are precisely what is required to elevate the traditional peasant farmer to a state of joy and fulfillment, liberating them from the clutches of exploitative middlemen.

Thirdly, the conference was fundamentally network-oriented. To this end, we curated 18 workshops, providing attendees with opportunities to network, explore funding avenues, and collaborate with others in their endeavors to upscale their businesses.

The conference featured an exemplary faculty of plenary speakers from Liberia and the USA, all united by a common agenda: to liberate Africa from its indignities. Every delegate departed with a renewed determination to reclaim the Eden mandate.

In total, approximately 2,000 delegates, over 250 exhibitors, business leaders, and financiers convened to assess their roles in dignifying Africa once more. Our keynote address, Dr. Fareed Aurthur, the Executive Director and Principal Consultant of the African Trade Capacity, from Ghana officially opened the exhibition.

According to Rev. Dr. Jacob Kimathi, the CITAM Business Patron, was thankful to God for the success of the conference. He noted that one of the key plenary highlight was the statement, “The first kingdom enterprise was the garden of Eden,” articulated by Bishop S.M. Bimba from Liberia.

“This year’s emphasis on agribusiness in Kenya and Africa is an area brimming with untapped potential,” Rev Kimathi observed as a key take home from Bishop S.M. Bimba’s session.  Bishop Bimba profoundly articulated that God liberates His people from bondage when they diligently embrace the responsibilities bestowed upon them. The Eden Mandate represents a duty to nurture the resources that God has placed within their reach. “He reminded us that spiritually attuned individuals are acutely aware of their surroundings and consequently rise to proffer solutions to the challenges they observe,” Rev Kimathi said.

Highlighting that Kenya boasts approximately 6 million hectares of arable land, Mr. Allan Kilavuka, CEO of Kenya Airways, delivered an inspiring address, presenting statistics that reveal how our nation has underutilized its agribusiness potential. Addressing this issue could significantly mitigate the considerable unemployment gap in the country.

Betty Wambui Kibaara, Director of the Food Initiative at the Rockefeller Foundation in Africa and co-founder of Sabeki Fruit Forest, passionately articulated her vision for the future of agriculture, particularly through value addition. She showcased remarkable projects, many spearheaded by young individuals across Kenya, where ordinary agricultural products undergo transformation through value addition.

Numerous speakers, both in the main plenary and breakout sessions, delivered messages that will remain etched in the delegates’ memories. May the Lord bless them for their diligence in preparation, oratory, and their transformative impact on the delegates.

“I thank Bishop Calisto Odede, Rev. Justus Mugambi, and the pastoral leadership for their invaluable contributions to the conference’s mobilization efforts,” Rev. Kimathi said in appreciation. “My appreciation extends to other staff, for their pivotal roles in ensuring the resounding success of the conference.”