To develop, regulate and promote an internationally recognized accountancy profession that upholds public interest through capacity building, advocacy, innovation and sustainable practices.
THE INSTITUTE OF CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS OF KENYA
(Established under the Accountants Act, Laws of Kenya)
HYBRID THE 34th ECONOMIC SYMPOSIUM
Theme: Productivity to Prosperity: Re-shaping Key Sectors for a Future-Ready Economy
Date: 18th – 20th February 2026
Venue: CPA Centre, Nairobi & Zoom
OVERVIEW
The Kenyan economy is currently navigating a difficult period, with signs of strain evident across multiple sectors. Labour market performance remains subdued, characterised by slow growth in formal employment and a persistent decline in real wages. A significant proportion of newly created jobs continue to emerge within the informal sector—typically low-paying, unstable, and with limited social protection—thereby undermining broader economic welfare.
At the macro-fiscal level, tax revenue has consistently fallen short of expectations, with the World Bank reporting an average tax revenue slippage of 6.1% over the past three years. At the same time, public debt has risen sharply to approximately 71.9% of GDP, with the widening fiscal deficit increasingly financed through domestic borrowing. These dynamics collectively place the country at a high risk of debt distress. This indicates that without decisive and sustained fiscal reforms including implementation of the adopted national tax policy, Kenya is likely to face prolonged budgetary pressures and constrained economic resilience.
Despite these challenges, Kenya’s medium-term outlook offers cautious optimism. Projections for 2026 indicate an expected GDP growth rate of 5.3%, supported by improved performance in agriculture and industry as well as the continued implementation of targeted government interventions. While these forecasts point to some recovery, it is widely acknowledged that growth prospects beyond 2025 remain tempered by persistent structural weaknesses and ongoing fiscal vulnerabilities. Moreover, the sustainability of the projected growth trajectory depends heavily on a stable and supportive global economic environment.
Domestically, unlocking higher and more inclusive growth will require enhanced policy measures aimed at strengthening governance, curbing endemic corruption, addressing the implications of Kenya’s FATF grey listing, and deepening participation in regional and international trade. Only through such comprehensive reforms can the country translate modest recovery signals into lasting economic resilience.
Sustained economic transformation requires more than short-term growth spurts—it demands deliberate, long-range strategic interventions that enhance productivity across key sectors. As economies navigate complex global challenges—ranging from shifting geopolitical dynamics, technological disruptions, climate change, to demographic transitions—productivity has emerged as the defining lever for resilience and competitiveness.
Kenya’s development aspirations, as outlined in the Vision 2030, the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), and other national frameworks, place strong emphasis on sectoral revitalization, industrial upgrading, digitalization, and skills development. However, persistent productivity gaps continue to constrain the pace of growth, limit value addition, depress job creation, and slow structural transformation.
The 2026 Economic Symposium offers a unique platform for the public and private sectors, academia, development partners, and industry experts to reflect on the country’s productivity landscape, diagnose sector-specific bottlenecks, and co-create pathways for transforming productivity gains into broad-based prosperity. The theme “From Productivity to Prosperity: Re-shaping Key Sectors for a Future-Ready Economy” signals a shift from incremental reforms to bold, systemic changes that prepare the economy for the future of work, future markets, and future technologies.
As Kenya positions itself within a rapidly evolving global economy, boosting productivity across key sectors is no longer optional—it is imperative. The 2026 Economic Symposium provides the platform to reimagine strategies, harness new opportunities, and champion sectoral reforms that move the country from productivity to prosperity. Through collaborative action and forward-looking dialogue, stakeholders can accelerate the transformation toward a resilient, inclusive, and future-ready economy.
The symposium therefore seeks to deepen understanding, strengthen collaboration, and ignite national commitment toward accelerating productivity improvements within critical sectors of the economy. It aims to build consensus on strategic actions necessary to elevate Kenya’s competitiveness, foster inclusive growth, and create a sustainable economic base capable of withstanding global volatility.
The symposium will be structured around high-impact sectoral and cross-cutting areas such as:
TARGET AUDIENCE
This economic symposium is not limited to the accountancy profession only, staff from other units are highly encouraged to attend.
CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT UNITS
Members of ICPAK and those from other reciprocating professional bodies will earn 20 CPD units upon successfully attending all conference sessions.
FINANCIAL COMMITMENT:
| Category | Charges Physical | Virtual |
| Associate Members | Kes 40,000 per Delegate | Kes. 25,000 |
| Full Members | Kes. 45,000 per Delegate | Kes. 25,000 |
| Non-Member | Kes. 50,000 per Delegate | Kes. 25,000 |
Note: Delegates are required to make their own travel and accommodation arrangements. The symposium charges cater for training fees, training materials, certificate and meals during the event.
ONLINE BOOKING:
We call on seminar participants to note that booking is available only online at www.icpak.com/events.
Delegates are reminded to note that online booking for training sessions is MANDATORY. This is available either online at www.icpak.com/events or on the ICPAK Live – A smart phone-based application that is available from google store.
NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL TRAINING AUTHORITY (NITA) REIMBURSEMENT:
The Institute is registered as a trainer with National Industrial Training Authority. The Institute’s registration number is DIT/TRN/47. Participants who are registered levy contributors should apply to NITA for reimbursement of their fees. Please note that this is applicable for Kenyan citizens only and subject to NITA regulations. Remember that to qualify you should apply to NITA for approval prior to the date of the conference. Further details can be obtained from their website (www.nita.go.ke)
Further requests can be channeled to us via telephone calls on +254 719 074 100, or via email to memberservices@icpak.com.
We encourage members to regularly visit our website https://www.icpak.com for updates.
To develop, regulate and promote an internationally recognized accountancy profession that upholds public interest through capacity building, advocacy, innovation and sustainable practices.
