Eric Rutto: Kenya Chamber of Commerce President Named Member of World Chambers Federation

• Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) President Erick Rutto has been named a council member of the World Chambers Federation (WCF)
• Rutto will be part of the other 20 elected and 19 appointed members of the WCF council
• The WFC council members work to address specific issues arising from the federation's programme of action

Kenya has received a seat at the General Council of the World Chambers Federation (WCF).

This is after the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) President, Erick Rutto, was appointed as a member of the council.

The announcement made by chair Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu focused on the need for an inclusive composition with a focus on Africa and other underrepresented regions.

Rutto will join 20 elected members and 19 other appointed members to form the WCF General Council.

He welcomed the appointment and inclusion into the General Council of the World Chambers Federation.

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This recognition represents a proud moment for the Kenya Chamber. It is a recognition of Africa’s growing role in influencing global trade policy and development. We now have an opportunity as a continent to amplify the benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA) on a global stage," said Rutto.

Rutto added he looks forward to working alongside fellow council members to champion the African voice, drive stronger collaboration, and contribute to solutions with greater impact for businesses worldwide.

What's the role of the WCF council?

The council sets up ad-hoc working groups to address specific issues arising from the WCF programme of action.

The new WCF council includes representatives from all regions of the world, including the Americas, Africa and the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, and Europe.

According to Hisarcıklıoğlu, the new mandate will continue to build on global inclusion and representation efforts among WCF leadership to bolster WCF work and impact.

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“This year’s election reflects the strength and diversity of our global chamber community. I am proud to welcome such a high-calibre group to our council and executive committee, and I look forward to working together to make WCF more inclusive, representative, and impactful than ever before,” said Hisarcıklıoğlu.

This comes after Nairobi hosted the first World Chambers Federation congress in Africa.

The event was held in April 2025 and organised by the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI).

More than 65 chambers from around the world participated in the event, which was officially opened by President William Ruto.

What to know about AFTCA

African countries established the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) through negotiations led by the African Union (AU).

The trade agreement was officially endorsed in Kigali, Rwanda, on March 21, 2018, with signatures from 44 countries out of the 55 AU member states.

Kenya ratified the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AFCFTA) in 2019 to conduct business free from trade barriers, and was selected alongside Tanzania, Tunisia, Cameroon, Egypt, Mauritius, and Ghana to pilot the programme.

Source: TUKO.co.ke