Industry leaders have called for urgent action to promote financial literacy and clarify that forex trading is not the same as gambling. Kenya’s retail forex market is growing quickly. During a press briefing in Nairobi, forex executives and financial educators stressed the importance of education and regulation to protect young Kenyans entering global financial markets.
The briefing took place at Empress Office Suite in Westlands. It gathered key players in Kenya’s forex ecosystem to announce the Africa Forex Trading Expo 2026, which will occur on March 10th and 11th at Sarit Expo Centre in Nairobi. Panelists pointed out that Kenya now has over 100,000 active retail forex traders, making it one of Africa’s top digital trading hubs.
Mr. Zack Kiratu, Director of Azelia Expo Ltd, addressed journalists and challenged the common view that forex trading is gambling. He explained that unlike chance games, forex trading requires skills rooted in economic fundamentals, technical analysis, and global geopolitical changes. Successful traders use disciplined risk management strategies, such as stop-loss orders, position sizing, and emotional control.
Panelists also noted Kenya’s regulatory advantage. The country became the first in Africa to regulate online forex trading through the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) in 2017. Dr. Peter Onyango, CEO of Empire FX, stated that the regulatory framework ensures transparency, protects client funds, and holds licensed brokers accountable. This helps to differentiate legitimate trading platforms from unregulated betting sites.
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The discussion took place amid Kenya’s youth unemployment issue, with over 75 percent of the population under age 35 and around 800,000 young people entering the job market annually. Speakers argued that forex trading can provide flexible income opportunities, low entry barriers, and access to global markets if traders receive proper training.
Ms. Brenda Bett, Head of Operations at Empire FX, mentioned that Kenya’s strong mobile connectivity, fintech innovation, and digital infrastructure position it to lead Africa’s digital trading transformation. She stressed that education is the missing link between access and long-term success.
The Africa Forex Trading Expo 2026 aims to fill this gap with hands-on training, expert panels, live trading demonstrations, and interactions with regulated brokers, fintech companies, and payment service providers. Empire FX is the main sponsor, with Xelans Markets participating as a platinum sponsor.
