Inter Region Economic Network (IREN) to Host Virtual Food Festival

The Inter Region Economic Network (IREN) is set to host a virtual food festival through the IREN Growthpad platform. The two-day digital event, which will run from 24th to 25th September aims at re-imagining tourism and food experiences in Kenya as part of the organization’s initiative to reactivate economies through food networks.

Last year, IREN published an indigenous recipe book titled “Chakula Chetu: Indigenous Recipes from the Lake Region of Kenya”. This was to be followed by a vibrant food festival, however, this was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

IREN has put up robust plans to host the IREN Growthpad Virtual Food Festival that will feature various industry players. The event will feature Kamukunji sessions as well as the Chakula Chetu recipe challenge where food bloggers and vloggers will have an opportunity to participate. Also, available will be virtual booth exhibitions for relevant food industries and shelves to showcase books with different recipes.

Although the event focuses on indigenous foods, other sectors will participate as part of the overall aim to popularize food as a tool of bridging regional, economic and cultural disparities.

“At IREN, we recognize how COVID-19 pandemic with its characteristic lockdowns, curfews and distancing disrupted the hospitality sector. We aim to partner with other organizations to explore digitization and food experiences as part of the recovery strategy for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs),”says James Shikwati, Founder Director IREN.

Interested participants can reach out to the organizing team leaders using the IREN Growthpad web portal.