Preparations for the World Potato Congress 2026 are steadily advancing, with a series of coordinated engagements and field activities that brought together all partners to consolidate progress and align on next steps.
The process reached a significant point on Wednesday, 27th May 2026, when the full World Potato Congress 2026 Local Organizing Committee (LOC) convened at the NPCK for a comprehensive review meeting. This session brought together the LOC alongside WPC leadership and key technical partners, including WPC President Dr. Peter VanderZaag, Ellen Kouwenberg from the World Potato Congress, Kasia Mahony and Daire McCarfferty from Keynote PCO, the appointed event organizer.
The Wednesday meeting served as the culmination of a series of prior engagements, field visits, and coordination sessions that had been taking place in the days leading up to it. These earlier activities included a catch-up meeting with representatives from WPC Inc., Dr. Peter VanderZaag and Ellen, Keynote PCO’s Kasia Mahony and Daire McCafferty , and a team from AFAMCO. While overall progress was noted to be on track, a key concern raised during those discussions was that sponsorship mobilization was still lagging behind targets. In response, stakeholders emphasized the need to intensify promotional efforts, particularly through strengthened social media engagement and wider visibility campaigns.
In addition to the technical and strategic discussions, the LOC also undertook a series of field-based activities that contributed to logistical planning and team cohesion. These included a boat ride to Crescent Island followed by a guided walk on the island, where participants had the opportunity to observe wildlife in its natural environment. The experience provided a valuable informal setting for interaction among team members while reinforcing the collaborative spirit underpinning the congress preparations. The team also visited several hotels earmarked for accommodation of delegates, in addition to Sawela Lodges, to assess readiness, capacity, and suitability for hosting international participants.
Following these engagements, the LOC reconvened for structured progress update sessions that allowed for consolidation of feedback from various workstreams, review of operational milestones, and identification of remaining gaps. These discussions ensured that all preparatory activities were well aligned and moving within agreed timelines, while also reinforcing coordination across committees and partners.
This meeting brought together all these strands of work into one comprehensive review session. It provided a platform to assess overall progress, confirm alignment across all planning areas, and address key strategic priorities moving forward. Discussions covered sponsorship and exhibition engagement, budget progress, technical coordination of congress sessions, promotional activities, and planning for social and networking events. A strong emphasis was placed on strengthening coordination mechanisms, closing existing gaps, and accelerating implementation across all fronts.
Importantly, the meeting reaffirmed the collective commitment of both local and international partners to delivering a world-class congress. All teams underscored the need to maintain momentum, scale up sponsorship mobilization, and intensify promotional outreach as the event draws closer. The use of digital platforms and creative campaigns, including the WPC 2026 song, was highlighted as a key tool for increasing visibility and engagement.
Following the culmination meeting and associated field activities, the LOC is set to conclude the current round of engagements and proceed to Nakuru County for a high-level meeting with the host Governor. This engagement is expected to further strengthen institutional support and deepen collaboration with county leadership in preparation for the congress.
As preparations continue, the focus remains firmly on ensuring seamless coordination across all workstreams, mobilizing adequate resources, and delivering a globally significant World Potato Congress 2026 that reflects strong partnership, effective planning, and lasting impact for the potato sector.
