Kenya to Host Historic Africa Forward Summit 2026 as 30+ Heads of State Confirm Attendance

 

Story: BY BRUNO Aero Family News Desk Staff Writer,

PRESS STATEMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON, HON. SEN. (DR.) ISAAC 

MWAURA, CBS, ON THE AFRICA FORWARD SUMMIT 2026, ISSUED AT LAKE 

NAIVASHA RESORT, NAKURU COUNTY, ON FRIDAY MAY 8, 2026.

 Kenya is set to host the landmark  Africa Forward Summit 2026 from May 10–12, marking the first time the high-level Africa-France forum will be held outside the Francophonie bloc. The shift signals a more inclusive, Africa-led partnership anchored on mutual respect and shared prosperity, government officials said.

The Summit comes weeks ahead of France’s G7 Presidency in June 2026, offering a strategic platform to elevate Africa’s priorities in global economic and governance debates. President William Samoei Ruto will use the forum to push for equitable partnerships, sustainable financing, and Africa’s rightful place in global decision-making, building on his advocacy within the African Union and other multilateral platforms.

Agenda: Finance Reform to Nuclear Energy 

The three-day programme will focus on seven key areas: reform of the global financial architecture; climate action and green financing; peace and security; artificial intelligence and digital transformation; agriculture and food security; blue economy development; and health systems strengthening, including local pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Activities include high-level plenaries, ministerial engagements, business forums, youth and innovation platforms, cultural showcases, and civil society discussions aimed at unlocking investment, innovation, and jobs. A dedicated sports session will promote commercial sports, with emphasis on Kenya’s hosting of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

On May 12, the  Africa Forward Concert_ at Kasarani Stadium will spotlight  Africa’s creative industries with international musicians. Parallel youth events at the University of Nairobi will tackle employability, digital innovation, AI, and global youth positioning. A ministerial meeting on peace and security will also push for UN Security Council reforms and Africa’s representation, citing the current framework as inadequate for African interests.

U55 Delegations Confirmed, More Expected  

So far, 55 confirmations have been received, including 30 heads of state and government from Botswana, Burundi, Chad, Comoros, Republic of Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, DRC, Egypt, Eswatini, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea Conakry, Lesotho, Libya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, and Zambia.

Also attending: the Vice President of Equatorial Guinea, ministers from Angola, Benin, Malawi, Uganda and Zimbabwe, and ambassadors including from Algeria. Major institutions such as the African Union Commission, AfDB, IMF, UNEP, Green Climate Fund, La Francophonie, AfCFTA, and the Aga Khan Foundation will be represented. More confirmations are expected from Central African Republic, Gabon, Liberia, South Sudan, Cameroon, and ECOWAS.

Expected Outcomes: Nairobi Declaration, Nuclear Deal 

Key deliverables include the adoption of the Nairobi Declaration on Africa-France Partnership  mobilization of investment, and deeper cooperation in energy, infrastructure, digital transformation, agriculture, and healthcare. The Summit also aims to expand youth empowerment and enhance collaboration on peace and security reforms.

Kenya and France will formalize partnerships on tourism, blue economy and fisheries, and a draft MoU on energy collaboration, including peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Kenya plans to commission a nuclear power plant in Siaya County in 2027, adding 1,000 megawatts to the grid alongside 750 megawatts from geothermal expansion.

Traffic, Security Advisory Issued  

The government has alerted the public to temporary traffic disruptions in Nairobi between May 10–12 due to dignitary movements. Motorists should expect interruptions along Mombasa Road, Lang’ata Road, Thika Road, Limuru Road, and Kiambu Road.

From midnight May 11, City Hall Way, Parliament Road, Harambee Avenue, and Taifa Road will be closed to the general public, with access restricted to authorized KICC conference vehicles. Citizens are urged to cooperate with traffic police and use alternative routes.

With heavy rains ongoing, the public has also been advised to heed safety warnings on floods, flash floods, and landslides.

Officials say the Africa Forward Summit 2026 reinforces Kenya’s role as a strategic diplomatic and economic hub while advancing Africa’s collective voice for a more inclusive global future.

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