Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has said the Africa Forward Summit 2026 will focus on unlocking investment, creating jobs and strengthening Africa-led partnerships that can drive the continent’s economic transformation.
Mudavadi, who also serves as Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Cabinet Secretary, said Kenya expects the summit to deliver practical outcomes that will directly benefit citizens across the continent.
Speaking during the official handover of the Kenyatta International Convention Centre ahead of the summit, Mudavadi said the meeting will place investment, enterprise, innovation and technology at the centre of Africa’s future growth.
The summit will be held in Nairobi on May 11 and 12 and is expected to bring together more than 30 Heads of State and Government, over 4,000 delegates, business leaders, investors, innovators and development partners from Africa, France and other parts of the world.
“We are determined to deliver visible, life-changing outcomes. New jobs, thriving industries, empowered African enterprises, improved livelihoods, and a brighter future for our citizens,” Mudavadi said.
He said governments have a responsibility to provide policy direction and an enabling environment, but sustainable economic transformation will largely be driven by the private sector.
“Governments can provide policy direction and enabling environments, but sustainable transformation at scale will be driven by investment, enterprise, innovation, technology and entrepreneurship,” he stated.
A major business forum will be held on the sidelines of the summit, bringing together about 1,500 chief executives, investors, entrepreneurs and innovators from Africa and France.
Mudavadi said the forum is expected to help unlock investment pipelines, commercial partnerships, financing opportunities and technology transfer across key sectors.
The summit is being co-hosted by Kenya and France under the leadership of President William Ruto and French President Emmanuel Macron.
“This will be the first summit of its kind to be hosted in Anglophone Africa, a significant milestone that reflects the broadening and deepening of Africa-France engagement across the continent,” he said.
He said leaders will discuss issues shaping Africa’s future, including reform of the international financial system, energy transition, green industrialization, the blue economy, food security, artificial intelligence, digital technologies, resilient health systems, and peace and security.
“For Kenya, this is not simply another summit. The Africa Forward Summit represents a defining statement about where Africa is headed, how Africa intends to engage the world, and the kind of partnerships that must shape the future of global cooperation,” he said.
Mudavadi said Kenya was proud to host the summit, citing Nairobi’s growing role as a diplomatic, financial, innovation and multilateral hub.
Mudavadi also urged the media to provide in-depth coverage of the summit, saying journalists have a role in shaping global understanding of Africa’s development agenda.
“You are not merely covering an event. You are helping shape global understanding of what this moment represents for Africa and for the future of international partnerships,” he told journalists.
He said Kenya expects the summit to generate stronger partnerships, attract investment, create opportunities for young people and strengthen African industries to compete globally.
“Let this summit ignite a new spirit of African confidence and global partnership,” Mudavadi said.
“Let it mark the beginning of an era where Africa does not merely participate in the future, but leads it with vision, innovation and determination.”
Also present were Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei, French Ambassador to Kenya Arnaud Suquet and KICC Chief Executive Officer James Mwaura, among other diplomats and senior government officials.
Follow our social media pages for breaking news updates, in-depth stories and videos.
news@nairobilens.ke
