To the enemies of Kenya and those who still believe the country cannot stand on the same global stage as the United States, China and other world powers, French President Emmanuel Macron has proven the critics wrong.
This is after Macron announced that the 2026 Africa Forward Summit will be hosted in Nairobi, making Kenya the first country outside France and the first non Francophone African nation to stage the high profile global forum.
In a statement that has since sent waves across diplomatic and tourism circles, Macron said, “The 2026 summit in Nairobi, Kenya, will revolutionise relations between Africa, Europe and Asia, placing Africa at the heart of the event.”
The Africa Forward Summit, scheduled for May 2026, is one of the world’s most influential international platforms, bringing together political leaders, investors, technology innovators, development partners and global institutions to shape the future of emerging economies. Its decision to move from France to Nairobi is being seen as a strong vote of confidence in Kenya’s political stability, infrastructure and global relevance.
The summit will tackle major issues that are redefining the world, including climate action, clean energy, artificial intelligence, industrialisation, the blue economy, agriculture, healthcare and global financial reforms. For the first time, Africa will not be a side discussion but the main driver of the agenda.
For Kenya, the impact is expected to go far beyond diplomacy. The hosting of the summit will place Nairobi on the global tourism and investment map, drawing thousands of delegates, international media, business leaders and policy makers from across the world. Hotels, airlines, conference centres and tour operators are expected to benefit massively as the country prepares to host one of the biggest gatherings on the African continent.
Tourism Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano’s ministry is now set to play a central role in positioning Kenya as a premier destination for high level international events, leisure tourism and business travel.
The co hosting of the summit by Kenya and France also signals a shift toward more balanced and respectful partnerships between Africa and Europe. Instead of Africa being treated as a beneficiary, Kenya will sit at the same table as a co architect of global solutions.
With the world set to turn its eyes to Nairobi in May 2026, Kenya is once again proving that it belongs at the heart of global conversations.