President William Ruto and French President Emmanuel Macron graced the Africa Forward Summit 2026 at the University of Nairobi, marking the first time the summit is held outside France. The summit signals a shift towards inclusive Africa-Europe relationships based on investment and innovation rather than aid-centric models. At the same time, Ruto and Macron met with young innovators, entrepreneurs, and creatives at UON, reaffirming their commitment to supporting youth-led initiatives. Over 100 civil society organisations from 32 countries had warned leaders ahead of the summit that health sovereignty cannot be achieved without community participation. President Ruto also announced during the summit that Kenya is now manufacturing mobile phones and computers locally.








