President Ruto Hosts State Banquet for Africa Forward Summit Leaders - May 2026

President William Ruto hosted a state banquet for leaders attending the inaugural Africa Forward Summit 2026 at State House, Nairobi. President Emmanuel Macron participated in a morning run with Kenyan marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge in Nairobi ahead of the Summit. Macron delivered a speech on the second day of the Africa Forward Summit, while UN Secretary-General António Guterres addressed the Summit focusing on the continent's development. President Ruto delivered a keynote address at the Summit emphasizing a new era for the continent, and separately stated it is indefensible that Africa remains excluded from the UN Security Council.