President William Ruto attended regional trade and integration talks in Harare.
President William Ruto handed the bloc’s chairmanship to Zimbabwe’s Emmerson Mnangagwa as regional leaders discussed trade, integration and artificial intelligence.
President William Ruto has returned to Kenya after attending the 25th COMESA Summit in Harare, Zimbabwe. State House confirmed his return following the two-day meeting of regional heads of state and government.
During the summit, Ruto handed the 21-member bloc’s chairmanship to Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, State House said. Leaders also discussed trade, economic integration and the role of artificial intelligence in regional development.
COMESA Summit launches five-year strategy
The meeting marked the launch of the COMESA Medium-Term Strategic Plan for 2026–2030. The plan will guide the regional organisation’s priorities over that five-year period.
Discussions focused on strengthening trade among African countries and deepening economic ties between member states. Alongside these priorities, leaders explored how emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, could support regional development.
The leadership handover and strategic plan formed part of a summit addressing cooperation across the bloc. Its agenda brought together economic priorities and opportunities offered by new technologies.
Kenya’s regional trade priorities
Kenya is one of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa’s 21 members. The organisation promotes trade and economic cooperation by expanding markets, improving investment opportunities and encouraging closer integration.
For Kenya, regional integration offers a framework for widening market access and strengthening cross-border commerce. It also supports economic cooperation with other participating countries.
Meanwhile, the summit’s discussions took place amid wider continental efforts to increase trade among African nations. Those efforts also seek to advance the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Ruto’s attendance formed part of Kenya’s engagement with regional partners on economic cooperation and shared development priorities.
