President William Ruto’s latest diplomatic trip to Luanda, Angola, places Kenya at the center of two major continental discussions on peace, governance, and economic cooperation.
The President is attending the 7th African Union–European Union Summit and leading a session of the African Union Institutional Reform Committee. State House spokesperson Hussein Mohamed announced the visit through an official statement on X.
Ruto’s dual engagements come at a time when the African Union is under pressure to strengthen its capacity to respond to conflicts, stabilize regions facing security threats, and reduce reliance on external funding.
Kenya has historically positioned itself as a champion of peace operations, dating back to its contributions to EAC and AU missions in Somalia, Sudan, and the DRC.
According to Hussein, the President will advocate for predictable resources for African-led peace operations and improved counter-terrorism cooperation with Europe
The AU-EU Summit will review the state of Africa-Europe relations two decades after the partnership was formalized.
The discussions will explore shifting global priorities, new security dynamics, and the financing challenges that African regions continue to face.
Kenya is expected to emphasize deeper economic ties with Europe, especially following the signing of the Kenya–EU Economic Partnership Agreement, which aims to expand trade in horticulture, manufacturing, and digital services.
On the sidelines of the summit, Ruto is scheduled to meet European leaders to push investment opportunities tied to Kenya’s economic transformation agenda.
State House said the President will present Kenya’s plans in areas such as irrigation, clean energy, and upgraded transport infrastructure.
These sectors have featured prominently in the administration’s long-term economic proposals, which aim to accelerate growth while reducing regional disparities.
Ruto will also chair the second session of the AU Ad Hoc Oversight Committee on Institutional Reform, a mandate he holds as the AU Champion for Institutional Reform.
The committee is reviewing ongoing efforts to streamline AU governance, enhance financial autonomy, and improve decision-making processes.
These reforms have been a recurring agenda since the Kigali Summit of 2016, where AU member states committed to more efficient continental structures.
According to the State House statement, the reform initiative seeks to strengthen African unity and enhance the continent’s ability to respond decisively to emerging global challenges.
The President is expected to brief fellow heads of state on progress made so far and outline next steps in the reform roadmap.