President Ruto leaves for African Union agriculture summit in Uganda’s capital Kampala
The outcomes of the meeting are expected to shape policies that drive economic growth and ensure food security across the continent.
President William Ruto has left for Kampala, Uganda, to participate in the African Union (AU) Extraordinary Summit on Agriculture.
The one-day summit will focus on advancing the post-Malabo Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), a key part of the AU's Agenda 2063 that seeks to eradicate hunger and poverty through agriculture-led development.
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The summit aims to assess the progress made towards CAADP targets and adopt the Kampala Declaration, a shared vision for transforming Africa's agri-food systems between 2026 and 2035.
The outcomes are expected to shape policies that drive economic growth and ensure food security across the continent.
Speaking about Kenya's role, State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed noted that President Ruto will use the summit to showcase the country's strides in agriculture.
"Kenya has prioritised food security, poverty reduction, job creation, and sustainable growth through its Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda and Vision 2030," Hussein said in a statement on Saturday.
On the sidelines of the summit, President Ruto will hold bilateral talks with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and other regional leaders to strengthen cooperation on shared priorities.
Additionally, the discussions will seek to build momentum around AU institutional reforms, a role President Ruto has been championing.
Ruto will present his first progress report on the reform agenda later this year.
This summit highlights Africa's collective push for agricultural transformation and sustainable development.
Ruto arrived from Ghana on Wednesday evening where he attended the inauguration of his Ghanaian counterpart, John Mahama, at the Black Star Square in Accra.
Ruto is the African Union champion for institutional reform, a position he took over from Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame in February 2024.
He also used the visit to discuss reforms in the African Union that are aimed at improving institutional efficiency and strategic focus.
In Ghana, Ruto met President Faure Gnassingbé of Togo in Accra, where they discussed reforms at the African Union.
He also met the Equatorial Guinea Vice President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue.
Ruto later met the United Kingdom's Minister for Africa Lord Collins on the sidelines of Mahama’s inauguration.
He also had a meeting with the secretary-general of the African Continental Free Trade Area, Wamkele Mene.
President Ruto also sought the support of Botswana President Duma Boko for Raila Odinga's AUC chairperson’s bid.
