Kagwe Pushes for Fair Agricultural Trade at Africa Forward Summit 2026 in Nairobi

NAIROBI, Kenya, May 11, Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development Mutahi Kagwe has called for a new era of equitable trade partnerships between Africa and the global North as the Africa Forward Summit 2026 kicks off in Nairobi today. 

Speaking ahead of the high-level summit co-hosted by Kenya and France, Kagwe said the gathering should move beyond diplomatic symbolism, investment announcements, and protocol signings to focus on practical solutions that place African farmers at the centre of global agricultural value chains. 

“The discourse must change from mere talk to pragmatism, practical action, and real commitment,” Kagwe said. 

The CS argued that African small-scale farmers have for decades faced structural barriers that continue to limit productivity, market access, and returns on investment despite playing a critical role in global food systems. 

He dismissed claims that Africa’s agricultural sector has stagnated due to incompetence, insisting that unfair trade systems and unequal power dynamics between Africa and developed economies have disadvantaged local producers. 

Kagwe called for African farmers to be included in both negotiation and implementation processes through fairer trade terms, increased investment in local value addition, access to financing tailored to agricultural value chains, and deployment of technology and AI-powered advisory services. 

According to the CS, Kenya’s hosting of the inaugural summit marks a historic diplomatic milestone as the first Anglophone African country to co-host the forum alongside France amid renewed efforts to redefine Africa-Europe relations. 

The summit, bringing together Heads of State, business leaders, investors, and policymakers, is expected to focus on sustainable agriculture, industrialisation, artificial intelligence, trade, and innovation partnerships between Africa and France.