President William Ruto. Photo/Courtesy
By Daisy Okiring
President William Ruto has officially taken over the leadership of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Authority as the regional bloc holds its 24th Heads of State and Government Summit at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi.
The COMESA Authority, made up of presidents and prime ministers from 21 member countries, is the bloc’s top decision-making body. It guides the region’s trade, security, and development agenda through consensus-driven policies aimed at fostering economic growth and stability.
Advancing trade and regional cooperation
Ruto succeeds Burundi’s President Évariste Ndayishimiye, who chaired the bloc for the past year. The Nairobi gathering brings together African leaders, foreign ministers, investors, and development partners for high-level talks on regional integration, peace, and trade partnerships.
The week-long event has included several key sessions, such as the COMESA–EU Horticulture Connect, which links small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Africa to European buyers. The initiative aims to improve market access and competitiveness for local exporters.
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Also featured was the 18th COMESA Business Forum and Exhibition, which attracted more than 300 entrepreneurs and innovators from across the continent. Participants explored strategies to boost intra-African trade, promote value addition, and encourage investment in regional industries.
“COMESA’s strength lies in partnership and accountability,” said Dr. Oita Etyang, Head of the COMESA Governance, Peace and Security Unit. “We are building systems that promote fair trade, peace, and inclusive growth across our member states.”
Focus on peace, stability, and shared prosperity
Ahead of the summit, foreign ministers met to review regional peace and security challenges. They discussed ways to prevent conflict, promote dialogue, and strengthen economic resilience in fragile regions. The outcomes of those discussions are expected to shape the bloc’s next policy direction.
The Nairobi summit comes at a time when African economies are pushing for stronger trade integration and infrastructure investment through regional frameworks like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Under Ruto’s leadership, Kenya is expected to prioritize digital trade, renewable energy, and agricultural value chains to strengthen the bloc’s competitiveness.
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Founded in 1994, COMESA is one of Africa’s largest trading blocs, representing more than 640 million people and a combined GDP of over $1 trillion. Its mission is to drive economic development, industrialization, and peace through shared goals and sustainable partnerships.
With Ruto now at the helm, analysts expect renewed focus on practical trade reforms, investment facilitation, and transparent governance across member states — positioning COMESA as a leading engine for Africa’s regional growth.
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