President William Ruto left Kenya on Saturday morning to attend the African Union (AU) Extraordinary Summit on the Post-Malabo Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), which is being held in Kampala, Uganda. This summit is a critical event for assessing the progress made towards the agricultural targets set by the African Union and aims to adopt the Kampala Declaration. This declaration will outline a shared vision for transforming agri-food systems in Africa from 2026 to 2035.
The summit will focus on shaping agricultural policies that drive economic growth and achieve food security across the continent. CAADP, a key initiative under the AU’s Agenda 2063, aims to eradicate hunger and poverty through agriculture-led development and to transform Africa’s agri-food systems. The discussions will be pivotal in setting the direction for Africa’s agricultural future and ensuring that the continent can meet its growing food security needs while also promoting sustainable economic growth.
During his visit, President Ruto is expected to highlight Kenya’s ongoing efforts to enhance food security, reduce poverty, create jobs, and promote sustainable growth. He will also demonstrate how Kenya’s policies align with the broader goals of CAADP, particularly in relation to the country’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda and Vision 2030. This alignment underscores Kenya’s commitment to agricultural transformation as a central component of its development agenda.
In addition to attending the summit, President Ruto will hold several sideline meetings with key leaders, including Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni. These meetings will focus on advancing regional priorities, including strengthening cooperation on agricultural and economic issues. The discussions will also center on building consensus for Ruto’s role as Champion of the AU Institutional Reforms, ahead of his inaugural progress report on the reform agenda. This will provide an opportunity for him to push forward Kenya’s agenda on institutional reforms within the African Union, which is a key priority for his administration.
The summit in Kampala marks President Ruto’s third international trip in 2025. He had previously visited Ghana for the inauguration of President John Mahama, where he also engaged with various leaders. Following that, he visited Angola, where he met with the country’s top leadership to discuss bilateral relations and cooperation. These visits reflect Kenya’s active engagement in regional and continental affairs, as well as its commitment to strengthening ties with other African nations.
The outcomes of the AU Agriculture Summit are expected to have far-reaching implications for Africa’s agricultural policies, particularly in terms of how the continent can leverage agriculture to drive economic growth and ensure food security. As the summit progresses, it will be crucial for African leaders to adopt strategies that not only address the immediate challenges facing the agriculture sector but also lay the groundwork for long-term sustainable development. The discussions in Kampala will be an important step in achieving these goals and ensuring that Africa’s agricultural transformation is on track for the coming decades.
