NAIROBI, Kenya — Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has criticised Kalonzo Musyoka after the opposition leader dismissed the significance of the upcoming Africa Forward Summit set to take place in Nairobi.
Speaking during an interview on Sunday night, Mudavadi expressed surprise at Kalonzo’s remarks, arguing that the former vice president and longtime foreign affairs minister should better appreciate the role of diplomacy and international engagement.
“I am hard pressed to understand him because he was a diplomat, he is a diplomat; he understands all these matters, he was one of the longest serving foreign ministers of this country,” Mudavadi said.
“I am astounded that he would speak like that. Diplomacy is about engaging, and he did it for so many years. It is unfortunate that he would assume that this summit is of no consequence,” he added.
Kalonzo questions summit significance
Mudavadi’s remarks came hours after Kalonzo criticised the summit while addressing a church congregation in Donholm, Nairobi, on Sunday.
Kalonzo argued that Kenya was only selected to host the Africa Forward Summit because of shifting geopolitical tensions and instability within parts of Francophone West Africa.
“Ideally, that summit used to happen in French West Africa, but because of the global situation, the realignment and alignment in the west African coast, the French president decided to convince President William Ruto to host the summit in Nairobi,” Kalonzo said.
The Wiper leader further questioned the optics of Kenya hosting a high-profile diplomatic gathering amid ongoing domestic political tensions and governance concerns.
“There would be a presence that we are a cohesive nation, that we are democratic and a nation at peace with itself, while we know that it is far from the truth,” he added.
His comments have triggered political debate ahead of the summit, with government allies defending Kenya’s position as a strategic diplomatic and economic hub in the region.
Nairobi hosts major Africa-France Summit
Kenya is set to host the Africa Forward Summit on May 11 and 12 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, in what officials describe as one of the largest diplomatic gatherings on the continent this year.
The summit, themed Africa-France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth, is expected to bring together more than 30 African heads of state, senior policymakers, investors and international development partners.
The event will be jointly hosted by William Ruto and Emmanuel Macron as both countries seek to deepen cooperation in trade, technology, infrastructure, climate financing and regional security.
President Macron arrived in Nairobi on Sunday evening for the summit and was received by Mudavadi before later meeting President Ruto at State House.
The visit comes as France attempts to recalibrate its diplomatic and economic engagement with Africa amid shifting political dynamics in parts of the Sahel and West Africa, where several Francophone nations have experienced military coups, rising anti-French sentiment and changing geopolitical alliances.
Kenya positioning itself as regional diplomatic hub
The summit is also viewed as part of Kenya’s broader effort to position itself as a leading diplomatic and investment gateway in Africa.
Under Ruto’s administration, Nairobi has increasingly hosted high-level continental and international meetings focused on climate action, peacebuilding, trade integration and technology-driven development.
Also Read: Ruto declares 2026 year of ‘execution at scale’ with pega projects and reforms
Government officials say hosting the Africa Forward Summit strengthens Kenya’s global profile and creates opportunities for investment partnerships and economic cooperation.
Political analysts, however, note that opposition criticism reflects growing domestic scrutiny over governance, economic hardship and the government’s international image as Kenya prepares for a politically charged period ahead of the 2027 elections.
Despite the political exchanges, security and logistical preparations for the summit were already underway across Nairobi by Sunday evening, with authorities tightening security around key venues and diplomatic routes ahead of the arrival of additional foreign delegations.
