Prime CS Mudavadi officiate inaugural East Africa edition of the Choiseul Africa Summit in Nairobi
Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi, has today presided over the inaugural East Africa edition of the Choiseul Africa Summit in Nairobi with a call to action for Africa’s economic transformation.
Speaking to an audience of regional leaders, entrepreneurs, and global partners Mudavadi said that Kenya is not just a host but also serves as a catalyst for continental change.
“This gathering is more than just a meeting,” he said. “It is a milestone for Kenya, for East Africa, and for Africa as a whole.”
The Summit’s themes, ranging from digital sovereignty and food security to youth empowerment and regional integration, resonated deeply with Kenya’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
Mudavadi emphasized that transformation cannot be achieved by governments alone, highlighting Kenya’s model of public-private partnerships as a blueprint for inclusive growth.
He also highlighted Africa’s shifting global posture: “We are no longer at the margins of global affairs. We are asserting our agency, influencing norms, and building institutions that reflect our values.”
Kenya’s digital ecosystem was spotlighted as a symbol of African innovation, with mobile money and e-government platforms driving financial inclusion and productivity.
He urged African nations to pursue technological sovereignty by investing in secure, scalable digital infrastructure rooted in local realities.
Youth leadership took centre stage, with the Prime Cabinet Secretary praising platforms like Choiseul 100 Africa for elevating young changemakers.
“Africa’s future must be shaped by those who will inherit it,” he said, “and we must equip them not only with skills but with platforms to lead.”
As the Summit unfolded, Mudavadi’s message was clear: Africa’s time is now. With deliberate partnerships and shared purpose, the continent can chart a path toward prosperity, equity, and innovation.
“Let this Summit be remembered not only for the ideas exchanged,” he said, “but for the momentum it generates toward a new era of African excellence.”
PCS stressed that despite setbacks, the continent must steadily build systems of predictability to allow both governance and enterprise to thrive. He said the Choiseul Africa Summit itself offers important lessons, particularly in youth leadership and structured succession that other institutions should emulate.
The Nairobi forum, the first of its kind in East Africa, brought together young leaders, entrepreneurs, and policymakers to explore themes of economic transformation, digitalization, food security, and regional integration.
Among those present were the Chair of Choiseul Africa, Dr. Pascal Lorot; France’s Ambassador to Kenya, Arnaud Suquet; the Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), Carole Kariuki, alongside regional stakeholders and delegates from across the continent.
