Nairobi patron for the Democracy for the Citizens’ Party (DCP), Irungu Nyakera, has said that although big global conferences are held in Kenya, they do not offer any tangible benefits to the masses of the nation.

Taking it to his X handle on Monday, May 11, 2026, Nyakera, making remarks on the ongoing Africa Forward Summit, has observed that Kenyans are losing trust in such big conferences due to the fact that some of them make headlines and declarations which are never followed up on.

“Kenyans have become cautious about big summits and grand declarations because the outcomes rarely match the promises,” Nyakera said.

He has recalled the Africa Climate Summit that took place in Nairobi, 2023, in which the world was drawn into the discussions on green growth, finance for climate change, and clean energy investments in Africa.

But he said the enthusiasm at the summit did not seem to materialise in tangible economic benefits, as KOKO Networks in Kenya, which is billed as an investment hub for clean energy, had ceased operations.

“When Kenya hosted the Africa Climate Summit in 2023, there was a lot of talk about green growth, climate financing, and clean energy investment, yet not long after, KOKO Networks ended up shutting down operations in Kenya,” Nyakera added.

The former principal secretary has further said that these international conferences could be a lifeline for attracting investors and positioning Kenya strategically in the international arena; the people are now more interested in the substance of the event than the diplomatic excitement.

Nyakera noted that a lot of Kenyans are watching the Africa Forward Summit with a certain level of optimism, hoping to see tangible development projects and economic opportunities come out of the meetings.

“It is there, but Kenyans have learned to wait for real results, not headlines,” he added.

Africa Forward Summit underway

Nairobi is on Monday, May 11, 2026, hosting the Africa Forward Summit, a high-profile gathering bringing together heads of state, business leaders, investors, and policymakers from across Africa and beyond.

The summit is expected to focus on issues such as artificial intelligence, infrastructure, climate action, manufacturing, green energy, youth employment, and economic transformation.

Kenya is hosting the summit as part of efforts to position itself as a regional hub for diplomacy, innovation, and international investment.

Growing Kenya-France partnership

President Macron’s visit to Kenya has already seen the signing of 11 bilateral agreements between the two countries covering transport, aviation, digital transformation, agriculture, nuclear energy, meteorological services, and the blue economy.

Among the flagship projects announced is the modernisation of the Nairobi Central Station to Embakasi Rail Line 5 project, aimed at improving urban transport connectivity in the capital.