Uhuru Kenyatta attends AU Summit in Addis Ababa
By Kenneth Mwenda, February 15, 2026The fourth President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, travelled to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to attend the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union. The summit ran from February 14 to 15, 2026, at the AU headquarters.
Kenyatta joined other leaders and representatives for key events, including the official opening and a closed-door meeting with sitting heads of state. The Office of the 4th President of Kenya shared details on X.
“His Excellency President (Retd.) Uhuru Kenyatta, the 4th President of the Republic of Kenya, attended the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government held from 14th to 15th February 2026 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he participated in several engagements, including the official opening session and a closed-door meeting with sitting Heads of State and country representatives.”
On the sidelines, Kenyatta met colleagues from the AU–EAC–SADC Panel of Facilitators. They discussed progress on the mediation process in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). His office said:
“On the sidelines of the AU Assembly, Kenyatta also met with colleagues from the AU–EAC–SADC Panel of Facilitators to discuss progress on the ongoing mediation process in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).”
Kenyatta drives regional peace
This work fits into Kenyatta’s ongoing role as African Union–Kenya Peace Envoy and Facilitator of the East African Community-led Nairobi Peace Process. He pushes for dialogue between rival groups, better humanitarian access, and political solutions to end fighting in eastern DRC.
Just days earlier, on February 3, 2026, Kenyatta arrived in Uganda for high-level talks on the AU-led peace process. Kenya’s Ambassador to Uganda, Joash Maangi, received him at Entebbe International Airport.
The conflict in eastern DRC has lasted decades. Armed groups continue to cause insecurity, displace millions, and create widespread suffering. Estimates suggest between 6 and 12 million people have died, while millions more have fled their homes.
Kenyatta remains active in these efforts. In mid-January 2026, he travelled to Lomé, Togo, for consultations with the panel, which includes former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, Sahle-Work Zewde of Ethiopia, Catherine Samba-Panza of the Central African Republic, and Mokgweetsi Masisi of Botswana.
Togo’s Foreign Minister Robert Dussey hosted the talks, with AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf present.
Earlier, on December 5, 2025, Kenyatta attended the signing of the Washington Accords for Peace between Rwanda and DRC in Washington, D.C. DRC President Félix Tshisekedi credited African-led efforts, saying:
“These two great Africans were there at the beginning; they started the Nairobi and Luanda peace processes,” referring to Kenyatta and Angolan President João Lourenço.
US President Donald Trump described the agreement as historic.
Kenyatta’s commitment extends beyond DRC mediation. In July 2025, the World Health Organization honoured him for championing the WHO Pandemic Agreement, adopted in May 2025 to strengthen global preparedness for health crises.
At the AU summit, leaders launched the theme: “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063.” They also reviewed peace and security across Africa.