Kenya Strengthens Youth-Led Diplomacy and Africa–France Dialogue at the 25th KMUN Conference
Kenya Strengthens Youth-Led Diplomacy and Africa–France Dialogue at the 25th KMUN Conference
The Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs successfully co-hosted the 25th Annual Kenya Model United Nations (KMUN) Conference at the Kenya School of Government, Lower Kabete Campus in Nairobi on 18th March 2026.
As part of the conference, the Ministry convened a high-level Africa–Forward / Africa–France Pre-Summit Youth Segment under the theme “Strengthening Africa–France Dialogue Through Youth Leadership,” in preparation for the Africa–Forward Summit scheduled for May 2026.
The session brought together the Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Korir Sing’oei, and French Ambassador to Kenya, Arnaud Suquet, alongside policymakers, development partners, KMUN delegates, and youth leaders. Discussions underscored the critical role of young people in shaping Africa’s future, particularly in areas such as artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, climate change, and the green transition.
The dialogue served as a structured feeder platform, generating practical, youth-driven and solution-oriented recommendations to inform deliberations at the May 2026 Summit. Key focus areas included youth and economic cooperation, innovation and technology partnerships, culture and creative diplomacy, as well as climate action and sustainable development.
Participants highlighted both the opportunities and risks associated with emerging technologies, warning that excluding young Africans from their design and governance could deepen inequalities and limit economic participation. They called for targeted investments in digital infrastructure, skills development, and innovation ecosystems, while addressing persistent challenges such as limited internet access, financing constraints, and intellectual property concerns.
In his remarks, Dr. Sing’oei also pointed to the growing erosion of global trust as a pressing global challenge, reaffirming the Ministry’s commitment to positioning Nairobi as a global convening hub and to fostering inclusive platforms that amplify youth voices in international discourse.
In a related engagement, the Ministry hosted a high-level panel on global trust under the theme “Building Global Trust Through Youth Diplomacy, Leadership, and Innovation,” in collaboration with Strathmore University, Shujaaz Inc., and One Africa. The discussion explored declining trust in institutions and emphasized the importance of ethical leadership, transparency, and inclusive governance, while calling for stronger youth participation in global decision-making processes.
This dialogue contributes to preparations for the Global Trust Summit scheduled for August 2026, which aims to empower youth as catalysts for restoring trust, strengthening social cohesion, and advancing accountable leadership.
Overall, these engagements form part of broader stakeholder efforts to mainstream youth as critical actors in the implementation of Kenya’s Foreign Policy 2024 and to advance inclusive, forward-looking international cooperation.