President William Ruto has officially taken over as Chairperson of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), calling on member countries to embrace digitalisation, strengthen African financial institutions, and advance regional integration for sustainable and inclusive growth.
During the official handover at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi on Thursday, Ruto expressed gratitude to member states for their confidence. He described COMESA as a vital engine for Africa’s economic transformation and a model for continental integration under the African Union.
Ruto paid tribute to Burundi’s President Evariste Ndayishimiye, the outgoing chair, for his steady leadership, which he said had helped the bloc achieve notable progress.
The summit’s theme, “Leveraging Digitalisation to Deepen Regional Value Chains for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth,” underscored the urgency for Africa to harness technology for development.
“For far too long, Africa has been a passive recipient and consumer of technology. The time has come for us to become producers, innovators, and exporters of digital solutions,” Ruto said. He pointed to Kenya’s M-Pesa as a prime example of innovation born from necessity and nurtured by ingenuity.
He urged countries to digitalise trade processes by investing in both digital and physical infrastructure, including modern transport corridors, regional data centres, and secure cloud services.
“This digital superhighway must not end in our capitals. It must reach every village, connect every farmer, empower every entrepreneur, and link our landlocked nations to the arteries of global trade,” he said, adding that fragmented digital policies remain “a non-tariff barrier.” He encouraged the swift adoption of electronic Certificates of Origin, Single Window Systems, and interoperable cross-border payment platforms.
Turning to finance, Ruto highlighted the need to strengthen African-led institutions. He noted that global systems such as the IMF and World Bank are outdated and often marginalise developing countries. Instead, he called for robust support for African entities like the Trade and Development Bank (TDB), Afreximbank, Africa Finance Corporation, and Shelter Afrique, describing them as “true partners in progress.”
Ruto disclosed that Kenya had committed Sh6.5 billion to Afreximbank and an additional Sh13 billion to TDB, stressing that such investments “yield real, sustainable value” and deepen regional financial integration.
He expressed concern over low intra-COMESA trade, noting, “Africa contributes only 3% to global trade and only 14% to intra-Africa trade. We must move from competition to collaboration.” He also called for freer movement across African borders, stating, “True integration will only be achieved when an African can travel, work, and invest freely anywhere on the continent.”
Reaffirming Kenya’s open-door policy, he said, “Kenya has taken the progressive decision to become visa-free for most African nationals, affirming our belief that Africa’s strength lies in its openness and unity.”
Ruto emphasised that peace, stability, and good governance are essential for development and investment. He pledged Kenya’s commitment to work with all COMESA members to promote shared prosperity, digitalisation, and sustainable growth.
“Together, we can build a COMESA that is digital, dynamic, and deeply inclusive, a bloc that truly reflects the promise of a rising Africa,” he concluded.