President William Ruto is expected to leave Kenya on Monday night for Evian, France, where he will take part in the G7 Leaders’ Summit as Africa’s representative.
The visit comes after an invitation from French President Emmanuel Macron and is expected to place Africa’s development priorities before some of the world’s most influential economies.
According to State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohammed, Ruto will use the summit to advocate for issues affecting the continent, including economic growth, access to financing, climate action, technology and trade partnerships.
The G7 Summit brings together leaders from major economies and key international partners to discuss pressing global challenges.
Among those expected to attend are French President Emmanuel Macron, U.S. President Donald Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Senior European Union officials António Costa and Ursula von der Leyen are also expected to participate.
State House said the President will build on discussions held during the Africa Forward Summit, which Kenya co-hosted with France last month.
The meeting produced proposals aimed at supporting economic transformation, financial reforms, climate resilience and digital development across Africa.
One of Ruto’s key messages at the summit is expected to focus on reforms to the global financial system. Kenya hopes to push for easier access to affordable capital and credit for African countries, which leaders argue is necessary for economic expansion, job creation and infrastructure development.
The President is also expected to call for stronger cooperation between Africa and leading economies in areas such as trade, energy, innovation and investment.
In addition, he will present Africa’s position on artificial intelligence, advocating for fair access to emerging technologies and increased investment in digital infrastructure, data centres and technology skills.
The trip comes at a time when Ruto’s foreign travel has attracted criticism from some members of the public, opposition leaders and sections of the media, who have questioned the frequency and cost of the visits during a challenging economic period.
However, the President has repeatedly defended his international engagements, saying they are aimed at attracting investment, creating opportunities and strengthening Kenya’s position on the global stage.
He has maintained that his role as the country’s chief diplomat requires active engagement with world leaders and international partners.
