Kenya’s President William Ruto has taken over as COMESA chair with a rallying call for a continental digital revolution and a pledge to drive Africa’s transition from a technology consumer to a global innovation powerhouse.
Speaking at the 24th COMESA Heads of State and Government Summit in Nairobi yesterday, Ruto, who leads Kenya, Africa’s Silicon Valley, vowed that his tenure will focus on accelerating regional digitalisation to unlock Africa’s economic potential.
“For far too long, Africa has been a recipient of technology. The time has come for us to become producers, innovators, and exporters of digital solutions, shaping our own economic destiny,” Ruto said in his inaugural address at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre.
Under the summit’s theme, “Leveraging Digitalisation to Deepen Regional Value Chains for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth,” Ruto urged African nations to harness technology to enhance productivity, empower citizens, and integrate economies.
He announced that his chairmanship will prioritise digitalising trade facilitation, improving transport corridors, developing regional data centres and securing cloud infrastructure.
“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,” Ruto declared.
The Kenyan President also called for harmonised digital policies across COMESA states to eliminate fragmentation that hinders regional growth.
He emphasised common standards for e-commerce, cross-border payments, data protection, and cybersecurity, describing them as “the backbone of Africa’s 21st-century trade architecture.”
The Nairobi summit also saw the launch of the COMESA Digital Retail Payment Platform on its sidelines, a flagship innovation enabling instant, low-cost, and inclusive cross-border payments across 21 member states.
The platform allows transactions in local currencies, reducing reliance on foreign exchange and promoting financial inclusion for small and medium enterprises, women, and youth.
“Digitalisation is not just about technology; it is about people, jobs, and opportunities. By embracing innovation, we can transform COMESA into a digitally connected, globally competitive region that delivers prosperity for all,” said Ruto
Ruto replaces Burundi President Évariste Ndayishimiye, who led COMESA during its previous term and was widely credited with steadying regional cooperation efforts.
Looking ahead, the Kenyan leader will hand over the baton to Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa when his one-year rotational term ends.
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