Opinion: Africa Forward Summit - Elite Deals or Empty Promises for Ordinary Africans?

14 May 2026 - For two days this week, Nairobi became the centre of high-level discussions, with more than 30 African presidents and leaders, and thousands of investors, tech founders, and multinational corporations convening at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) for the recently concluded Africa Forward Summit, which triggered mixed reactions among Kenyans.

The summit was held outside France and beyond the traditional Francophone African bloc for the first time in over 50 years, signalling an effort for a more inclusive continental partnership.

During the summit, which was co-hosted by President William Ruto and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, major agreements were reached, including heavy investment pledges in infrastructure, clean energy, technology, and logistics,  initiatives that have the potential to positively shape the continent’s future.

However, while these leaders spoke of economic transformations, the summit also exposed something deeper: a distrust among Kenyan youths towards elite diplomacy and political symbolism.

President Ruto was assertive that the summit would position Kenya as a regional investment hub, while Macron said that this event presented a unique opportunity for the European nation to strengthen its relationship with African Nations.

But here is the thing: while the summit was mostly successful on paper, a completely different conversation was going on online.

Social media platforms, especially X, were flooded with criticism targeting celebrities as well as other public figures who openly embraced and interacted with Macron, as well as those who were positive about the outcomes of the summit activities.

Celebrities such as Bien-Aimé Alusa Baraza found themselves forced to defend their positions after users threatened to “cancel” their content for allegedly endorsing foreign interests, even as ordinary Kenyans continued to grapple with the high cost of living.

“I can sit at a table with global leaders and remain fully African, fully critical, and fully myself. Presence is not submission,” Bien said on his official X account on Tuesday.

Despite the older generation viewing the backlash as a bit harsh, it uncovered one fundamental fact: that youths have transitioned from passive observers of the leadership to individuals who demand good governance and are willing to scrutinise every public event through a political lens on social media.

The Kenyan Government can attest to this. Over the past three years, young people(Commonly known as Gen Zs) have been increasingly leveraging digital and social media platforms to express their dissatisfaction with President Ruto’s administration, which has faced sustained criticism over allegations of corruption, rising taxes, and the perceived incompetence of some government officials.

In 2024 and 2025, platforms such as X and TikTok were widely used to mobilize young people to take to the streets in protest, a wave of activism that triggered significant government responses, including a Cabinet reshuffle.

While images of government officials, investors, and celebrities sharing light moments during the summit may have symbolised international cooperation, it came as no surprise that many Kenyan youths viewed the Africa Forward Summit as yet another elite event disconnected from their everyday realities.

Several protesters, activists, and foreign nationals were arrested in Nairobi’s CBD on Monday after attempting to force their way into KICC, accusing the French President of imperialism and opposing his participation in the summit.

But this revolt from citizens also reflects the complicated relationship between France and Africa. Macron’s visit to Nairobi was not only about investment, but also an attempt to rebuild strained ties and restore France’s influence on the continent.

You see, in recent years,  France has lost significant influence in several  West African countries, including Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Senegal, among others, amid growing anti-French sentiment, military withdrawals, and accusations of political interference.

And after the summit, many Africans are still asking: Who truly benefits from these partnerships? Will ordinary citizens see meaningful change? Are these investments designed to empower local industries or deepen dependence on foreign capital?

So now let’s shift our focus to what went on in KICC and what agreements were signed.

President Ruto stressed that the days of European dependency for Africa are over, and it is now time for a more mutual relationship and cooperation between the two parties.

“It is both indispensable and unconscionable that a continent of nearly 1.5 billion people, represented by 54 sovereign states and constituting one of the largest blocs within the United Nations, continues to remain excluded from permanent representation on the Security Council," Ruto said.

On his part, Macron maintained that the Africa Forward Summit was the beginning of this mutual relationship, one that serves peace, prosperity, and shared strategic autonomy and independence.