President Ruto Takes Over COMESA Chairmanship, Calls for Digital Integration and Homegrown Growth
Kenya’s President William Ruto has officially assumed the chairmanship of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), pledging to steer the 21-member bloc toward a digital, inclusive, and self-reliant future.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, President Ruto expressed gratitude for the confidence placed in him and in the people of Kenya to lead what he described as “a cornerstone of Africa’s economic transformation and a model for continental integration.” He lauded outgoing chair, Burundi’s President Évariste Ndayishimiye, for his “wise and steady leadership” that had propelled the regional organisation to new heights of progress and cooperation.
Ruto’s tenure will be guided by the theme, “Leveraging Digitalisation to Deepen Regional Value Chains for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth.” He said the theme reflects Africa’s moment to take charge of its destiny by harnessing the power of digital innovation to transform trade, governance, and development.
“For too long, Africa has been a passive recipient of technology. The time has come for us to become producers, innovators, and exporters of digital solutions, shaping our own economic destiny,” he said.
Citing Kenya’s M-Pesa as a powerful example of African innovation that revolutionised financial inclusion, Ruto called for regional collaboration to scale such solutions across COMESA. He urged member states to jointly invest in both physical and digital infrastructure from transport corridors and regional data centres to secure cloud services ensuring that the benefits of connectivity reach every citizen.
Ruto underscored the need to harmonise digital policies, noting that fragmented regulations were “a non-tariff barrier” to regional integration. He called for the creation of a single digital market with shared standards for e-commerce, data protection, and cybersecurity. The adoption of electronic Certificates of Origin, integrated Single Window Systems, and interoperable cross-border payment platforms, he added, would make COMESA “the most efficient trading region in Africa.”
Beyond digitalisation, Ruto emphasised the need for COMESA to embrace the Fourth Industrial Revolution by integrating automation, artificial intelligence, and advanced manufacturing into regional value chains. He said this shift would enable the region to add value to its abundant mineral and agricultural resources, generate quality jobs, and expand economic opportunities.
Turning to the issue of financing, Ruto said Africa’s growth ambitions depended on access to equitable and sustainable funding. He criticised the current global financial system as outdated and unfair to developing countries, calling for stronger support of homegrown financial institutions such as the Trade and Development Bank (TDB), Afreximbank, and the Africa Finance Corporation.
“These African-led banks are true partners in progress,” Ruto said, revealing that Kenya had increased its investment in the TDB to $100 million, allowing access to long-term credit facilities at rates as low as 2 percent.
He said bolstering such institutions would ensure that Africa’s development is financed “on terms that reflect our realities, our priorities, and our aspirations.”
Despite steady progress, intra-COMESA trade remains low, contributing only a small fraction of total trade within Africa. Ruto urged member states to shift from competition to collaboration, prioritising value addition and the free movement of people, goods, and services.
In a major show of commitment, he reaffirmed Kenya’s decision to offer visa-free entry to most African nationals, terming it a bold step toward building a borderless and connected continent.
Ruto further stressed that COMESA’s growth must be inclusive supporting micro, small, and medium enterprises, empowering women and youth, and ensuring sustainability through environmental stewardship.
He reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to peace, security, and stability as prerequisites for investment and development.
“There can be no development without peace, and no investment without stability,” he stated. “Together, we can build a COMESA that is digital, dynamic, and deeply inclusive one that truly reflects the promise of a rising Africa.”
The new chair’s message signals a renewed push for digital transformation, financial autonomy, and deeper regional unity under COMESA’s vision of shared prosperity and intended
