President William Ruto departed for Baku, Azerbaijan, Saturday night to attend the 13th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), where Kenya was invited in recognition of its leadership and success in affordable housing and sustainable urban development.
Convened by UN-Habitat, WUF13 will bring together governments, investors, cities, civil society, and development partners to address the global housing crisis and advance sustainable urban development.
The forum will take place between 17 and 22 May, 2026 at Baku, Azerbaijan. The central theme is Housing the world: Safe and resilient cities and communities.
Kenya will showcase the impact of its Affordable Housing Programme in transforming informal settlements, creating jobs, and supporting entrepreneurship.
The Forum will also provide an opportunity for Kenya to mobilise partnerships and investments to expand and scale the Affordable Housing Programme and urban renewal initiatives, including the Nairobi Rivers Regeneration Programme.
In his capacity as the global champion for adequate housing, an honour conferred on him by UN-Habitat in recognition of the progress made through Kenya’s affordable housing programme, Ruto will advocate innovative financing models and reforms to the global financial architecture to unlock greater investment in housing and infrastructure across Africa.
On the sidelines of WUF13, Ruto will hold bilateral engagements with Heads of State, investors, and development partners, including the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, to strengthen cooperation in energy, ICT, infrastructure, and Special Economic Zones, while expanding markets for Kenyan agricultural exports.
State House said Ruto will thereafter travel to Astana, Kazakhstan, for a State Visit focused on trade, logistics, energy, technology, tourism, financial services, and labour mobility. He will hold bilateral talks with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and witness the signing of agreements on investment, transport, ICT, tourism, and diplomatic cooperation.
The visit will also advance plans for a logistics hub at the Port of Mombasa or Lamu, tea and coffee hubs in Astana, and cooperation in nuclear energy, cybersecurity, space technology, and financial services.
Featured image: State House on Facebook
