OPINION: What hosting Africa Urban Forum 2 means for Kenya

As Kenya prepares to host the Second Africa Urban Forum (AUF2) from 8–10 April 2026 in Nairobi, this moment represents far more than a diplomatic gathering.

It is a strategic opportunity for Kenya to shape Africa’s urban future while strengthening the central role of county governments, urban departments, and housing leadership in driving inclusive development.

At a time when Africa is urbanising faster than any other region in the world, convening Africa Urban Forum 2 under the theme “Adequate Housing for All” is both timely and transformative.

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African cities generate more than 75 per cent of national income in many countries, yet nearly 60 per cent of urban residents live in informal settlements without adequate housing or essential services.

This paradox of economic dynamism alongside persistent housing deficits calls for coordinated political leadership, innovative financing, and strong institutions at both national and county levels.

Convened under the auspices of the African Union, Africa Urban Forum 2 advances the aspirations of Agenda 2063, which envisions cities as engines of inclusive growth, resilience, and shared prosperity.

Housing is not merely a social obligation; it is a catalyst for employment, industrial growth, climate adaptation, and social stability.

Every housing project activates value chains in construction, manufacturing, finance, and services, while secure tenure enhances household wealth and strengthens local revenue systems.

Kenya’s hosting of African Urban Forum 2 underscores the country’s continental leadership in housing and urban reform — made possible under the stewardship of H.E. Dr. William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya.

The Affordable Housing Programme has elevated housing to a national economic priority, linking it directly to job creation, infrastructure expansion, and social dignity. This bold policy direction demonstrates that urban development is not peripheral — it is foundational to economic transformation.

The successful hosting of Africa Urban Forum 2 also reflects strong intergovernmental coordination. The Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs plays a critical diplomatic role in positioning Kenya as a continental convener, reinforcing Nairobi’s standing as a hub for global and regional dialogue.

The State Department for Housing and Urban Development provides the technical backbone, policy direction, and implementation experience that give credibility to Kenya’s leadership on the housing agenda. Together, these institutions exemplify whole-of-government commitment.

Equally important is the role of Council of Governors and County Governments — particularly County Executive Committee Members (CECMs) responsible for Urban Development and Housing. Under Kenya’s devolved system, counties are at the frontline of urban planning, infrastructure delivery, land management, and informal settlement upgrading.

Africa Urban Forum 2 provides an unprecedented platform for counties to showcase practical innovations, share lessons on sustainable urban management, and build partnerships that can accelerate housing delivery at the local level.

The County Urban and Housing Departments are not mere implementers; they are central actors in shaping liveable, inclusive, and resilient cities,municipalities and towns.

The Forum’s timing — ahead of the Thirteenth Session of the World Urban Forum — is strategically significant. It allows Africa to consolidate a unified continental position on housing and human settlements and articulate shared priorities in global urban policy discussions. The anticipated Nairobi Declaration will further cement Africa’s voice on innovative financing, climate-smart construction, and inclusive urban transformation.

For Kenya, hosting Africa Urban Forum 2 is, therefore, both an honour and a responsibility. It affirms the country’s leadership in urban governance while strengthening collaboration between national ministries, county governments, and international partners. Most importantly, it reinforces the message that housing is core economic infrastructure—essential for dignity, opportunity, and long-term prosperity.

If Africa’s urban future is to be inclusive and sustainable, leadership must be demonstrated at every level—from the Presidency, National to County Governments.

By hosting Africa Urban Forum 2, Kenya is not only opening its doors to the continent; it is helping to define the blueprint for Africa’s urban transformation and setting the pace of a leading affordable housing implementer in the African continent.

The writer is the CECM Lands,Housing and Urban Development; Chair, Land Sector Forum (LSF) frontier counties.