Preparations for the inaugural Global Trust Summit gained momentum as the State Department for Foreign Affairs convened more than 20 regulatory institutions for a high-level consultative breakfast meeting ahead of the October 2026 event.
The meeting provided a platform to share the strategic vision of the Summit, identify areas of collaboration, and examine the role of regulatory institutions in strengthening public confidence, enhancing institutional legitimacy, and advancing trust in governance systems.
Among the present regulatory bodies included Communications Authority of Kenya, Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, Kenya Bureau of Standards, National Transport and Safety Authority and Capital Markets Authority.
The meeting set the tone for the Global Trust Summit, a flagship initiative to be convened jointly by the State Department for Foreign Affairs, Strathmore University and Open Government Partnership with Konrad Adenauer Stiftung and other partners.
The Summit is grounded in the commitments under Kenya’s Fifth Open Government Partnership National Action Plan (NAP V), Plan (NAP V, 2023–2027), launched by President William Ruto on 11 September 2024 and will seek to explore how confidence in governments, institutions, and multilateral systems with their citizens can be rebuilt.
The Chief Guest, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, said the opportunity to host the summit reflects Kenya’s growing leadership in advancing democratic governance and effective public institutions.
“This Summit is not another international conference. It is a strategic diplomatic and governance initiative that seeks to move the global conversation beyond diagnosing declining trust towards identifying practical reforms and institutional actions that rebuild and sustain it”, he said.
He added, “Kenya is hosting this Summit because we believe we have something meaningful to contribute to the global discourse. Our contribution will not be measured by speeches or declarations. It will be measured by the strength, credibility and integrity of our institutions”.
Speaking during the meeting, the Principal Secretary for the State Department for Foreign Affairs, Dr Korir Sing’Oei, said the President’s commitment to building trust has positioned Kenya to host the summit.
He described it as a recognition of the Country’s efforts to promote good governance and public confidence.
“Existence of the state is part of a rules-based order, which, when properly followed, develops mutual trust with citizens. The President made the commitment to cultivate trust with the citizens of Kenya; the Global Trust Summit will be convened in Kenya because of this,” he said.
The Summit will seek to achieve several key objectives, including the adoption of the Nairobi Declaration on Global Trust.
The declaration, to be formally read and adopted by acclamation, will outline the Summit’s key principles, areas of consensus, and voluntary commitments by participating governments and institutions.
The Summit will also establish the Global Trust Council, a platform intended to sustain dialogue and collaboration on strengthening institutional trust globally.
By anchoring public administration in the constitutional values of openness and accountability, Kenya is positioning Nairobi as the launchpad for a renewed global consensus on institutional integrity ahead of the October Summit.
