BAKU, Azerbaijan — Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has arrived in Baku leading Kenya’s advance delegation ahead of the World Urban Forum 13 (WUF13), scheduled to take place from May 17 to May 22.
The global summit will convene heads of state, policymakers, urban planners, housing experts, and development partners to discuss solutions to the growing global housing crisis and the future of sustainable urban development.
This year’s forum is themed “Housing the World: Safe and Resilient Cities and Communities” and is expected to focus on accelerating housing delivery, climate-resilient infrastructure, inclusive urban planning, and sustainable city growth.
Speaking ahead of the summit, Mudavadi said Africa must urgently move beyond policy discussions and focus on implementing practical and bankable urban development projects.
“Kenya, and Africa’s urbanisation is accelerating at an unprecedented pace, and the time to move from conversation to execution is now,” he said.
Mudavadi warned that Africa’s urban population is projected to increase from about 700 million people to 1.4 billion by 2050, placing immense pressure on housing, transport systems, public services, and urban infrastructure if governments fail to plan effectively.
He highlighted key challenges facing rapidly growing cities, including widening housing deficits, overstretched infrastructure, air pollution, climate-related risks, and limited access to long-term financing for major development projects.
The Prime Cabinet Secretary said strategic urban planning would be essential in ensuring cities remain livable, productive, and resilient amid rising population growth and climate pressures.
The forum comes weeks after Nairobi hosted the Second Africa Urban Forum (AUF2), which brought together African leaders, private sector players, and development partners to discuss financing models, governance, climate resilience, and technology in urban development.
The discussions during AUF2 underscored the growing need for stronger regional partnerships and innovative financing mechanisms to support Africa’s urban transformation agenda.
Mudavadi also referenced Kenya’s ongoing Affordable Housing Programme under President William Ruto, describing it as part of broader efforts to address housing shortages while stimulating economic growth and employment.
The affordable housing initiative remains one of the flagship programmes of the Kenya Kwanza administration, although it has also generated political debate over taxation, implementation, and financing models.
The World Urban Forum is expected to shape global policy discussions on sustainable urbanisation, affordable housing, smart cities, and climate adaptation strategies.
