NAIROBI, Kenya — Police blocked a group of human rights activists from accessing the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) during the ongoing Africa Forward Summit on Tuesday, with several people arrested along Uhuru Highway.
Witnesses said officers repelled the activists as they attempted to approach the summit venue, with some bundled into police vehicles. Foreign nationals were among those detained, witnesses said.
Security was heightened around KICC following the incident, with access routes cordoned off and police officers visibly patrolling the corridors of the convention centre.
Summit Enters Day Two
The Africa Forward Summit entered its second day on Tuesday, with high-level sessions focusing on financing reforms, peace and security, artificial intelligence, the blue economy, health, and agriculture.
A plenary working lunch on reforming the international financial architecture and improving Africa’s access to sustainable financing is scheduled from 12.30 pm to 2.30 pm.
Speakers include French President Emmanuel Macron, World Bank managing director Kristalina Georgieva, and Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
A peace and security plenary is set for 3.00 pm to 4.30 pm, with opening remarks by President William Ruto and President Macron. Discussions will feature UN Secretary-General António Guterres and African Union Commission chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf.
Later sessions include parallel roundtables on AI and digital technologies, the blue economy, health, and agriculture.
