Kenya is set to host 15 Heads of State and other delegates for a Mid-Year Coordination Meeting (MYCM) for economic and diplomacy integrations from Thursday, July 13.

The Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Relations, Alfred Mutua, has said that the fifth edition of the MYCM meeting scheduled to take place in Nairobi for a period of four days is aimed at enhancing trade and bilateral relations.

“I welcome all delegates to Kenya to attend and participate in the fifth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting, scheduled to take place from July 13 to July 16 in Nairobi. Karibu Kenya. We are honoured to host you,” Mutua said in a statement. 

The meeting is set to bring together the Bureau of the African Union, the eight Heads of State and Government who chair the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) including ;(Burundi - EAC, Djibouti - IGAD, Zambia- COMESA, DRC- SADC, Nigeria- ECOWAS, Chad- CEN-SAD, Libya - UMA, and Gabon - ECCAS); the African Union Commission and Regional Mechanisms (RMs).

At the same time, a meeting is scheduled for the Heads of State and Government on Sunday, July 16 at the United Nations in Gigiri, Nairobi. It is to be preceded by the 43rd Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union with the aim of approving the AU financial budget for 2024, assessing the implementation of AU decisions, and adopting new decisions on substantive issues of continental interest among others.

The objective of the meeting is to assess the status of continental integration and coordinate efforts to accelerate the integration process. 

Mutua said that Kenya hosting the meeting will be of global benefit by cementing the country’s legacy, whilst boosting the tourism sector during the period in which over 1500 delegates will be in attendance. 

in addition, he said that the country will launch the African Audio-visual and Cinema Commission (AACC) during the meeting which will create more youth employment. By Sharon Wanga, The Standard