Nairobi hosted a high-level meeting on Thursday as Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Korir Sing’Oei, engaged senior officials from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to strengthen regional cooperation and development. The gathering included representatives from Djibouti and Addis Ababa, covering key IGAD divisions such as Peace and Security, Conflict Early Warning and Response Mechanism (CEWARN), Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC), and the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (RESGAS). Dr. Sing’Oei emphasized Kenya’s unwavering support for IGAD as a cornerstone for peace, security, and sustainable development across the Horn of Africa.
During the discussions, the Principal Secretary highlighted the importance of improving institutional governance, transparency, and accountability within IGAD. He noted that weak monitoring and evaluation of policy decisions had limited the organization’s effectiveness, calling for enhanced systems to track implementation and impact. The meeting also reviewed the progress of ongoing initiatives and explored ways to better align regional programs with national priorities in areas such as peacebuilding, climate resilience, and economic integration. Kenya underscored its commitment to providing a conducive environment for IGAD’s specialized institutions, including ICPAC, ICPALD, and the IGAD School of Leadership, all hosted in Nairobi.
The engagement received praise from IGAD representatives, including Dr. Fatuma Adan, Head of the IGAD Mission to Kenya, who acknowledged the country’s pivotal role in facilitating regional integration and institutional effectiveness. Ambassadors and directors present, including Ambassador Dennis Mburu and Amb. Dr. Mohamed Ali Guyo, participated in discussions aimed at reinforcing collaboration between IGAD and its member states. The meeting signals Kenya’s proactive diplomacy in ensuring IGAD remains a responsive, accountable, and impactful institution capable of addressing the Horn of Africa’s pressing challenges and fostering collective development.