Kenya Parliament Hosts Global Summit and State of the Nation Address

The Kenyan parliament has announced that it will suspend its regular sittings to host a global parliamentary summit and the State of the Nation address. According to Speaker Moses Wetang'ula, the Third Global Parliamentary Summit against Hunger and Malnutrition will bring together more than 250 members of parliament from over 100 parliaments. The summit, jointly organized by the Parliament of Kenya, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation, aims to strengthen parliamentary action against hunger and malnutrition.

The summit will provide a platform for parliamentarians and key stakeholders to exchange experiences and strengthen legislative and oversight responses to food security and nutrition. Discussions will focus on realizing the right to food, promoting access to healthy diets, and advancing efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems. The summit comes at a time when parliaments across the world are grappling with the interconnected challenges of food insecurity, malnutrition, climate change, poverty, and the sustainability of food production systems.

Speaker Wetang'ula emphasized the unique constitutional power held by lawmakers in eradicating food insecurity, noting that parliamentarians are directly responsible for appropriating resources, shaping policies, and enacting laws aimed at improving the livelihoods of citizens globally. He stated that parliamentarians are best positioned to eliminate hunger and malnutrition, as they have the authority to allocate resources, define and approve policies, and legislate.

The Leader of the Majority Party, Kimani Ichung'wah, communicated that the House would not sit on Tuesday to allow the Chamber to be used for the international summit scheduled for November 16 and 17. The decision followed an earlier resolution by the House to adjust its calendar to accommodate the global parliamentary gathering. The summit seeks to strengthen parliamentary action against hunger and malnutrition and advance sustainable agrifood systems in support of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development.

In addition to the summit, President Ruto is expected to deliver the 14th State of the Nation address to a joint sitting of Parliament on Wednesday, November 18, in the afternoon. As a result, the National Assembly will not hold its regular sitting on that day. The House will resume business on Thursday, when MPs are expected to consider several pending legislative matters, including the Committee of the Whole House stage of the Trade Description Amendment Bill, 2026.

The House is also scheduled to resume debate on the second reading of the Investment and Export Promotion Authority Bill, 2026, and the Kenya Economic Zones Bill, 2026. MPs are also expected to consider the Commission of Inquiry Amendment Bill, 2026, if debate on it is not concluded before the House adjourns. The changes to the parliamentary calendar mean that the next regular sitting after the scheduled events will be on Thursday, November 19.

The global parliamentary summit and the State of the Nation address are significant events that demonstrate Kenya's commitment to addressing global challenges such as hunger and malnutrition. The summit will provide a platform for parliamentarians to share experiences and perspectives, while strengthening parliamentary diplomacy and international cooperation on matters of mutual interest.

Key points

• Over 250 members of parliament from over 100 countries will attend the Third Global Parliamentary Summit against Hunger and Malnutrition.
• The summit aims to strengthen parliamentary action against hunger and malnutrition and advance sustainable agrifood systems in support of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development.
• President Ruto will deliver the 14th State of the Nation address to a joint sitting of Parliament on November 18.