Rebuilding Global Trust: Kenya Urges Reform of International Institutions

2026-10-16 region

Nairobi, 16 October 2026
With public trust in institutions dropping below 50 per cent globally, Kenya is urging international bodies to grant Africa equal governance representation and include civil society in decision-making.

Rebuilding Trust in Global Governance

At a leadership meeting held in Nairobi on Thursday, 15 October 2026, Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Dr Korir Sing’oei advocated for inclusive global governance, stressing that international institutions must incorporate non-state actors to rebuild eroding public confidence [2][5]. According to global research cited by Trust Summit Chief Executive Officer Awel Uwihanganye, less than 50 per cent of citizens currently trust public institutions [5]. In Kenya specifically, an Afrobarometer survey published in September 2025 revealed that 45 per cent of citizens trusted the President, while 44 per cent trusted Parliament, illustrating a decade-long decline in institutional confidence [2]. Sing’oei noted that without reforming these global frameworks to reflect contemporary realities and ensure equitable representation, public trust in natural resource management and the broader global order will continue to falter [5].

Demanding Structural Reform and Accountability

United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser on Africa Ahunna Eziakonwa echoed these concerns, asserting that Africa should no longer seek a mere seat at someone else’s table, but act as a co-architect of a renewed multilateral system [2][5]. This call for structural reform follows UN Secretary-General António Guterres’s characterisation of the lack of permanent African representation on the UN Security Council as “indefensible” in February 2026 [2]. Eziakonwa stressed that international diplomacy has become increasingly transactional, requiring Africa to leverage its strategic assets—such as its youth, natural resources, and expanding markets—to demand measurable accountability through specific timelines and named owners, rather than relying on hollow declarations [2][5].

Tangible Impact on Local and Refugee Communities

Addressing the practical implications of multilateralism, Head of OHCHR Kenya Charles Kwemoi emphasised that global governance is ultimately tested on the ground, particularly within grassroots and refugee-hosting areas [5]. Kwemoi highlighted that for a mother in Turkana, effective multilateralism is not defined by abstract resolutions passed in General Assembly halls, but by functional basic infrastructure—such as an operational healthcare clinic, a working water point, and a responsive grievance system [5]. For both host populations and refugee communities living together in Turkana, tangible service delivery directly impacts daily stability, conflict mitigation, border safety, and local economic resilience [5][GPT].

Translating Diplomatic Gains into Practical Action

These discussions follow the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 81) in October 2026, where Kenyan diplomats sought to convert international engagements into concrete bilateral gains and development opportunities [3][8]. Reflecting on Kenya’s achievements during an interview on The Phantom Podcast broadcast on 15 October 2026, Sing’oei outlined how the nation leveraged global diplomacy to promote investment, peace, and regional cooperation across East Africa [3][8]. Looking ahead to the Trust Summit scheduled for 21 to 23 October 2026, international leaders, civil society representatives, and youth leaders—including Kenya Model United Nations Secretary-General Deborah Ndanu Nzomo—plan to formalise the Nairobi Statement on Global Trust to bridge delivery gaps and ensure younger generations are actively included in decision-making [2][5].

Bronnen

international diplomacy governance reform