- Musalia Mudavadi has called for stronger accountability and inclusive governance
- He urged reforms to give Africa greater representation in global decision-making, including a permanent seat on the UN Security Council
- Kenya and Tanzania have resolved 54 of 68 identified trade barriers, but officials say outstanding obstacles continue to undermine cross-border trade
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Harry Ivan Mboto is a Current Affairs and Politics Editor at TUKO.co.ke, covering political and world news. Mboto has five years of journalism experience and joined TUKO.co.ke in 2024
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has called for greater accountability, inclusive governance and fairer representation in global institutions, warning that public trust cannot survive where leaders fail to deliver meaningful results.
Source: UGC
Speaking on the second day of the Global Trust Summit in Nairobi on Thursday, October 22, Mudavadi said declining confidence in institutions threatened governance, economic prosperity and the future of societies.
“When a society loses the trust of its people, it risks losing the very foundation upon which its institutions, prosperity and common future depend,” he said.
Mudavadi cautioned that public confidence in political leaders should not come at the expense of accountability. Citing an Afrobarometer working paper based on surveys in 37 African countries, he noted that greater trust in presidents and ruling parties was associated with weaker public support for parliamentary oversight, media scrutin and citizens’ ability to hold governments accountable.
He argued that institutions should earn public confidence through their actions rather than demand unquestioning loyalty.
“The strongest institutions are not those that ask people to trust them blindly, but those that inspire confidence through their conduct while remaining transparent, answerable and open to scrutiny,” Mudavadi said.
He also cited findings from the Wellcome Global Monitor 2026, saying the proportion of people who believed most citizens in their countries benefited from science fell from 42% in 2018 to 37% in 2025.
According to Mudavadi, institutions must demonstrate how scientific advances improve people's lives through accessible healthcare, fairness and transparency.
He further described trust as an economic asset that supports business and cooperation, arguing that legal safeguards alone cannot replace integrity and a reputation for keeping one's word.
Mudavadi said international institutions must become more representative, particularly as countries confront shared challenges such as climate change, public health, trade and security.
He singled out Africa's lack of a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, arguing that the continent should have a direct role in decisions affecting its future.
He urged summit participants to move beyond declarations and establish clear commitments, implementation plans and mechanisms to track progress.
“It is my wish that Nairobi be remembered not simply as the place where the world discussed trust, but as the place where we strengthened our resolve to become more trustworthy,” he said.
Source: UGC
Tanzania highlights trust in regional trade
Tanzania's Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, James Millya, said trust must also translate into practical improvements in cross-border trade.
Millya revealed that Kenya and Tanzania had identified 68 non-tariff barriers, with 54 resolved and 14 remaining. Traders still face delays, repeated inspections and unexpected charges despite the two countries sharing a customs union and common market.
He cited agreements signed in May 2026 to prevent repeated inspections of already certified goods at Namanga and Holili, establish a 30-day dispute resolution window and introduce quarterly implementation reports.
However, bilateral trade declined from approximately $950 million in 2024 to $860 million in 2025. Millya said the two governments needed to ensure agreements resulted in faster clearance of goods and more effective complaint resolution.
“Where trust is present, institutions are more effective, public confidence grows, agreements hold and cooperation endures,” he said.
The Global Trust Summit, running in Nairobi from October 21 to 23, brings together public-sector leaders and other stakeholders to discuss strengthening governance, inclusive economies and international cooperation.
Source: TUKO.co.ke