By Michelle Ndaga
Belgium has reaffirmed its commitment to Kenya’s development agenda, pledging deeper cooperation on governance, digital innovation, food security, and peacebuilding during Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Prévot’s official visit.
On the second day of his tour, Prévot met civil society leaders and emphasized Belgium’s support for good governance, civic space, and the protection of fundamental freedoms.
He later held talks with National Security Advisor Dr. Monica Juma on regional stability and peacebuilding.
Highlighting digital inclusion, the minister visited Poa Internet, a Nairobi-based enterprise backed by Belgian investment, which provides affordable broadband in informal settlements.
The model is helping expand access to education, healthcare, youth entrepreneurship, and online jobs.
At RefuSHE, a nonprofit supporting displaced girls and young women, Prévot commended refugee artisans and reaffirmed Belgium’s partnership in offering housing, education, psychosocial support, and vocational training.
Since 2008, the initiative has supported more than 10,000 beneficiaries.
In Kibera, he toured a World Food Programme (WFP) backed hydroponics project supplying vegetables to 25,000 learners in 15 schools while training youth in climate-smart agriculture.
He praised it as a model for addressing urban food insecurity.
The delegation also visited the WFP Regional Humanitarian Logistics Hub in Nairobi, a critical facility for pre-positioning food and coordinating relief across East Africa, reinforcing Kenya’s role as a humanitarian anchor.
Prévot’s engagements underscored Belgium’s strategic partnership with Kenya, anchored on digital innovation, gender equality, food security, humanitarian aid, and regional peacebuilding pillars of a shared vision for resilience and inclusive growth.
