Tatu City, Kenya, 23 October 2026 – One of the UK’s leading educators, Parker-Jones, will join Wellington Kenya as Founding Master a year ahead of the school’s official opening, in September 2028. He will be joined by his wife, Amanda Parker-Jones, who has been appointed Head of Teacher Development for the school.

Developed by Rendeavour, Africa’s new city builder, in partnership with Wellington College, Wellington Kenya is the second school in the Wellington College Education family in Africa, alongside Rendeavour’s Wellington College International Lagos, and part of a wider network of 12 super premium British schools spanning the UK, China, Thailand, India, Indonesia and the United States.

Regarding his appointment, Gareth Parker-Jones said, “Wellington College International Kenya delivers a genuinely world-class education in arguably the most beautiful environment on Earth, carrying the full weight of the Wellington name. Backed by the scale, expertise and ambition of Rendeavour, Wellington Kenya is a great success story in international education, and I could not be prouder to lead it as Head of Education, Rendeavour, and Founding Master.”

Commenting on the appointment, James Dahl, 15th Master of Wellington College, said, “I am absolutely thrilled to be welcoming Gareth Parker-Jones to the Wellington College Education family. Gareth is one of the UK’s leading heads and has had a transformational impact at Rugby School, raising standards, developing a vibrant and growing family of schools in England and around the world, and acting as a thoughtful and thought-provoking ambassador for the sector. I have known Gareth for many years and have the deepest respect for him both personally and professionally; Wellington College International Kenya could not be in better hands. We congratulate Gareth, Amanda and the family in this exciting new chapter, and I very much look forward to working alongside such accomplished educationalists.”

The appointment of Parker-Jones, who has a strong background in boarding, signals the scale of ambition of Wellington Kenya. Alongside its day school provision, boarding will be an important part of Wellington Kenya’s identity, character, community and pastoral offer from day one. This will give families the flexibility of both day and boarding options, while ensuring that the boarding experience is delivered to the same exacting standard as Wellington College Education family of schools around the world.

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Stephen Jennings, Founder and CEO of Rendeavour, added, “To attract a Founding Master of Gareth’s renown and experience is itself a statement of our intent and the ambition we hold for the school. Having spent considerable time with Gareth and his wife, Amanda, I have no doubt whatsoever that we have found the perfect leaders for building one of the best school in the world. Great cities are built around great institutions, and world-class education is central to attracting families, employers, and investment over the long term. Wellington Kenya will set a new benchmark for educational excellence – establishing a world-class school in the heart of East Africa, so families no longer need to look abroad for extraordinary schooling. Gareth’s appointment gives us the leadership, warmth, and vision to turn that ambition into reality from day one. Our goal is to build a learning community that seamlessly combines Wellington’s global educational heritage with a strong local identity, one that will serve families across the region for generations.”

ABOUT GARETH PARKER-JONES

Gareth Parker-Jones has been at Rugby School since 2015 and is currently the Head Master. Gareth initially served as Deputy Head (Academic), becoming Head Master in 2020. He was educated at Queen Elizabeth’s Hospital School, Bristol, and Pembroke College, Oxford, where he read History. He also holds a master’s degree in Colonial and Post-Colonial Studies from the University of London. He has taught at Harrow, University College School and Sevenoaks, where he was Head of History.

ABOUT WELLINGTON COLLEGE INTERNATIONAL KENYA

Located in Tatu City, Africa’s leading new city, Wellington Kenya is a co-educational boarding and day school for pupils aged 3 to 18, attracting families locally, regionally and globally. With access to Kenya’s breathtaking landscapes, bountiful wildlife, rich cultural diversity, temperate weather and remarkable athletic excellence, Wellington Kenya is set within Tatu City’s 5,000 acres of lush parks, running and equestrian trails, legendary coffee estates, indigenous trees, lakes and rivers.

Committed to preparing students for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century, the school combines internationally aspirational standards with a genuine sense of place, offering families in Kenya and across the region an education that is both world-class and authentically Kenyan.

This state-of-the-art school on 30 acres will have the latest in STEM education spaces, a 50m swimming pool, a certified athletics track, and boarding houses, extending access to a WCIK education for students from across Kenya and the wider region. For more information, visit wellingtoncollege.ke.

ABOUT RENDEAVOUR

Rendeavour is Africa’s new city builder. Backed by American, Norwegian, New Zealand, and British investors, Rendeavour’s cities are among the largest construction projects in Africa and hubs for businesses, homes, education, and recreation within infrastructure-ready economic zones. Current developments are valued at more than USD 5 billion, with over 250 businesses, schools educating more than 6,000 students, and 10,000 mixed-income homes occupied or under development.

Tatu City is a 5,000-acre new city on Nairobi’s doorstep, featuring homes, schools, businesses, a shopping district, healthcare facilities, green spaces, and recreation for more than 250,000 residents and tens of thousands of daily visitors. It is East Africa’s leading mixed-use Special Economic Zone, designed to support businesses and create a world-class live-work-play environment just 30 minutes from Nairobi.

NAIROBI, KENYA | 23 OCTOBER 2026 — The inaugural Trust Summit 2026 has adopted a 29-point Nairobi Call to Action on Global Trust, proposing new international mechanisms to strengthen public institutions, reform multilateral systems and finance initiatives aimed at rebuilding trust across societies.

The three-day Summit, held in Nairobi from 21 to 23 October under the theme “Weaving Trust: Binding Strands for a Stronger Global Order,” brought together government representatives, international organisations, business leaders, civil society, academics, technology experts, media and young people to address the growing trust deficit and its consequences for global stability and prosperity.

The agreement advances three proposals to sustain the process beyond the Summit: a Coalition on Global Trust, a Nairobi Trust Council to be hosted by Kenya, and a proposed Global Trust Facility at the United Nations to finance institutional systems that underpin public confidence and international cooperation.

The Call to Action positions trust as a global public good and a foundation for effective governance, economic growth, peace, climate action and global health security. It emphasises that rebuilding confidence requires more than public messaging: institutions must demonstrate accountability, deliver on commitments and protect the public interest.

“Trust is a public good that must be deliberately nurtured, financed and strengthened. The true measure of this Summit will be the commitments we translate into tangible outcomes for our citizens,” said Korir Sing’Oei, Principal Secretary in Kenya’s State Department for Foreign Affairs.

He said the next phase would focus on developing a practical implementation plan and taking public engagement campaigns to counties, enabling regulators and public institutions to explain their decisions, demonstrate accountability and show citizens how they protect the public interest.

The Summit, he added, had created space for inclusive dialogue and diverse perspectives, with plans to extend the Trust Dialogues to other countries.

Four priorities for rebuilding trust

The 29-point framework identifies four interconnected priorities for translating commitments into measurable action.

1. Restoring trust in public institutions

The Call to Action proposes an annual Regulatory Trust Index at national, regional and global levels to assess public confidence in regulatory institutions and identify areas for reform.

It also calls for stronger regulatory cooperation and mutual recognition, including through the East African community and the African Continental Free Trade Area, to reduce unnecessary compliance costs arising from fragmented regulatory systems. Subnational peer-review mechanisms are identified as another means of strengthening accountability and improving public confidence.

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2. Reforming multilateral institutions

The framework calls for reform of multilateral institutions and the global financial architecture to make them more representative, transparent and accountable.

Proposals include a review conference on the United Nations Charter under Article 109, stronger global health governance, equitable access to medical countermeasures and improved coordination among regional and continental organisations working to prevent and resolve conflicts.

It further stresses that climate commitments must be matched by predictable financing, technology transfer and capacity building, particularly for countries facing disproportionate climate risks.

3. Strengthening trust in the digital age

Recognising the impact of artificial intelligence, digital platforms and synthetic content on public discourse, the Call to Action urges accelerated implementation of the Global Digital Compact and stronger international cooperation on AI governance.

It calls for meaningful African participation in global digital governance, greater transparency around platform algorithms and synthetic content, and stronger protections for independent journalism and scientific integrity.

4. Advancing inclusion and belonging

The framework calls for children, young people, women, persons with disabilities, displaced persons and excluded communities to participate meaningfully in decisions affecting their lives.

It also advocates expanded access to employment, entrepreneurship and finance for young people, while recognising sport, culture and the creative economy as instruments for strengthening social cohesion.

New mechanisms to drive implementation

The proposed Coalition on Global Trust will provide an open platform for governments and non-state actors to share knowledge, coordinate initiatives and advance commitments across borders and sectors.

The Nairobi Trust Council, to be hosted by Kenya, is envisaged as a body bringing together eminent figures from the public, private and philanthropic sectors to review progress and encourage accountability.

Participants also agreed to champion a proposed Global Trust Facility at the United Nations. Envisaged as a voluntary financing mechanism supported by state and non-state contributors over an initial four-year period, the facility would be administered by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), subject to further development and implementation.

Potential areas of support include national accreditation bodies, regulatory trust indices, data protection, cybersecurity authorities and judicial cooperation mechanisms.

The Summit Secretariat will develop a Framework for Action with monitoring, tracking and reporting arrangements, including biennial reviews. The Call to Action also encourages international organisations, including the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, to undertake a biennial study examining the economic costs of distrust.

“The Nairobi Call to Action moves the world from diagnosing the trust deficit to doing something about it. Trust is a global public good, and no institution, sector or country can rebuild it alone,” said Awel Uwihanganye, Chief Executive Officer of the Trust Summit.

“We invite every government, business, community and young person to join us,” he added.

Africa at the centre of the global conversation

The agreement affirms Africa’s role as an equal partner in shaping the future of global governance, financial cooperation, digital inclusion and access to global public goods.

With approximately 70 per cent of sub-Saharan Africa’s population under the age of 30, participants stressed that young people must be recognised not merely as beneficiaries of policy, but as active contributors to institutional reform, economic development and international cooperation.

The Nairobi Trust Summit is expected to convene every two years, with consideration being given to extending the Trust Dialogues to regional and international platforms.

The adoption of the Nairobi Call to Action marks the beginning of an implementation process. Its impact will depend on governments, international organisations, businesses, civil society and communities translating commitments into reforms, resources and demonstrable results.

The Summit calls on governments, institutions, businesses, young people and civil society organisations to engage with the Coalition on Global Trust and help advance the Nairobi Call to Action.

About the Trust Summit

The Trust Summit: Nairobi Dialogue on Global Trust is a multi-stakeholder platform developing practical pathways to rebuild trust in public institutions, multilateral systems, economic infrastructure and digital technologies.

The 2026 Summit was held in Nairobi, Kenya, from 21 to 23 October under the theme “Weaving Trust: Binding Strands for a Stronger Global Order.”

For more information and the full Nairobi Call to Action, visit www.globaltrustsummit.org

The retail landscape in Kenya is undergoing a profound transformation. Gone are the days when shopping malls functioned merely as enclosed rows of retail outlets designed for quick, transactional errands. Today, Kenyan malls are redefining themselves as holistic lifestyle destinations spaces built around community, leisure, dining, wellness, and multi-generational entertainment.

Modern consumers, particularly in urban centers, are placing a higher premium on how they spend their time rather than just where they spend their money. While traditional shopping involved entering a store, purchasing an item, and leaving immediately, contemporary consumer behavior leans heavily toward immersive experiences. Whether it is attending lifestyle and fashion discovery events, participating in community book clubs, or enjoying family entertainment, malls are cultivating environments that evoke a lasting, positive emotional connection.

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The rapid growth of e-commerce has often been painted as a threat to brick-and-mortar retail.

However, industry experts view digital platforms and physical malls as complementary forces rather than adversaries. Online channels excel at providing information, brand discovery, and convenience, while physical locations fulfill the irreplaceable human need for connection, physical touch, and social interaction. Malls serve as the physical staging ground where these digital discoveries translate into real-world memories.

To stay competitive, developers are making massive capital outlays to diversify their offerings. Landmark projects such as Galleria Mall’s Ksh 2.2 billion expansion, illustrate this shift by incorporating cinemas, bowling alleys, modern children’s play areas, and expanded parking to accommodate diverse demographics.

By catering to everyone from young adults seeking recreation to corporate professionals hosting meetings and families spending quality weekend time, malls are future-proofing their business models.

Ultimately, the longevity of retail spaces in Kenya hinges on customer-centricity. Developers must actively listen to consumer feedback, ensure that tenant partners maintain impeccable customer service standards, and continuously curate fresh experiences. As digital technology accelerates over the next decade, the winners in Kenya’s retail sector will be those who successfully blend digital convenience with vibrant, community-driven physical spaces.