As the Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda ramps up preparations to host the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), senior diplomatic representatives from Antigua and Barbuda and Kenya have convened in London to align on planning efforts, strengthen bilateral ties, and confirm Kenya’s engagement in pre-summit sporting events.
Karen-Mae Hill, Antigua and Barbuda’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and the country’s national focal point for the 2026 CHOGM, led her delegation in a formal courtesy meeting with Maurice Makoloo, Kenya’s equivalent High Commissioner based in the UK. The gathering brought together senior stakeholders from both sides, including Charmaine Quinland-Donovan, chief executive officer of Antigua and Barbuda’s Citizenship by Investment Unit, Third Secretary Caleb Gardiner, and Dr. Len Sambili, an advisor for Sport for Development and Peace at the Commonwealth Secretariat, who also joined the discussions.
A core focus of the talks was advancing logistical and diplomatic planning for the upcoming summit, scheduled to take place from November 1 to 4, 2026, in St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda. The summit will gather heads of government from across the 56-member Commonwealth bloc to discuss collective priorities, policy coordination, and shared global challenges. In addition to summit planning, the two delegations explored opportunities to deepen long-term bilateral cooperation between the small Caribbean nation and the East African country, both of which are active members of the Commonwealth network.
A key agenda item centered on sporting events tied to the summit, specifically Kenya’s participation in the exhibition cricket match scheduled to take place alongside the 2026 CHOGM. Kenya has already formally backed the “One Commonwealth, One Team” Exhibition Cricket Match Series, a new initiative organized in the lead-up to the summit that uses sport as a tool to connect member nations and advance development goals aligned with the Commonwealth’s Sport for Development and Peace agenda. Hill’s delegation updated Makoloo on plans for the match and confirmed Kenya’s role in the event, cementing the country’s commitment to the full range of CHOGM 2026 activities.
This diplomatic engagement is just the latest in a string of preparatory meetings Hill has led as national focal point. In recent months, she has met repeatedly with senior officials from the Commonwealth Secretariat and diplomatic representatives from other member nations to coordinate logistics, align on agenda items, and ensure broad participation from across the bloc as Antigua and Barbuda puts the finishing touches on its hosting plans.