Kenyan President Makes Inaugural Address at UN General Assembly

President William Ruto made his inaugural address at the 77th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, United States on Wednesday September 21, 2022.

He urged the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to extend debt relief to countries worst hit by the Covid-19 pandemic and indicated that nations also affected by conflict and climate change should be considered.

Ruto pointed out that the disruption and ensuing crisis due to Covid-19 pandemic compelled Kenya to diversify its focus into new interventions, including an Economic Stimulus Program, a Covid-19 Economic Recovery Strategy and a Covid-19 Social Economic Re-engineering Recovery Strategy.

Ruto held talks with United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres on regional cooperation and security in the Horn of Africa. He pledged Kenya's support in eradicating poverty and vulnerability to climate change in the region to inspire a more just, peaceful and equitable world. 

Speaking during a U.S.- Kenya Executive Business Roundtable, Ruto promised a business-friendly policy to spur Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) from the United States to Kenya, a move he saids would create jobs and wealth in the country.

The president has also called for stronger global partnerships to enhance ICT infrastructure in developing countries and to bridge the yawning digital divide between the Global South and the rest of the world.

The 77th UNGA coincides with the worst drought in the Horn of Africa with many countries in the region, including Kenya, experiencing unprecedented agricultural disruption.