President William Ruto departed the country on the evening of Saturday, September 20, for New York to attend the High-Level Week of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), a consequential gathering as world leaders focus on multilateralism at a historic inflection point.
This marks Ruto’s first visit to the U.S since President Donald Trump took over in January 2025.
At the 80th UNGA, the President will reaffirm Kenya’s commitment to multilateralism, advocate for reforms of the global financial system, and call for fair access to development finance for developing countries.
He will also push for reforms of the United Nations to make it more inclusive and to address global peace and security challenges, including enhancing peace efforts in Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, and Haiti.
Ten (C-10) Summit & Haiti Talks
President Ruto will also participate in the Committee of Ten (C-10) Summit, where he will champion Africa’s position on UN Security Council reform and emphasise cooperation in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
During UNGA week, Kenya will host a high-level side event on Haiti to share lessons learned since the deployment of troops under the Multinational Security Support Mission, aimed at informing the next steps in global security efforts.
As Chair of the African Union’s Committee of Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC), Ruto will also convene deliberations to consolidate Africa’s position and rally leaders ahead of COP30 in Belém, Brazil.
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Affordable Housing and Bilateral Talks
Ruto will also host a High-Level Breakfast on Affordable Housing, with more than 30 Heads of State and Government expected to attend, positioning housing as a pillar of social transformation.
Additionally, he will hold bilateral talks with global leaders, development partners, and industry executives.
The talks will advance Kenya’s interests, attract investment, and secure partnerships in key sectors such as agriculture, technology, infrastructure, and energy under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.
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Ruto Reveals Other Agendas of the U.S
Speaking about his visit, Ruto revealed plans to meet the Recording Academy, organisers of the Grammy Awards, to persuade them to fast-track the establishment of “world-class recording studios”
He said the completion of the studios in the country will pave the way for Nairobi to host the first African edition of the Grammys.
Ruto said he will also engage with leaders of major global technology companies, including Facebook, Google, and YouTube, to expand digital opportunities for Kenyans.
His agendas included M-PESA integration into Facebook’s payment system to enable seamless payouts for creators, and lobbying Google to allow Kenyans to buy adverts using M-PESA.
Ruto’s U.S State Visit
Ruto last visited the U.S. between May 20, 2024, and May 24, 2024.
It was officially a State Visit, by invitation of U.S. President Joe Biden.
His visit was historic since he was the first Kenyan presidential state visit to the U.S. in about 20 years and the first by an African head of state in 16 years.
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