President William Ruto left the country on Wednesday, September 13 for the United States on official visit.
According to a press release seen by The Kenya Times, the visit emphasizes Kenya’s commitment to tech innovation and its pivotal role as a trade partner with the US.
“President Ruto will visit Silicon Valley in San Francisco, where he will meet with tech leaders of Microsoft, Intel, Google, and Apple, among others,” said Hussein Mohammed, State House Spokesperson.
Further, he explained that the visit aims at enhancing investment opportunities and trade relations with the US.
This, he said will majorly focus on nurturing Kenya’s thriving start-up sector known as the “Silicon Savannah.”
“The President will emphasize Kenya’s young talent, green energy initiatives and its value as an alternative supply chain for American companies,” he said.
Ruto to Attend United Nations General Assembly
Thereafter, President Ruto will attend the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session in New York.
The global gathering will assess progress towards the 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Moreover, it will address critical global challenges such as the climate crisis and debt concerns in the Global South.
UNGA 78 first high-level General Debate will be on Tuesday, 19 September 2023.
Further, the theme of the General Assembly’s 78th session will be ‘Rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity: Accelerating action on the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals towards peace, prosperity, progress and sustainability for all’.
Climate Ambition Summit
Additionally, the Head of State will participate in the UN Secretary-General’s Climate Ambition Summit, building on the successes of the recently concluded Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi.
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“On the sidelines of the General Assembly, President Ruto will chair a session of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change and participate in discussions on the High-Level Panel for Sustainable Ocean Economy,” stated Mohammed.
President Ruto will also hold bilateral meetings with other World leaders.
The African Agenda
During the inauguration of the Africa Climate Summit held between 4th to 6th September in Nairobi, Kenya, President Ruto said that Africa has the potential of becoming a green industrial hub that helps other regions achieve their net zero strategies by 2050.
“Africa can power all energy needs with renewable resources. The continent has enough potential to be entirely self-sufficient with the mix of wind, solar, geothermal, sustainable biomass, and hydropower,” stated the president.
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Nonetheless, President Ruto revealed that creation of demand on sufficient scale to provide incentives for appropriate private investment in energy infrastructure development is a major challenge in bridging the investment gap enabling Africa to meet its energy needs.
Moreover, President Ruto noted that renewable energy resources are an ultimate catalyst of radical socio-economic prosperity as well as an environmental necessity.
Ruto said clean energy can fuel sustainable development, drive economic growth, create jobs, and uplift millions from energy poverty all while reducing carbon footprint, continentally and globally.
