Ruto to make his first UN General Assembly address as President
President William Ruto is scheduled to give his maiden speech as the Head of State at the 77th UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, United States on Wednesday.
The newly-elected leader left the country on Sunday to attend Queen Elizabeth’s funeral in London, UK, which was held on Monday, before taking a flight to New York where he joined other heads of State and Government for the 77th assembly of nations which opened on Tuesday and runs until next week on Tuesday.
Dr Ruto last represented Kenya in the 2016 United Nations General Assembly while serving as Deputy President under former President Uhuru Kenyatta. The President will also attend the high-level segment of the annual meeting from Tuesday to Friday.
Dr Ruto, who was sworn in on Tuesday last week, has so far had a very busy itinerary as the country waits for him to unveil his cabinet. In New York, he will hold bilateral talks with several Heads of State and Government on the sidelines of the annual UN meeting.
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“Participation at the highest level in the United Nations General Assembly is particularly important for Kenya as the country seeks to complete the second year of its non-permanent membership to the United Nations Security Council,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a brief.
According to the brief by the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Kenya will seek to promote its Foreign Policy at the multilateral system including enhancing participation in the quest for realization of SDGs and global leadership in emerging issues including climate change.
The 77th United Nations General Assembly coincides with the worst drought in the Horn of Africa with many countries in the region including Kenya experiencing unprecedented effects in the last forty years.
“At the bilateral level, Dr Ruto will lead Kenya’s quest to harness relations with the United States of America guided by the five pillars bilateral strategic dialogue partnership,” the brief states.
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The Head of State will also attend to a working session with senior representatives of the American businesses during which he will urge for increased trade and investment between the two countries.
In his capacity as Coordinator, the President will also chair a meeting of the Conference of African Heads of State on Climate Crisis (CAHOSCC).
The United Nations General Assembly is the main policy-making organ of the Organization. Comprising all Member States, it provides a unique forum for multilateral discussion of the full spectrum of international issues covered by the Charter of the United Nations. Each of the 193 Member States of the United Nations has an equal vote.
The Assembly meets in regular sessions from September to December each year, and thereafter as required. It discusses specific issues through dedicated agenda items or sub-items, which lead to the adoption of resolutions.
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