Man of the hour! President William Ruto this week had a historic moment as he led the much anticipated Africa Climate Summit.
All roads in Nairobi led to the Kenyatta International Convention Centre where the event was taking place.
The event attracted Heads of State and thousands of dignitaries from across the African continent.
Leaders in Kenya and across the continent praised Ruto for his eloquence, oratory skills and the role he chose to play in the summit.
Monday
On Monday, in a rare occurrence, President Ruto drove himself in a battery electric vehicle from the State House to KICC.
Before the August 2022 elections, as part of the election campaign in Kenya, electric mobility, utility-scale battery storage, energy efficiency, and green hydrogen featured prominently in election manifestos.
Since then, Ruto's led Kenya Kwanza government has reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to transition to 100 percent clean energy by 2030.
This is the first-ever climate summit co-hosted by Kenya and the African Union.
Ruto welcomed all delegates who responded to the call to attend the summit.
"I welcome everyone to the Africa Climate Summit. You have not just stepped into a conference hall but into the future. This is no ordinary summit," he said.
Ruto announced that Kenya will upgrade its national power grid from three Giga Watts to 100 Giga Watts by 2040.
He said of the 3 Giga Watts which is currently operating, 92 per cent of the power is renewable.
Tuesday
On Tuesday President Ruto called for global collaboration in addressing global warming.
While addressing the Africa Climate Summit he said countries cannot approach climate action and human development “from a disconnected or in an adversarial manner” to make substantial change.
Ruto termed the summit a preamble to this year’s United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) slated for November 30 through December 12 in Dubai.
He resorted to using a Kalenjin saying in trying to explain why Africa is rooting for a new global climate financing architecture.
The President said debt distress, worsened by the prevailing climate crisis, has impoverished Africa.
This poor state of affairs, he said, needs to change by having a financing model that does not sink the continent deeper into poverty, a worse-off state than debt.
Still, on Tuesday, Ruto announced that it was time Africa changed the conversation and suggested the introduction of carbon tax.
He said that carbon tax is the only way the countries can raise adequate resources.
"To unlock the resources that we need to drive this new investment and financial opportunities, especially for green energy, we believe it is time to have a conversation about carbon tax," Ruto said.
Ruto's ‘Mambo Ni Matatu’ phrase also made a debut at the Africa Climate Summit.
President William Ruto used it in his speech while explaining ways to ease access to finances by African countries.
"While we are thinking about financing in Africa, three things are very important. As they say in Kenya, mambo ni matatu (there are three things)," he said.
"Speed, scale and affordability are required to ease access to finances by African countries."
In a more calm serenity, President Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto on Tuesday night hosted a State House dinner.
The dinner was attended by the Heads of State and dignitaries who during the day had participated in the Africa Climate Summit.
Wiper Movement Party leader and Azimio principal Kalonzo Musyoka was among the guests at the dinner.
Wednesday
On Wednesday being the last day of the major events at the Summit, Ruto read out the Nairobi declaration.
He highlighted that the Nairobi Declaration will set the stage for a new approach to global climate action.
Ruto said it also reaffirmed the continent's determination to fight climate change.
"The Nairobi Declaration, our common stand and firm resolution, reaffirms our determination and sets the stage for a new phase in the global climate action and sustainable development agenda, giving the future of socio-economic transformation a distinct and affirmative African character," he said.
Thursday
On Thursday, The Head of State left Kenya for Tanzania to join other leaders at the Africa Food Systems Summit in Dar es Salaam.
The four-day conference attracted about 5,400 participants from around the world to discuss issues around the African food systems which are hit by the impact of Covid-19 pandemic, Russia-Ukraine war and climate change, among other global challenges.
Kenya and Tanzania then engaged in a friendly exchange over the Swahili language.
Tanzania President Samia Suluhu while reading her speech recalled how her Kenyan counterpart William Ruto taught delegates a bit of Swahili during the Africa Climate Summit.
However, she said Ruto ought to have used the right Swahili phrase.
On a light rejoinder, President Ruto said that he wanted to highlight that both countries were good at something.
"Vile alikuwa ( Madowo) anataka kusema ni mnatuzungumzia kwa kiswahili sanifu na sisi tunawazungumzia kingereza," he said.
This loosely translates to: What Madowo wanted to say is Tanzanians will speak fluent Swahili and Kenyans will speak good English.
Friday
On Friday, the President had a quiet diary with details not known to the press.
Saturday
On Saturday, Ruto joined his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua and other UDA leaders in opening the party's offices in Nyeri.
President William Ruto called for the merger of Kenya Kwanza affiliate parties.
Speaking on Saturday during the opening of the UDA offices in Nyeri, Ruto said the merger will strengthen the UDA party to cater to the interest of the people.
"We are going to make sure that we build a national party that is going to unite the country, communities, and interests from every corner so that we can eliminate the politics of ethnicity in Kenya," Ruto said.
He also said that he is proud of the Mt Kenya region for helping the country do away with tribal politics.
Speaking in Naromoru, during the thanksgiving service for Energy PS Alex Kamau, Ruto said because of this decision, the PS will work for all Kenyans.
The President said this also because they want to serve Kenyans in the manner in which they elected the Kenya Kwanza administration into office.
Sunday
On Sunday, Ruto will be in Meru for a church service.