Ruto's Diary: From meeting Kenyan police in Haiti to busy schedule in New York

This week saw President William Ruto spend his time outside the country in the United States of America.

Ruto, who departed the country Friday night, has been in New York for the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Kenya is one of the 193 member states of the United Nations.

Several other heads of state from the continent, among other world leaders, are also attending the meeting.

Ruto landed in the US Saturday afternoon before proceeding to Haiti to check on the progress of the officers deployed to the country under the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS).

His visit marked exactly 100 days since their deployment.

While addressing the officers, he stated that the mission has continued to yield positive results, restoring hope to the people of the Caribbean nation for a stable and prosperous country.

“In my engagement with the Transitional Presidential Council led by President Edgard Le Leblanc and other stakeholders, I have urged them to take advantage of this relative calm to drive the momentum for progressive change,” he said.

“I am now better prepared to engage world leaders on Haiti at UN General Assembly this week. We will be calling attention to the need to seize the opportunity of the last few weeks to realise the mandate of Security Council Resolution 2699,” he added.

He also committed to deploying 600 more officers in the operation.

Sunday

Back in the US, he attended the Summit of the Future's interactive dialogue session.

In his address, he stressed the need to address structural and financial issues that continue to cripple multilateral financial institutions and disproportionately affect developing countries.

“These include limited fiscal capacity, rising debt, unfair credit ratings and uneven interest rates that threaten the realisation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” he said.

Ruto noted that The fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Spain next year might be our last chance to make significant reforms to meet the SDGs.

This involves urgently closing financing gaps, bridging institutional divides and restoring trust in multilateralism.

Finland president

During the same day, the Head of State held talks with Finland President Alexander Stubb.

The talks centred on bilateral ties between Kenya and Finland, which he said have continued to enjoy strong ties, strengthened through collaborations on areas of shared interests.

“We are keen on enhancing our partnership to empower our citizens as well as advance global goals such as peace, security, and climate action,” he said.

Crown Prince of Kuwait

Ruto also met the Crown Prince of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah.

He said they agreed to work towards enhancing trade and investment between our nations, investing in education, developing Special Economic Zones, implementing labour agreements and accessing markets for Kenyan products.

“Through our cooperation, we have witnessed major infrastructural developments that have enhanced our country’s transformation journey,” he stated.

Iraq PM

Ruto ended the day’s events by having an engagement with the Prime Minister of Iraq, Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani.

He said they engaged in discussions about the opening of a Kenyan Embassy in Iraq to deepen our relations.

“We are exploring ways of escalating our ties with Iraq, which promises to be a solid partner in trade, agriculture, and labour mobility. Our broader focus is to secure market for our tea, coffee and beef in the arab nation,” he said in a statement.

Monday

He started by meeting Kenyan Diaspora working at the United Nations at the Kenyan Permanent Mission, New York.

More than 1,800 Kenyans according to Ruto are currently working at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

He assured them that the government is dedicated to implementing robust measures that support the Kenyan Diaspora.

“Under our new labour mobility programme, we are also scanning and expanding opportunities for Kenyans to work in foreign countries,” said the head of state.

He also addressed the Summit of the Future, United Nations General Assembly Hall, New York.

Here, he called for the implementation of bold reforms at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to provide the necessary capacity to tackle rapidly evolving complex global challenges.

The current system, he stated, has proven inadequate in addressing crises such as climate change, inequality, the debt burden, and conflict.

The current arrangement continues to falter in providing any, let alone timely, solutions. Without immediate action, humanity will face an unprecedented global crisis, he stated.

Thereafter, he attended the Dinner of the Golden Plate Award ceremony at the Lincoln Centre Plaza, New York.

During the event, Faith Kipyegon and Beatrice Chebet were recognised and awarded by the Academy of Achievement.

“The extraordinary honour is a solid tribute to your hard work, talent, and dedication to athletics. No doubt, it will inspire upcoming athletes and help shape our country’s sports,” said the president.

The president also co-chaired the US-Kenya Business and Investment Roundtable at the Westin Hotel.

Present were President and CEO, of Corporate Council on Africa Florizelle Liser, Chairman of the Corporate Council on Africa John Olajide, and Chairman of the Kenya Private Sector Alliance Jas Bedi, among others.

Kenya, he said, is enriching its policies and the legal framework to better meet the needs of international investors.

At the United Nations Headquarters, he attended the Leader-Level Meeting of the Economic and Social Council Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti.

In his address, he called on UNSC to renew the MSS mandate and adopt innovative approaches to resource it.

The international community must also intensify its support to the Mission, which has yielded significant positive outcomes — reviving economic activity and hope in Haiti, he added.

Tuesday

Jamaica PM

Ruto met Andrew Holness where they agreed to rally the international community to avail adequate resources for the MSS in Haiti.

They also agreed to strengthen their ties further, both bilaterally and multilaterally.

Dominican Republic president

During an engagement with President Luis Abinader, Ruto welcomed the commitment of the nation to support the MSS mission.

The medical evacuation and supplies — and additional troops — will boost the operation and advance peace and stability in Haiti, he said.

Kingdom of Netherlands

He met Queen Máxima, where they discussed the partnership aimed as providing reliable financial solutions to the economically deprived communities, thereby promoting economic growth in our country.

Senegal president

Together with opposition leader Raila Odinga and other leaders accompanying him, Ruto met President Diomaye Faye.

He also committed to deepening their ties to advance shared goals in peace, development, and continental integration.

He also met the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment of Indonesia, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan.

Kenya and Indonesia, he said, are exploring ways to strengthening ties for our shared prosperity.

“In particular, we will collaborate in establishing alternative financing alliances for sustainable development,” he said.

Ghana president

During the Atlantic Council of Global Citizen Awards dinner, he introduced President Nana Akufo who is the recipient of the 2024 Global Citizen Award.

He also called on leaders to commit to the Agenda 2063 of the African Union and harness the huge potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area to propel our growth and prosperity.

Ford Foundation president

On the same day, he held talks with President Darren Walker where he appreciated the organisation’s commitment to safeguarding and protecting democracy.

He also called for reforms in the global economic institutions, climate action and modern technology regulation.

Wednesday

He co-hosted the Global Renewables Summit with Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Amor Mottley.

According to Ruto, erratic and costly energy supply hinders Africa from fully utilising its abundant resources for development.

He vowed to continue pushing for the correction of financial disparities and unfair systems that leave Africa with less than two per cent of the world's renewable energy investment despite being endowed with over 60 per cent of the world’s best solar potential.

“To overcome the crippling energy poverty, we must give priority to industrialisation and economic growth,”

He also attended a high-level meeting on “Multilateralism Works: Leadership and Sustaining the HIV Response to 2030 and Beyond”

Kenya is the chair of the UNAIDS Board.

In his address, he noted that as we celebrate the gains made in combating HIV and Aids, we must also acknowledge the power of multilateralism in fostering transformative global partnerships.

In another similar event, he attended a High-Level event on securing the health and well-being of every woman, child and adolescent.

It was hosted by South Africa president Cyril Ramaphosa.

In Kenya, he said they have deployed Community Health Promoters to deliver crucial medical care directly to the grassroots, ensuring the well-being of women, children and other vulnerable groups for a sustainable future.

WFP

He also met Executive Director of the World Food Programme Cindy McCain where they discussed about the expanding of the school feeding programme.

This is in addition to boosting enrollment, especially in marginalised parts of the country and informal settlements in Nairobi and other urban areas.

Angola president

Ruto held talks with president João Lourenço where they discussed the strengthening of the African Union.

Ruto said Lourenç committed to advocate for the mobilisation of more resources, including equipment and air support for the MSS mission.

WMO SG

In a meeting with World Meteorological Organisation Secretary-General Celeste Saulo, Ruto assured her that Kenya supports global cooperation and resource mobilisation to enhance climate resilience to bolster the ability of developing countries to forecast, prepare for and mitigate climate-related disasters.

He later gave an address during the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC).

Ruto also hosted the inaugural Africa Green Industrialisation Initiative Steering Committee meeting and later attended the

“The African Green Industrialisation Initiative aims to break down silos and foster collaboration in the implementation of green industrialisation, a key driver not only for continental economic transformation but also for global climate action,” he stated.

He was also one of the leaders during the extraordinary meeting of the Committee of the African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change.

Thursday

He hosted the Galvanizing Momentum for the Global Plastic Pollution Instrument meeting.

A global plastic treaty will enhance international cooperation, drive investment in circular economies, and create a coordinated response, he said.

France president

Ruto met president Emmanuel Macron during the Paris Pact for the People and the Planet Coalition leaders lunch.

At the meeting, he stated that Africa is committed to pursuing a more responsive and equitable international financial system, including climate-resilient debt clauses, which provide financial flexibility for nations facing climate-related disasters.

“Our collective position is that no country should be forced to choose between eradicating poverty and protecting the planet,” he said.

UK PM

Ruto and Prime Minister Keir Starmer held discussions focused on implementation of the Railway City project, the extension of our strategic partnership agreement, and the expansion of trade between our two nations.

Kenya and the United Kingdom have a long-standing history of collaboration and friendship.

“We are committed to strengthening our cooperation in climate financing, implementing renewable energy initiatives, and advocating for reforms in the international financial system,” he said.

Ruto later delivered a Kenya's national statement during the day also.