Nairobi, Kenya- President William Ruto has flown out of the country to attend the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, where he is expected to push for major reforms in global governance and amplify Africa’s voice on the world stage.
Championing Multilateralism and Financial Reforms
According to State House spokesperson Hussein Mohamed, Ruto will use his time in New York to advocate for a fairer international system. At the heart of his agenda is multilateralism—specifically, reshaping the global financial architecture to give developing nations better access to development funding.
“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,” Mohamed said in a statement.
This message comes at a time when many African leaders are calling for a system that reflects the continent’s growing role in global politics and economics.
Africa’s Seat at the Security Council Table
Another key theme for Ruto will be Africa’s representation at the UN Security Council. Currently, the continent only holds non-permanent seats, which rotate every two years. Under the ongoing Intergovernmental Negotiations on reform, member states are pushing for additional permanent and non-permanent seats to reflect today’s global realities.
The Security Council’s powerful permanent members—the P5—are China, France, Russia, the UK, and the United States. Ruto and other African leaders argue that excluding Africa from permanent membership undermines the credibility of the Council as a truly representative global body.
Kenya’s Role in Haiti and Regional Peacekeeping
Beyond institutional reforms, Kenya’s presence at the General Assembly will also highlight its role in global peacekeeping. Ruto is expected to engage in discussions on the Haiti Multinational Security Support Mission, which Kenya has led since deploying troops two years ago.
The mission, supported by forces from Jamaica, the Bahamas, and Barbados, has faced severe hurdles. Armed gangs have overrun much of Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, while the mission itself struggles with insufficient personnel, limited equipment, and logistical difficulties. To date, nearly three Kenyan soldiers have lost their lives in violent clashes during the operation.
For Ruto, the high-level UNGA week presents both an opportunity and a challenge: to present Kenya as a key player in shaping international systems while navigating the complex realities of peacekeeping abroad.
His call for inclusivity at the United Nations and a fairer global financial order underscores Kenya’s growing ambition to influence decisions that affect not just Africa, but the world.
