President Ruto’s Complete speech at the United Nations General Assembly

In a hurry? Here’s a quick summary…

• President Ruto called for urgent reforms to the UN system, focusing on climate change, inequality, and global financial restructuring, while advocating for Africa’s representation on the UN Security Council.
• He detailed Kenya’s climate initiatives and progress in peace efforts in Haiti, while warning about the risks of widening global inequality due to rapid technological advancements.

In his address to the United Nations General Assembly, President William Ruto underscored the need for urgent reforms within the UN system, citing its failure to effectively tackle pressing global issues such as climate change, rising inequality, and the crippling debt burden faced by developing nations.

Speaking to world leaders, Ruto emphasized the severity of the rapidly evolving challenges confronting humanity. He warned that without bold and immediate action, the world faces an unprecedented global crisis. 

“The planet is heating up, our climate is in crisis, oceans are rising, deserts are spreading, and conflict is engulfing the world. Millions are displaced, poor, and without access to basic services,” Ruto remarked.

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The Kenyan president criticized the current multilateral system, particularly its shortcomings in addressing complex global issues like climate change and financial inequality. He called for a comprehensive overhaul of international financial systems, with a focus on empowering marginalized populations, especially women and youth, and closing the widening digital divide. 

“We have no choice but to reject outdated systems and reimagine a framework of international cooperation that works for all 8 billion of us on the planet,” Ruto declared.

Ruto also highlighted Africa’s continued underrepresentation on the UN Security Council, labeling it a “matter of justice” that demands urgent attention. 

He further advocated for UN-backed, regionally-led peace operations to address complex security situations, particularly in conflict-prone regions.

Turning to Kenya’s climate agenda, Ruto detailed the nation’s ambitious plans to combat climate change, including increasing forest cover by 30% through the planting of 15 billion trees, a project spearheaded by Kenyan youth. 

He also announced the launch of “Climate Works,” a new initiative aimed at employing 200,000 young people in sustainable public works focused on ecological restoration and infrastructure development.

However, Ruto cautioned that rapid technological advancements, particularly in artificial intelligence, are exacerbating global inequalities by widening the digital divide. 

He stressed that although Africa holds crucial resources for the tech revolution, it has not reaped equitable benefits, calling for fairer access to the gains of the digital age.

In reflecting on Kenya’s international contributions, Ruto highlighted the progress in the country’s peace mission in Haiti. 

Having visited Port-au-Prince just a day earlier, Ruto praised the success of Africa-led peace efforts, noting that what once seemed an impossible mission is now a tangible step toward peace in Haiti.

President Ruto reiterated his call for global financial reforms, advocating for innovative solutions in debt relief and development financing, especially for Africa and the Global South. 

He pointed to key discussions at the 2023 UN SDG Summit and the upcoming 2025 Financing for Development Forum as critical opportunities to address these financial gaps.

In his closing remarks, Ruto expressed optimism for a future global framework that could effectively address these challenges but underscored the urgency of reforming current multilateral institutions, stressing that this necessity “cannot be delayed.”