KENYA: Kenya’s New Head of State President William Ruto Pledges Response to Ecological Crisis
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
Credit: Courtesy Photo
In his maiden speech just after the swearing in as the fifth President of the republic of Kenya on Tuesday, September 13, His Excellency William Samoei Ruto highlighted the need of paying heed to ecological crisis as one of the major concerns for the nation.
Addressing thousands of Kenya’s and dozens of global leaders who attended the ceremony, President Ruto acknowledged that climate crisis is affecting the people of Kenya and the government will “act urgently” to defend against its impact.
“Among the central concerns of my government will be climate change,” President Ruto disclosed in his message and expounded, “In our country, women and men, young people, farmers, workers and local communities suffer the consequences of climate emergency. It is not too late to respond.”
He noted that in tackling the threat of climate crisis, “we must act urgently to keep global heating levels below 1.5C, help those in need and end addiction to fossil fuels.”
Assuring the congregation of Kenya’s capability to transition to clean energy and renewable energy, President Ruto who served previously as the country’s 11th Deputy President from 2013 to 2022 said, “We have immense potential for renewable energy. Reducing costs of renewal energy technologies make this the most viable energy source.”
“Kenya is on a transition to clean energy that will support jobs, local economies and the sustainable industrialization,” the President said and continued, “In Kenya, we will lead this endeavor by reaffirming our commitment to transition to 100% clean energy by 2030.
Disclosing that Africa has the opportunity to lead the world, he called on all African states to join Kenya in the journey it has begun so as to fulfil the dream of ecological restoration.
President Ruto assured the people of Kenya that as members of the international community, the country “shall support a successful Climate Summit in Africa in November (COP 27), by championing delivery of the finance and technology needed for Africa to adapt to climate impacts, support those in need and manage the transition.”
The 27th session of the United Nation Conference of Parties (COP 27) that was originally expected to take place in November 2021, was re-scheduled to late this year in November due to Covid-19, and will take place in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.
Speaking to AMECEA online on the same day Tuesday after the inauguration of the new Head of State, the Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Nairobi Most Rev. Philip Arnold Anyolo stressed the need for the leaders to promote unity.
“Leaders need to come together to unite the people of Kenya,” the Archbishop said in an interview basing his concern on the narrow margin of win between the winner and the loser of the just concluded elections, adding that “If they (leaders) don’t act, catastrophe will unite the people at some time.”
He encouraged the leaders to walk the path of peace, work together to build the nation knowing that “we are all people of one nation,” hence the leaders “should not look at what they are to gain but what they are to give to the people.”
