Latest news with #WilliamRuto
Malaysia Sun
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Malaysia Sun
UN-Habitat Assembly ends with adoption of strategic plan to tackle housing crisis
The resumed second session of the United Nations Habitat Assembly concluded late Friday in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, with the adoption of a bold strategic plan aimed at tackling the global housing crisis. NAIROBI, June 1 (Xinhua) -- The resumed second session of the United Nations Habitat Assembly concluded late Friday in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, with the adoption of a bold strategic plan aimed at tackling the global housing crisis. More than 1,300 delegates, including ministers, city mayors, urban planners, innovators, donors, campaigners, and entrepreneurs, attended the premier event that ran from Thursday to Friday. Held every four years, the assembly is the world's highest decision-making body on sustainable urbanization and human settlement, composed of 193 UN member states. Kenyan President William Ruto hailed the consensus-based adoption of the United Nations Human Settlements Program's (UN-Habitat) Strategic Plan 2026-2029, saying it will guide the establishment of climate-smart and inclusive cities in the future. "The adoption of this strategic plan reaffirms our commitment to urban renewal through equitable and adequate access to housing," Ruto said, urging UN member states to establish global champions for affordable housing. Besides adopting the strategic plan for tackling the global housing crisis, the two-day meeting elected a new presidency of the assembly to be shared by Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 2025 to 2029 alongside 36 members of the Executive Board of the UN-Habitat. During the assembly, it was also announced that the 13th session of the World Urban Forum will be held in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, on May 17-22, 2026, under the theme "Housing the world: Safe and resilient cities and communities." The UN-Habitat's strategic plan seeks to boost access to housing, land, and basic services, such as clean drinking water and sanitation, aligning with the global quest for converting cities into hubs for green innovation, prosperity, and resilience. Anaclaudia Rossbach, executive director of the UN-Habitat, said the plan is rooted in the bold vision of transforming cities through upgrading informal settlements, improving land governance, accelerating climate action, and eradicating poverty. Rossbach stressed that political goodwill, innovative financing, partnerships, and targeted use of technology will be key to hastening the implementation of the strategic plan, ensuring that urbanization is both resilient and sustainable. Alice Wahome, Kenya's cabinet secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development, who read Ruto's speech, said the strategy presents a solid blueprint for realizing urban renewal through increased access to decent shelter, safe drinking water, sanitation, and waste management. In addition, the plan will boost post-recovery efforts in cities reeling from conflicts, poverty, inequalities, and fragilities linked to the climate crisis, Wahome said.
Malaysia Sun
2 days ago
- Politics
- Malaysia Sun
Roundup: UN-Habitat Assembly ends with adoption of strategic plan to tackle housing crisis
NAIROBI, May 31 (Xinhua) -- The resumed second session of the United Nations Habitat Assembly concluded late Friday in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, with the adoption of a bold strategic plan aimed at tackling the global housing crisis. More than 1,300 delegates, including ministers, city mayors, urban planners, innovators, donors, campaigners, and entrepreneurs, attended the premier event that ran from Thursday to Friday. Held every four years, the assembly is the world's highest decision-making body on sustainable urbanization and human settlement, composed of 193 UN member states. Kenyan President William Ruto hailed the consensus-based adoption of the United Nations Human Settlements Program's (UN-Habitat) Strategic Plan 2026-2029, saying it will guide the establishment of climate-smart and inclusive cities in the future. "The adoption of this strategic plan reaffirms our commitment to urban renewal through equitable and adequate access to housing," Ruto said, urging UN member states to establish global champions for affordable housing. Besides adopting the strategic plan for tackling the global housing crisis, the two-day meeting elected a new presidency of the assembly to be shared by Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 2025 to 2029 alongside 36 members of the Executive Board of the UN-Habitat. During the assembly, it was also announced that the 13th session of the World Urban Forum will be held in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, on May 17-22, 2026, under the theme "Housing the world: Safe and resilient cities and communities." The UN-Habitat's strategic plan seeks to boost access to housing, land, and basic services, such as clean drinking water and sanitation, aligning with the global quest for converting cities into hubs for green innovation, prosperity, and resilience. Anaclaudia Rossbach, executive director of the UN-Habitat, said the plan is rooted in the bold vision of transforming cities through upgrading informal settlements, improving land governance, accelerating climate action, and eradicating poverty. Rossbach stressed that political goodwill, innovative financing, partnerships, and targeted use of technology will be key to hastening the implementation of the strategic plan, ensuring that urbanization is both resilient and sustainable. Alice Wahome, Kenya's cabinet secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development, who read Ruto's speech, said the strategy presents a solid blueprint for realizing urban renewal through increased access to decent shelter, safe drinking water, sanitation, and waste management. In addition, the plan will boost post-recovery efforts in cities reeling from conflicts, poverty, inequalities, and fragilities linked to the climate crisis, Wahome said.
Zawya
3 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Inside new Kenya and Tanzania foreign policies
Kenya and Tanzania have, separately, launched foreign policies looking to cement trading and integration ties, suggesting that the recent public spats between their peoples has no impact on their plans. Last week, Tanzania launched its revised edition of the foreign policy amid push back against Kenyan and Ugandan activists bashing it over the trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu. The new edition of the Tanzanian foreign policy has labelled this strategy a 'dual-track' management of international relations. It places neighbours such as Kenya, Uganda and other partners in the East African Community (EAC), and Africa, on one side, and partners beyond the continent on the other. Tanzania, President Suluhu said, will enhance and reset trade ties, revitalise cross-border trade under the EAC harmonised regional business protocols, and attract multinational business companies to the region.'This is a journey of new thinking in building our diplomatic presence and positioning our country and government on the international stage,' the Tanzanian leader said on May 19. Kenya's foreign policyMeanwhile in Kenya, Sessional Paper No. 1 of 2025, the parliamentary document that adopted the new foreign policy, states that the country will strengthen ties within the region while adjusting to a changing world order, adopting new measures and seeking new partners. According to an appended note from President William Ruto, Kenya has a 'steadfast trajectory towards prioritising regional integration, deepening of intra-African ties and elevating new pan-Africanism, even as we continue to strengthen and expand our country's global footprints'. Nairobi sees the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as crucial. Anthony Mwangi: How AfCFTA can insulate Africa against trade warsThe policy states that Kenya will also endeavour 'to maintain an independent and pragmatic foreign policy, which basically requires that the country elevates partnerships with traditional allies, while diversifying into building new relationships with the rising powers and formations like the Brics.'Kenya and Tanzania have prioritised tourism through shared cross-border resources, mostly the wildlife, geographic attractive areas, including mountains, lakes and the Indian Ocean beaches, cultural and historical heritages. Change of stanceBut they are also upending some of their traditions. For example, the Kenyan document suggests a case-by-case analysis of entities on self-determination. While Kenya recognises the One China policy with regard to Taiwan and the federal government in Mogadishu as the entity in charge of Somalia as a whole, it is changing its stance on supporting the secession of Western Sahara. The Parliamentary Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations recommended this change, citing 'the evolving nature of geopolitics.'Kenya, which had stayed out of the Brics+ race, now says it will consider joining the bloc in the future.'As it continues to monitor the strategic significance of this bloc, Kenya has meanwhile, signalled its intent to consider joining the Brics, which has emerged as a major economic and trading bloc, which by early 2024 represented 46 percent of the world's population, 35 percent of the world's GDP when measured at purchasing power parity, and 23.3 percent share of the global merchandise exports,' the policy says. Tanzania's foreign policyTanzania's ruling CCM party supported the political liberation of like-minded countries across the continent. For example, it backed the African National Congress in their fight against apartheid in South Africa and supported decolonisation in Namibia and Zimbabwe. Tanzania now seeks stronger economic ties with these partners, and is looking to forge new partnerships beyond the continent — a lesson learnt from the past.'The emergence of trade wars has led to monopolies and protectionism, eroding the principles of global commerce and shaking the foundations of our promised globalisation,' President Suluhu said. The new policy shows that Dodoma will strengthen its role in regional blocs, contrary to public perception of aloofness to regional integration. In fact, it says it will improve infrastructure connecting to all its neighbours to ease trade and raise cooperation on security and other common challenges. With a population of about 320 million people, the EAC creates a large, single market worth about $254 billion, making it a powerful regional bloc with greater influence to global economic platforms, the Tanzanian policy says. One project seen as crucial is $10 billion East African Crude Oil Pipeline (Eacop) with Uganda, which Dodoma sees as a pillar to cement regional cooperation. Even in the face of mounting anti-crude oil campaigners, both countries have stuck to the project, seeing it as crucial to the export of the oil from Uganda's Albertine Basin. Kenya's Foreign and Diaspora Ministry said this week that Tanzania is still one of its most important regional trading a partners, with about 250,000 Kenyans living and doing business in Tanzania.'Tanzania ranks sixth among Kenya's export destinations, accounting for 23 percent of our exports to the East African Community market,' said Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.
The Independent
4 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Kenyans mourn African literature giant Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o
In a bookstore in Kenya's capital, the proprietor arranged a shelf exclusively carrying books by Kenyan author Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o, who died Wednesday in the United States. Bennet Mbata, who has sold African literature at the Nuria Bookstore for more than 30 years in the capital, Nairobi, said he enjoyed reading Ngũgĩ's writing and is sad 'he'll never write again.' Kenya President William Ruto on Thursday paid tribute to the man he called 'the towering giant of Kenyan letters,' saying Ngũgĩ's courage shaped thoughts around social justice and abuse of political power. 'His patriotism is undeniable, and even those who disagree with him will admit that Prof Thiong'o's discourse always sprang forth from a deep and earnest quest for truth and understanding, devoid of malice, hatred or contempt,' Ruto wrote on X. Following Ngũgĩ's death at 87 in Bedford, Georgia, Kenyans are reminiscing about the days his literature criticized an autocratic administration, which led to his arrest and imprisonment in the 1970s. Macharia Munene, a professor of history and international relations at United States International University-Africa in Nairobi, told The Associated Press on Thursday that Ngũgĩ's writing was 'hard hitting' but also a 'true reflection of society.' Munene said he regrets Thiong'o didn't receive the Nobel Prize for Literature despite several nominations. Munene described the author as one of the few African writers whose writing was different. 'He wrote English like an African, another gift that very few people have,' Munene said, noting that Ngũgĩ later transitioned to only writing in his native Kikuyu language. Munene urged current writers to be 'true to themselves' and write from their hearts, but cautioned there may be some 'hard consequences like was the case for Ngũgĩ.' Ngũgĩ lived in exile for decades and escaped attempted assassination twice following his criticism of President Daniel Moi's administration in the 1970s and 1980s. Current Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga sent condolences to the author's family, saying 'a giant African has fallen.' The author's son and fellow writer, Mukoma Wa Ngũgĩ, posted a tribute on X: 'I am me because of him in so many ways, as his child, scholar and writer.' At Ngũgĩ's Kenyan home in Kamirithu, in Kiambu county in the outskirts of Nairobi, workers were seen trimming fences and clearing bushes in preparation for mourners and visitors alike. Fellow Kenyan writer David Maillu, 85, told the AP that Ngũgĩ 'touched the hearts of the people' by writing about the 'cultural destruction' that took place during colonization. Born in 1938, Ngũgĩ's first books told the story of British colonial rule and the uprising by Mau Mau freedom fighters. Since the 1970s, Ngũgĩ' mostly lived in exile overseas, emigrating to England and eventually settling in California, where he was a Distinguished Professor of English and Comparative Literature at the University of California, Irvine.
Eyewitness News
4 days ago
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Kenya student on trial for fake caption of Ruto 'funeral'
NAIROBI - A Kenyan university student was in court on Thursday, charged with publishing false information over a fake picture caption pretending that President William Ruto was dead. Kenya has been cracking down on critics of the government since massive protests against tax rises and corruption last June. Security forces are accused by rights groups of killing at least 60 people during the protests and abducting dozens more in the aftermath. David Mokaya, 24, was arrested late last year after posting a picture of a funeral procession on social media with the caption: "President William Ruto's Body leaves Lee Funeral Home". At the latest hearing on Thursday, the case was quickly adjourned to July 31. Mokaya's lawyer said the case was "an attack on freedom of expression". "Our client was taking the right... as a citizen of Kenya to express his political opinions, express political satire... and also criticise the head of state," he told AFP. "Political satire is not a crime," he added. "The case is very flimsy." In December, at least five people went missing for several weeks, with rights groups saying they were targeted by security forces for similar online satire. At least two of them were abducted after sharing AI-generated photos of Ruto in a coffin. Another of the group, cartoonist Gideon Kibet -- also known as Kibet Bull -- had been posting cartoons of the president but after his abduction said he would stop. Rights groups blame a shadowy unit drawn from intelligence and counter-terrorism agencies for the abductions. The government and police have denied responsibility. But Ruto earlier this month appeared to take responsibility, telling a press conference: "All the people who disappeared or who were abducted... have been brought back to their families... and I have given clarity and firm instructions that nothing of that kind of nature will happen again."
