Kenya will use the 81st United Nations General Assembly to push for changes in global governance while seeking progress on climate finance, debt sustainability, digital trade and regional security, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei has said.
Sing’oei said on Thursday that Kenya’s engagement at the General Assembly would come as the United Nations reviews how it operates under the UN80 Initiative and as member states discuss the future direction of the organisation.
The 81st session opened on September 8, with the high-level week running from September 18 to 28. The general debate is scheduled for September 22 to 26 and September 28, with nearly 130 heads of state and government expected to attend in person.
The session is being held under the theme “Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all.” Bangladesh’s Khalilur Rahman is presiding over the 81st session.
Sing’oei said the meeting was taking place at a time when several major global processes were coming together, including the implementation of UN80 reforms, the selection of the next UN Secretary-General and discussions on changes to the global financial system.
“UNGA this year is happening at a moment of systemic reset. The president of the General Assembly has outlined six priorities that define the global agenda: peace and security, accelerating the SDGs, climate resilience, human rights, digital governance, and AI, and UN reform.”
The six areas broadly match the priorities of the 81st General Assembly, which cover peace and security, sustainable development, climate resilience, human rights, innovation and inclusion, as well as renewed multilateral cooperation and UN80 reform.
The UN80 Initiative was launched as the organisation marked 80 years and seeks to make the UN system more coordinated, efficient and effective. Its reforms cover the review of mandates, Secretariat operations and changes to structures and programmes.
In March, the General Assembly adopted Resolution 80/251 to strengthen the way UN mandates are created, implemented and reviewed. Member states are leading the reform process, while the UN Secretariat is providing technical support.
Sing’oei said Kenya would use the discussions to push for a stronger African role in global decision-making, including changes to the UN Security Council.
“Africa's voice on the reform of the United Nations is a matter of great priority to President Ruto and to Africa. The president of UNGA 81 has already signaled that this is not 1945, surfacing the call for reform. This call directly supports Africa's position on UN Security Council reform and inclusive governance.”
Climate finance will also feature prominently in Kenya’s engagement, with a high-level meeting on climate action and the just transition scheduled for September 23. The meeting is expected to bring together leaders from major economies, developing countries, vulnerable nations and major energy producers and consumers.
Sing’oei said Kenya’s participation would build on its climate diplomacy and its role in hosting the inaugural Africa Climate Summit.
“Third, climate and financing leadership, with a high-level event on climate action and just transition scheduled for the September 23, Kenya, having hosted the inaugural Africa Climate Summit, demands that our presence be at the highest level, in order for us to advance a credible position.”
He also pointed to economic diplomacy as a major part of Kenya’s participation, noting that the General Assembly brings together political leaders, financial institutions and investors.
According to Sing’oei, previous UNGA meetings had opened discussions on trade, investment, climate partnerships, sports and housing, with bilateral meetings providing opportunities to develop partnerships.
“We suggested to the president that there is a clear pattern at each UNGA that he has attended, at heads of state level, his speeches, his engagements have converted into infrastructure, financing, investment pipelines, and norm setting.”
Kenya will therefore focus its bilateral engagements during the 81st UNGA on areas including peace, climate finance, UN reform and digital cooperation.
The General Assembly is the UN’s main policy-making body, bringing together all 193 member states, with each country having one vote. The high-level week will also feature meetings on climate action and the just transition, sea-level rise, pandemic preparedness and other global issues.