Uhuru Addresses World Leaders in New York, Lists Kenya’s Achievements

President Kenyatta highlighted Kenya’s achievements in his address to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on Wednesday.

In his speech, Uhuru said Kenya has made significant progress in the areas of education, healthcare, environmental protection and economic development.

Kenyatta told world leaders that Kenya is committed to solving its maritime boundary dispute with neighboring Somalia through mediation.

“I am hopeful that the federal government of Somalia will be amenable to the search for a sustainable resolution to this dispute,” Kenyatta said.

He indicated that Kenya’s investment in education has enabled the county to have the highest rate of school enrolment in East Africa, an average of 10.7 years. Kenya has also achieved 100 percent transition from primary to secondary school, Kenyatta noted.

He also said the government of Kenya facilitates girls’ education by providing all female school students with sanitary towels.

Uhuru mentioned mobile money transfer system M-Pesa as an effective tool for economic development in Kenya.

“Taking advantage of mobile phone financial services, we have more than tripled financial inclusion, from 26 percent in 2006 to 82 percent in 2019,” Kenyatta said.

President Uhuru cited climate change as one of the factors intensifying conflicts in the Horn of Africa and other regions.

“In the Horn of Africa region, a complexity of factors has, in the last three or so decades, led to multi-layered threats to peace,” he noted.

“Never have we world leaders faced such a stark choice — redeem the world or destroy it.”

On protection of the environment, Uhuru said Kenya has banned single-use plastic bags, launched the largest wind-power project in Africa and is one of the largest producers of geothermal power in the world.

On healthcare, he said Kenya is also on track to achieve universal health coverage in three years’ time.

Kenyatta also used the opportunity to seek support for Kenya's bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council during the elections slated for June next year.

He said Kenya’s candidature for the seat is motivated by a 'pursuit for solutions to global challenges.’
"We hope that our experience, competencies and unrelenting search for peace and prosperity in our neighborhood, on the continent and the wider world, will persuade the entire UN Membership to support the African Union candidate, for the non-permanent seat of the United Nations Security Council during the elections slated for June 2020," he said.

"I request for the vote of each and every member of the United Nations family," Uhuru concluded.