Toured the Dangote Refinery in Lekki, Lagos State, Nigeria, at the invitation of Dangote Group President and CEO @AlikoDangote ahead of our groundbreaking ceremony for the Dangote East African Refinery in Lamu, Kenya, next week. The refinery in Nigeria is a massive investment with a crude oil refining capacity of 700,000 barrels a day and produces more than 100 million litres of petrol, diesel and aviation fuel every day. The company has built 120km of sea cables to move crude from ships to the refinery. This huge achievement is a testament of what African governments, investors and financial institutions can do together. The refinery whose construction we launch in Kenya next week will be bigger. It will transform the petroleum sector in our country and region, providing fuel reliability and security, scaling up industrialisation and creating 60,000 jobs. When the refinery is completed, spin off industries will emerge, including the production of fertilisers, chemicals, and packaging.

Met His Highness the Aga Khan on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. We discussed Kenya’s longstanding partnership with the Aga Khan Development Network and its contribution to our country’s development, particularly in healthcare, education and other areas that improve the lives of our people. We look forward to deepening this partnership and working together to advance inclusive development and create greater opportunities for Kenyans.

We welcome Bloomberg’s interest in investing in Kenya. Its presence will help attract more investors, showcase the growth of the Nairobi Securities Exchange and, through its global network, amplify Kenya’s and Africa’s progress and opportunities to the world. Met Bloomberg founder Michael Bloomberg on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. We explored partnerships in public health, clean energy and climate action, including plans to establish a Green Technology Accelerator Hub in Kenya to support innovation, scale green solutions and accelerate Africa’s transition to a sustainable economy. We also agreed to partner on the second Clean Cooking Summit, which Kenya will host in January 2027, as we expand access to clean energy and improve livelihoods.

Met Cisco Executive Vice President Francine Katsoudas on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. We discussed the Moran AI and Cyber Center of Excellence, a Kenya Defence Forces initiative focused on building advanced capabilities and skills in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and emerging technologies. We also explored Cisco’s support for the Accra Reset agenda, which seeks to shift Africa from dependence on aid towards investment, jobs and stronger domestic capacity, with a focus on digital skills and enterprise. Kenya will continue working with global technology leaders to build the infrastructure and skills required for the AI era, improve public services and create more opportunities for our young people.

Kenya is strengthening its partnership with FIFA to develop football talent and grow the game. Held talks with FIFA President Gianni Infantino on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. We discussed regional technical centres to identify and nurture young talent, strengthen grassroots football and create clear pathways for the next generation of Kenyan players. Alongside this partnership, the Government is investing significantly in sports infrastructure, including the construction of 32 new stadia across the country. These modern facilities will meet international standards and support our ambition to position Kenya as a leading sporting nation.

Africa must be in the room where tomorrow’s economic architecture is designed; not waiting outside to inherit it. Our partnerships must move beyond aid and extraction towards investment, value addition and shared prosperity. Healthcare shows why. COVID-19 exposed the cost of dependence. Africa must train its own specialists, manufacture medicines and vaccines, and build resilient supply chains. In Kenya, we are expanding health coverage, strengthening primary healthcare and investing in modern health infrastructure and technology. At the ECAM Council Summit on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly in New York, we made our position clear that Kenya is open for investment that creates jobs, transfers technology, builds skills and strengthens African institutions.

Met NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum to review Kenya’s partnership with the NBA and our shared ambition to grow basketball from the grassroots to the professional level. We discussed the progress of NBA Africa and Basketball Africa League franchises, development of the Railway City multi-purpose arena, refurbishment of Kasarani and continued investment in basketball courts. We also reviewed implementation of our MoU on grassroots development and plans to integrate basketball courts into Affordable Housing Programme projects. We will also deepen collaboration between the NBA and the Kenya Tourism Board to promote Kenya through sport and expand opportunities for our young people.

Held talks with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. We discussed peace and security in our region and the importance of advancing African-led solutions through the African Peace and Security Architecture. Kenya remains committed to playing its part in building peace and strengthening multilateralism. We value our partnership with the United Nations in strengthening the UN Office at Nairobi and consolidating Nairobi’s place as the UN’s principal hub in the Global South. As he approaches the conclusion of his stewardship, we commend Secretary-General Guterres for his steadfast leadership and advocacy for a fairer international financial architecture, greater African representation and a stronger voice for the Global South. The greatest tribute to his leadership will be to turn these reforms into reality.

Attended the WNBA match between New York Liberty and Atlanta Dream in Brooklyn to support Kenyan-born star Madina Okot.

Met Vice President Jessica Alupo of Uganda on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. We reaffirmed our commitment to strengthening this partnership and advancing areas of mutual interest for the prosperity of our people. As close neighbours and major trading partners, we will continue working together within the East African Community to deepen regional integration, expand trade and investment, and unlock the opportunities of the African Continental Free Trade Area. We also agreed to strengthen our cooperation at the continental and multilateral levels in advancing Africa’s shared interests and building a more prosperous and integrated continent.

Met UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. We agreed to deepen Kenya–UNESCO cooperation in education, artificial intelligence, climate action, skills development and innovation, and welcomed UNESCO’s planned investment of about US$10 million in Kenya to advance our development priorities. Kenya looks forward to hosting the UNESCO World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development in Nairobi in January 2027. We also discussed collaboration around AFCON 2027 and the 2029 World Athletics Championships, harnessing education, culture, science and sport to create more opportunities for our people.

The United Nations has transformed our world by advancing peace, self-determination and human progress. Yet it has also fallen short of its promise as conflicts persist, international law is applied inconsistently and inequality remains embedded in the institutions meant to uphold sovereign equality. Addressing the General Debate of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, I called for reform of the UN Security Council to give Africa equitable and permanent representation, with all the prerogatives and privileges of permanent membership. Africa must have a meaningful voice in the decisions that shape global peace and security. The international financial architecture must also be reformed. Development cannot remain most expensive for the countries that need investment most, while debt service crowds out classrooms, healthcare and opportunity. Developing countries need greater access to affordable, long-term capital, guarantees and risk-sharing instruments to finance their development. Reform must be matched by responsibility. Governments must manage debt prudently, strengthen institutions, deepen domestic capital markets, honour contracts and confront corruption without equivocation. Africa does not seek charity or special treatment. We seek a fair opportunity and a meaningful voice in shaping our common future. We must build a global system where every nation has a voice, every people has a stake and every child has a future.

Held talks with Ford Foundation President Heather Gerken on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, reaffirming our longstanding partnership and commitment to advancing shared priorities. Our discussions focused on social justice, economic inclusion, community empowerment and the contribution of civil society to Kenya’s development. Kenya welcomes diverse voices and encourages open and constructive dialogue across society. We will continue working with the Ford Foundation and other partners to expand opportunity, strengthen communities and advance equitable and sustainable development.

Met Alex Soros, Chair of the Open Society Foundations, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. We exchanged views on democratic governance, accountable institutions, civic participation and the role of young people in shaping Africa’s future. Kenya supports an open society in which citizens freely participate in public affairs, institutions are accountable and constructive engagement contributes to our country’s progress.

Held talks with Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation Vice President of Global Programs Senait Fisseha on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. We welcomed the Foundation’s decision to elevate our partnership to a strategic level, creating a stronger platform for deeper cooperation in strengthening Kenya’s health system. Our partnership will support health infrastructure for maternal, adolescent and newborn health, while strengthening SHA, DHA and KEMSA to deliver their mandates more effectively. Through this cooperation, we will improve health outcomes for our people and accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.

Held talks with Prime Minister Philip Davis of The Bahamas on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. We explored ways of deepening our partnership to create more opportunities for our people and advance our shared interests, including expanding opportunities for Kenyan teachers to work in The Bahamas, helping meet the country’s demand for educators while opening new pathways for our skilled professionals. At the multilateral level, we reaffirmed our shared commitment to peace and stability in Haiti and the wider Caribbean, building on our cooperation through the Multinational Security Support Mission and the transition to the Gang Suppression Force.

Kenya and Iraq share warm and enduring diplomatic ties. We are working to deepen our relations and unlock new opportunities for our people and economies. Met Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi of Iraq on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Our discussions focused on expanding cooperation in trade and investment, education, energy, oil and natural gas, ICT, cultural exchange and human capital development. We also explored greater labour mobility, particularly opportunities for Kenyan educators, to open new pathways for our skilled professionals and strengthen people-to-people ties.

Kenya and Switzerland enjoy longstanding and cordial relations, anchored in strong diplomatic ties and growing cooperation in trade, investment, technology and climate action. Held talks with President Guy Parmelin of Switzerland on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. We discussed expanding trade and investment by addressing barriers to business, including progress towards an agreement to eliminate double taxation. We also explored deeper collaboration in artificial intelligence and technology, including a proposal for Kenya and Switzerland to jointly host the Geneva AI Summit in 2027. On climate action, we discussed strengthening collaboration on carbon markets under the Paris Agreement to mobilise affordable capital, risk-sharing instruments and guarantees, unlock investment and create new opportunities from Kenya’s climate assets.