Ruto applauds UNFPA for launching regional support office in Nairobi

President William Ruto with the officials during the meeting at State House on June 10, 2025/PCS

President William Ruto has commended the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for expanding its role in the region, including the landmark launch of its international support office in Nairobi.

The new office, located at the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON), according to Ruto, reflects the UNFPA’s confidence in Kenya’s leadership and infrastructure.

He stated that the hub solidifies Nairobi’s standing as a pivotal center for global population and development efforts.

“UNFPA’s growing footprint in Kenya is not only a testament to your trust in our institutions but also a reflection of our shared vision for a future where every woman and girl can access quality reproductive health services,” said Ruto.

Ruto made the remarks when he held talks with the National Council for Population and Development (NCPD) Director General Mohamed Sheikh, who was joined by UNFPA Executive Director Natalia Kanem.

Sheikh briefed the president on the current status and strategic direction of country’s population programme.

The meeting underscored Kenya’s commitment to advancing reproductive health, rights, and gender equality, in partnership with the UNFPA.

“Kenya remains fully committed to this partnership, and we will continue to support the UN family in making Nairobi a dynamic global headquarters for transformative development,” he stated.

UNFPA’s ongoing support for Kenya under the 10th Country Programme will deliver a substantial $35.6 million investment in the country’s population agenda.

This includes $12.8 million from UNFPA’s regular resources and an additional $22.8 million through co-financing modalities and partnerships.

The funds are being directed toward critical areas such as family planning, maternal health, youth engagement, gender-based violence prevention, and population data systems.

These investments are already yielding transformative results with enhanced access to reproductive health services, increased policy support, and stronger community engagement. UNFPA's initiatives are positively impacting the lives of millions of Kenyan women, youth, and marginalized populations.

“We are proud of our deepening partnership with the Government of Kenya,” said Kanem who is also the UN Under-Secretary General.

“From launching the first-ever African edition of the State of World Population Report, to opening the WomenX Collective Nairobi hub, our collaboration represents a global model for inclusive, women-centered development. Kenya is leading by example.”

A key highlight of the briefing was the launch of the WomenX Collective Nairobi Hub, only the second of its kind globally, following its 2024 debut in Berlin.

WomenX aims to mobilize $100 million in catalytic investments by 2030, transforming access to economic and reproductive health opportunities for women and girls across the Global South.

The Nairobi hub will serve as an innovation and empowerment space, amplifying African leadership in gender equality.

Sheikh acknowledged the critical importance of the initiative.

“WomenX is more than a programme, it is a movement for equity, agency, and opportunity,” he said. “Kenya is proud to host this initiative, which is already inspiring a new generation of changemakers.”

Ruto also reaffirmed Kenya’s enduring commitment to the goals of the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD).

With UNFPA support, Kenya has domesticated all five ICPD30 policy papers focused on navigating global megatrends, and is actively implementing, monitoring, and reporting on its ICPD25 commitments.

“Our focus remains clear, investing in people, empowering communities, and safeguarding the dignity and rights of all,” he said.

“With partners like UNFPA, we can and will achieve sustainable and inclusive development.”

As Kanem prepares to conclude her second and final term as Executive Director in October 2025, the government expressed gratitude for her exemplary leadership and reiterated its pledge to maintain an enabling environment for the UN family in Nairobi.