Details of Ruto’s meetings with key world leaders on sildelines of UNGA

This week, world leaders gathered for the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), including President William Ruto. ‘

Top on his agenda was calling for reforms at UN systems, insisting that it is no longer a matter of if but when and that the time is now.

He warned that unless the organisation undergoes fundamental restructuring, it will remain undemocratic, unrepresentative and unfit for purpose.

Ruto called for urgent reform of the UN Security Council to give Africa, with its population of 1.4 billion people, a permanent voice in global decision-making.

Another issue on his agenda was the issue of the Kenya police-led the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSSM) in Haiti.

In line with this, Ruto held a bilateral meeting with Laurent Saint-Cyr, President of the Transitional Presidential Council of Haiti, on the sidelines of the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York, on the next steps as the expiry of the MSSM mandate comes to an end.

“We urged that the UN Security Council adopt a clear strategy for the successor mission to the MSS Mission in Haiti, in order to consolidate gains made, and guarantee success.

“The proposed mission must address the shortfalls of the current one. It should be anchored on a clear mandate, backed by predictable and reliable resources, equipped with adequate and fit-for-purpose tools, and supported by the full logistical capacity required to deliver results,” Ruto said after the meeting.

In the sideline strategic bilateral meetings, President Ruto also met President John Mahama of Ghana, Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev, US Congressman Brian Mast and the CEO of Enda Sports, Navalayo Osembo and the Executive Chairman of the Enda Group of Companies Nana Baffour.

He also met Estonian President Alar Karis, Austrian Alexander Van der Bellen, Finnish Alexander Stubb and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Ruto also met former US Secretary of State and founder of the Our Ocean Conference, John Kerry, whom he assured of Kenya’s readiness to host the conference’s 11th edition.

He reiterated that at the conference, Kenya will showcase Africa’s leadership in ocean action, rallying nations and partners to protect marine ecosystems, expand the blue economy, and secure prosperity for generations to come.

“I affirmed Kenya’s full readiness to host the 11th edition in June 2026 at the Coast under the theme “Our Ocean, Our Heritage, Our Future.”

“This historic milestone, the first time the Conference will be held on African soil, offers our continent the chance to shape the global ocean agenda for the next decade. Kenya is keen on protecting its oceans and harnessing blue resources responsibly for sustainable growth,” the President added.

Ruto also held meeting with key business leaders and investors from across the globe in sideline meetings.