President William Ruto has called for bold reforms at the United Nations Security Council to address the rapidly evolving global challenges we face today. He stated that the current multilateral system has proven inadequate in tackling crises such as climate change, inequality, and debt, and it continues to fall short in providing timely solutions.
“Without immediate action, humanity will face an unprecedented global crisis,” he warned. “Today, we have no choice but to reject outdated systems and re-imagine a framework of international cooperation that works for all 8 billion people.”
President Ruto made these remarks during the Summit of the Future plenary at the United Nations General Assembly Hall in New York on Sunday. He emphasized the need to redesign the international financial system, strengthen partnerships for common security, bridge the digital divide, and invest in human capacity.
“It is unfortunate that only 17 percent of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) targets are on track, largely due to unmet financial commitments,” he pointed out. The President highlighted that developing countries, particularly in Africa and the Global South, are facing severe funding shortages, and the gap is widening.
He stressed the importance of addressing the historical injustice of Africa’s lack of permanent representation on the UN Security Council, calling it a matter of justice in the ongoing UN reforms. Ruto also informed the General Assembly about the advancements made by the Kenya-led Multinational Support Mission in Haiti, noting that despite limited resources, the contingent has made tangible progress.
“What looked like mission impossible is now a present and real possibility for peace in Haiti,” he remarked.
Furthermore, President Ruto discussed Kenya’s goal to increase its forest cover to 30 percent by 2030 by planting 15 billion trees, largely driven by the youth. “Two weeks ago, I launched ClimateWorX, a programme that will employ 200,000 young Kenyans in sustainable public works focused on ecological restoration and infrastructure,” he shared.
During the interactive dialogue session of the Summit of the Future, President Ruto reiterated the need to address structural and monetary issues that hinder multilateral financial institutions and disproportionately affect developing countries. He cited challenges such as limited fiscal capacity, rising debt, unfair credit ratings, and uneven interest rates that threaten the realization of the SDGs.
“The fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Spain next year might be our last chance to make significant reforms to meet the SDGs,” he concluded.
