Beware Of Lions- Ruto Tickles Delegates At Africa Climate Summit [VIDEO]

President William Ruto on Monday, September 4 provided a light-hearted moment in his speech during the African Climate Summit being held at Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) by describing scenarios in which they may encounter lions in the streets of Nairobi.

The president during his speech praised Nairobi, Kenya's capital city known for its diverseness in accommodating both forests and a national park at once.

Ruto told guests in seeming jest that the park contains a multitude of wildlife and despite having a fence keeping them from straying into human environments, there are cases whereby some wild animals encroach residential areas.

He thus urged them to be careful, especially during their morning walks, as they may encounter a lion which he warned was not tamed and could attack at any provocation.

"Nairobi is a very interesting city; on one side there is a full canopy forest and on the other side, we have a wildlife national park. We keep the wildlife in the park because we have a fence but sometimes as nature would be, they break away from the fence.

"While you are doing your morning walk, you might encounter a lion, please be careful. It is not tamed, it is wild," he revealed as delegates were thrust into laughter.

It is not uncommon to encounter reports of lions straying into residential areas, with residents of Ongata Rongai knowing all too well what happens when one meets a lion face to face, especially at night. Any noise would likely anger a lion, thus it's best to approach with caution.

Encounters between humans and lions are very rare, though they are dangerous and end in devastating results. On Monday, July 17 for example, a lioness was spotted loitering outside a residential home in Rongai an hour after suspected thieves staged a daring robbery.

Meanwhile, the four-day climate summit being held in Nairobi is a partnership between Kenya and the African Union and runs from September 4-8, 2023.

Over 30,000 delegates including over 25 heads of state and government are expected to attend the event, which is expected to also look into ways of helping African countries vulnerable to adverse effects of climate change cope with the same. 

It will also serve as a platform to inform, frame, and influence commitments, pledges, and outcomes, ultimately leading to the development of the Nairobi Declaration.

Ruto Pushes For Scrapping Of Visa Requirements

President Ruto used the event to once again vouch for the abolishing of any visa requirement while travelling to Kenya, alluding that visitors were coming to the 'cradle of mankind', which he called home.

"We are having a conversation as Kenyans because it is unfair to ask anybody coming home for visas," he said.

In February this year, Eritrea and Kenya agreed to permanently scrap visa requirements for their citizens. In June, Kenya and Djibouti pushed for a visa-free regime to spur trade between the two countries.

Kenyans holding ordinary passports were granted visa-free entry to South Africa, according to a new visa-free regime between the two countries arrived at in November 2022 following an intervention by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

CSs Alfred Mutua and Susan Nakhumicha receive Évariste Ndayishimiye, President of the Republic of Burundi who arrived in Nairobi on September 3, 2023, to participate in the Africa Climate Summit. /ALFRED MUTUA