Raila Flies To Egypt To Join Ruto For COP 27

Former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, has left the country for Egypt for the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference alias COP 27.

In a statement by the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) on Monday, November 7, Raila had flown out of the country to attend the highly-anticipated conference in his capacity as a member of the African Union (AU).

It is worth it to note that President William Ruto flew to Egypt for the COP 27 conference alongside a Kenyan delegation on Sunday, November 6.

"Raila Odinga left this morning (Monday) for Egypt to attend this year’s United Nations’ 27th Conference of the Parties on Climate Change, known as COP27. He was invited to address the meeting at in his capacity as the AU High Rep. for Infrastructure Development in Africa," ODM stated.

Raila Odinga on board a plane. /FILE

Earlier, State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohammed, who accompanied Ruto to the climate conference revealed that the president will make his address between 4:45 and 4:55 pm.

The head of state is also expected to hold bilateral talks with world leaders. Among the leaders he met on the sidelines include Rwandan President Paul Kagame, Comoros President Azali Assoumani and Angolan President Esperança Maria Eduardo Francisco da Costa.

Ruto also held talks with African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina and lauded AFDB's commitment to supporting Kenya's green energy projects - geothermal and wind. 

The Head of State will be expected to cover the effects of climate change in Africa amid the current drought crisis facing parts of Kenya and the continent.

"Ruto will make a strong case for Kenya and Africa, with African nations still bearing the brunt of the impacts of emissions from the developed world. He will also be outlining Kenya’s policies and strategies to tap into the global carbon market," a dispatch from Hussein on Saturday, November 5 read.

Ruto is expected to make a strong case for Kenya and Africa, with African nations still bearing the brunt of the impacts of emissions from the developed world. He will also rally the globe towards more ambitious climate action, seeking implementation and honouring commitments made over the past 30 years.

The commitments are by countries with the greatest responsibilities for accumulating greenhouse gases causing global warming.

He will also be outlining Kenya’s policies and strategies to tap into the global carbon market.

Demonstrably, climate change mitigation and adaptation is at the front and centre of President Ruto’s development agenda, having described it as “a phenomenon complicating the roadmap towards socio-economic transformation and achievement of sustainable development goals in Kenya and Africa.”

Among other interventions, including securing and protecting public forests, Ruto has already announced an ambitious reforestation programme to grow at least 15 billion trees in the next 10 years for Kenya to attain 30 per cent tree cover by 2032.

The conference commenced on November 1 and is expected to run till November 18. Environment and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya flew to Egypt for the conference and received the President before joining his delegation.

President William Ruto with his Rwanda counterpart, Paul Kagame. /WILLIAM RUTO