Ruto jets out of the country

By Peter Ochieng

President William Samoei Ruto is out of the country.

He flew out on Wednesday, to attend the Global Pact Finance Summit, in Paris, France.

According to a statement signed by State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed, leaders attending the summit will seek to foster the creation of an inclusive financial architecture driven towards climate action.

"The President considers the Summit a critical platform to make bold proposals towards the establishment of a new multilateral climate finance institutional architecture," the statement reads in part.

"Kenya, Africa, and the Global South at large continue to face significant adverse effects of climate change despite contributing the least to global warming and having the lowest emissions."

Mohamed said discussions on climate change should move away from lose and damage, and instead focus on opportunities.

"In recent years, climate change discussions have primarily focused on loss and damage, strongly anchored around the ideologies of blame, victimhood, aid and reparations, neglecting the important dialogue about opportunities, investments and trade that would showcase Africa's abundant endowments of hydro, wind, solar, and geothermal energy sources, as well as essential transition minerals."

Ruto's trip in France comes in the wake of complaints from the opposition over his numerous visits abroad.

Azimio leaders recently urged the president to reduce foreign trips, as one of measures aimed at raising money to fund the 2023/2024 budget.