By Mandere Onyinkwa
President William Ruto is set to travel to Baku, Azerbaijan, to attend the 13th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13).
Kenya will showcase its Affordable Housing Programme and urban renewal initiatives.
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In a statement released on Saturday by State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed, the government said Kenya had been invited to the global forum “in recognition of its leadership and success in affordable housing and sustainable urban development.”
The forum, convened by UN-Habitat, will bring together governments, investors, cities and development partners to discuss solutions to the global housing crisis.
According to the statement, Kenya will use the event to demonstrate the impact of its Affordable Housing Programme in “transforming informal settlements, creating jobs, and supporting entrepreneurship.”
The government also said the forum will provide Kenya with an opportunity to mobilise partnerships and investments to expand affordable housing projects and urban renewal initiatives, including the Nairobi Rivers Regeneration Programme.
“In his capacity as the global champion for adequate housing, an honour conferred on him by UN-Habitat, President Ruto will advocate innovative financing models and reforms to the global financial architecture,” the statement read.
On the sidelines of the forum, Ruto is expected to hold bilateral talks with several Heads of State and investors, including Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, to strengthen cooperation in energy, ICT, infrastructure and Special Economic Zones.
The statement added that the President will later travel to Astana, Kazakhstan, for a State Visit focused on trade, logistics, energy, technology, tourism, financial services and labour mobility.
During the visit, Ruto is scheduled to meet Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and witness the signing of agreements on investment, transport, ICT, tourism and diplomatic cooperation.
“The visit will also advance plans for a logistics hub at the Port of Mombasa or Lamu, tea and coffee hubs in Astana, and cooperation in nuclear energy, cybersecurity, space technology, and financial services,” the statement said.
