Activist Describes Ruto’s UN Speech as Focused, Courageous and Foresighted

 

Eldoret-based human rights activist Kipkorir Ngetich has praised President William Ruto’s address at the United Nations General Assembly, describing it as focused, courageous and foresighted, with a strong emphasis on Africa’s place in the global economic, political and security order.

Ngetich, speaking at the Eldoret Media Hub on Tuesday, said the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy had welcomed what he described as the President’s strong articulation of Africa’s need to have greater influence in global decision-making and international financial institutions.

He said Ruto’s message demonstrated an understanding that the global system is changing and that African countries should seek a more equal and inclusive role in shaping international economic and political affairs.

According to Ngetich, the President’s focus on strengthening African financial institutions, mobilising domestic resources and reducing excessive dependence on external financing was particularly important at a time when many African countries continue to face debt and development financing challenges.

The activist said Africa has significant financial resources within the continent that can be better mobilised to finance development if stronger systems are established to channel domestic savings into productive investments.

His remarks come as President Ruto continues to push an Africa-financing agenda at the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York. During a high-level Africa Finance Corporation meeting on the sidelines of the UNGA, Ruto argued that Africa does not necessarily lack capital, but needs better investment, risk-sharing and financial structures to direct available resources towards development.

Ngetich said the President’s argument for greater use of African financial institutions was important in helping the continent build economic resilience and reduce reliance on external sources of financing.

He further said African countries should strengthen institutions such as continental development and financial bodies so that they can play a bigger role in financing infrastructure, industry, trade and other development programmes.

The activist also welcomed calls for reforms within the international financial architecture, arguing that institutions such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund should operate within systems that give developing countries a stronger voice in decisions affecting their economies.

Ngetich said the question of representation should also extend to the United Nations Security Council, which he described as one of the key institutions requiring reform to reflect contemporary global realities.

He argued that sovereign equality and meaningful multilateral reforms were necessary if developing countries were to have a fairer opportunity to participate in shaping decisions on international peace, security, finance and development.

Ngetich said Kenya and other African countries should increasingly pursue relationships with international partners based on mutual respect, shared interests and sovereign equality rather than arrangements that leave African economies heavily dependent on external assistance.

He said Africa had for decades relied on loans and aid that often come with difficult conditions, adding that the continent should now accelerate efforts to build stronger homegrown financing mechanisms.

The activist further praised Ruto’s emphasis on domestic resource mobilisation and savings, saying African countries should make greater use of their own pension funds, insurance assets, private capital and other domestic resources to finance development.

President Ruto has similarly argued that Africa has substantial domestic capital that remains underutilised. At the Africa Finance Corporation meeting, he cited African non-bank domestic capital pools of more than $2 trillion and pension and insurance assets exceeding $1 trillion.

Ngetich said such resources demonstrate that Africa has the potential to finance a larger share of its own development if the continent creates the right investment structures and removes barriers that prevent domestic capital from flowing into productive sectors.

He also said stronger African financial institutions would help countries improve their ability to negotiate with international lenders and investors while ensuring that African priorities are taken into consideration.

On security and international relations, Ngetich said Africa also needs stronger continental frameworks capable of responding to emerging security challenges while protecting the sovereignty of individual states.

He welcomed what he described as Ruto’s emphasis on allowing African countries to make independent foreign-policy choices, including decisions on whether to remain neutral or align with particular international blocs depending on their national interests.

According to Ngetich, such an approach would give developing countries greater room to pursue partnerships based on their own priorities instead of being compelled to choose sides in global geopolitical competition.

He said Africa should also strengthen cooperation through continental and regional institutions to promote peace, security and economic integration.

Ngetich described President Ruto as a significant voice in the ongoing debate on reforming global governance and called on African countries to support efforts aimed at increasing the continent’s representation and influence in international institutions.

He said Kenya should take pride in having its President raise issues affecting the continent on a global platform, particularly questions surrounding Africa’s financing, economic independence, global representation and sovereignty.

The activist, however, criticised what he described as negative reactions from some Kenyans whenever the President receives international attention, arguing that domestic political differences should not prevent the country from engaging constructively with issues affecting Kenya and the wider African continent.

He said Kenya’s economic interests are closely connected to Africa’s wider development and that the country should participate actively in efforts to strengthen continental institutions and partnerships.

Ngetich further argued that Africa stands to benefit when its countries work together on economic and security matters, saying a more integrated continent would have greater bargaining power in global affairs.

He maintained that the debate on Africa’s future should focus on how the continent can use its resources, strengthen institutions, improve governance and negotiate fairer relationships with the rest of the world.

He said Ruto’s UN engagements had brought some of these issues to the international stage and urged African leaders to sustain discussions on reforms that could give developing countries a greater voice in global decision-making.

Ngetich said the continent’s economic transformation would require both international partnerships and stronger internal systems, adding that Africa should be able to attract external investment while simultaneously building its own financial capacity.

He concluded that Africa’s future should be based on self-reliance, stronger institutions, economic cooperation and sovereign equality, saying the continent must remain actively involved in shaping the global order rather than simply responding to decisions made elsewhere.