President William Ruto on Thursday met United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres in Yokohama, Japan, where global leaders are gathered for the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9).
At the heart of their conversation was the security situation across the Great Lakes region and the Horn of Africa with particular attention on Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Somalia. Both leaders praised the role of regional blocs such as the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), saying their interventions have been crucial in attempts to restore stability in Eastern DRC.
The meeting also touched on Kenya’s role beyond the continent, particularly in Haiti, where Nairobi has taken a frontline position in leading a multinational security mission under the UN umbrella. President Ruto emphasised that while the mission is necessary, its success cannot rely on uncertain donor pledges.
“We underlined the absolute necessity for predictable financing,” Ruto noted after the talks. “Relying on voluntary contributions is not sustainable. More countries also need to step forward with troops to confront a very difficult environment.”
Kenya became the first country to deploy forces to Haiti under the UN-backed plan, a move that has drawn global attention to Nairobi’s growing footprint in international peacekeeping. For Ruto, Thursday’s discussions with Guterres reinforced Kenya’s message: regional and global security require steady commitment, reliable resources, and shared responsibility.
