April 18, 2026
Ruto To Send CS Duale To COP29 Summit Despite High Representation In Africa

Ruto To Send CS Duale To COP29 Summit Despite High Representation In Africa

President William Ruto is planning to skip the COP29 climate summit, which is scheduled for next week.

The president has instead chosen to send Aden Duale, Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Environment, Climate, and Forestry, to represent him at the global conference in Baku, Azerbaijan.

According to sources in the State House, Ruto was originally scheduled to attend the United Nations Conference.

Ruto’s planned travel to Azerbaijan would have been his third out of the nation in a week, following previous excursions to South Sudan and Ethiopia.

Since September 2024, Ruto has traveled outside of the country eight times.

His frequent travels have elicited mixed reactions at home, with many Kenyans frustrated by the President’s attention on international affairs while important domestic issues remain unsolved.

Ruto was scheduled to deliver an address in the first portion of the high-level section at the World Leaders Climate Action Summit (WLCAS), which will take place from Tuesday, November 12 to Wednesday, November 13.

CS Duale now appears to be preparing to deliver the president’s address on his behalf.

“The first part of the high-level segment (HLS) of COP29/CMP19/CMA6 will be held during the World Leaders Climate Action Summit (WCLAS) from Tuesday to Wednesday, and will hear national statements from Heads of State and Government (HSO/G), Vice Presidents and Crown Princes who have registered and confirmed their wish to deliver a statement,” the official statement released by the United Nations Climate Change Programme read.

The COP29 conference will take place from Monday, November 11 to Friday, November 22, 2024, with the theme “Investing in a livable planet for all.”

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The key agenda item is financing, as the UN emphasizes the ongoing need to invest considerable sums of money to dramatically reduce greenhouse emissions and protect lives and livelihoods from the growing effects of climate change.

The meeting will also be an important opportunity for countries to propose their revised national climate action plans under the Paris Agreement, which are due in early 2025.

In preparation for the trip, Ruto has urged other African heads of state and government to unite and deliver a similar message as they travel to Baku.

In his role as chair of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC), Ruto reiterated that Africa’s agenda at the climate summit should be pushing for a new and equitable financing mechanism.

Ruto To Send CS Duale To COP29 Summit Despite High Representation In Africa

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