Singapore agrees to support Ruto’s bid to upgrade status of UN office in Nairobi

President William Ruto on Thursday, May 18, 2023, held a bilateral meeting with Singaporean Prime Minister (PM) Lee Hsien Loong at State House, Nairobi.

The two leaders discussed how Kenya and Singapore could work together to develop a mutually beneficial strategic partnership, in a dynamic and competitive global marketplace.

Ruto and the Singaporean PM agreed on the need to elevate UN Office in Nairobi to match other UN Offices globally.

“On the status of the UN Office in Nairobi (UNON), Prime Minister Loong and I agreed that the renovation and expansion of facilities to match other UN Offices globally is welcome. The upgraded facility will accommodate at least 9,000 conference delegates at any meeting. Singapore will support this position in discussions at the UN, in New York,” Ruto said.

Additionally, Ruto shared Kenya’s position on the need to reform the UN Security Council to make it more inclusive and reflective of the current global order and dynamics.

“It is important for like-minded countries like Kenya and Singapore to support the position,” he said.

Speaking in South Africa on Wednesday, May 17, where he addressed the Third African Parliamentarians Summit on Climate Policy and Equity, Ruto said Africa has remained disadvantaged at the UN Security Council where the most important global matters are discussed.

“It is, therefore, time to reform the UN Security Council and change it from an exclusive club of five permanent members to a more representative global council that works for the interests of the whole world. Africa demands and deserves two permanent seats at the Security Council,” Ruto said.

ICT

Ruto and the Singaporean PM also agreed to develop a long-term strategic partnership between the two countries anchored on finance and ICT.

They witnessed the signing of the three Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) on ICT, which will facilitate cooperation on cybersecurity, digitization of government services, and ICT capacity building, among other items.

Kenya and Singapore also signed another MOU on Skills Development to facilitate collaboration in human resource capacity building for civil servants and students, particularly in specific areas that need to support sustainable socio-economic development priorities.

Additionally, Ruto sought Singapore’s support towards targeted investments through government-to-government and public-private partnership projects, to augment Kenya’s efforts in ensuring Nairobi gains its place as a reputable international financial centre, with a focus on carbon credit financing.