President Ruto arrives back in Kenya after visiting Italy, Switzerland

President William Ruto landed in Nairobi early Monday following a visit to Italy and Switzerland where he participated in the G7 Summit and the inaugural Summit of Peace in Ukraine respectively.

While in Italy, President Ruto called for increased support for Africa’s development. He urged the G7 leaders to champion the reform of the international financial architecture to foster equity and inclusion.

He said the reforms would provide the Global South, particularly Africa, with access to concessional, long-term, and agile finance, and also enhance the developing countries’ participation in decision-making. Amid this appeal, the G7 committed to modernising international financial architecture and enabling it to meet contemporary global challenges.

The President later joined world leaders in Switzerland where he condemned Russia for invading Ukraine. He termed Russia’s aggression against Ukraine “unlawful, unjust and against the international law.”

Ruto said it was time for parties to the conflict to demonstrate good faith, abandon unyielding attitudes, and soften their positions for lasting peace to be realized.

The head of state who flew Kenya Airways was received by among others Interior CS Prof Kithure Kindiki, PS Interior Raymond Omollo, Majority Leader of the National Assembly Kimani Ichung’wah, Majority Leader of the Senate Aaron Cheruiyot among others at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).

he reaffirmed his support for the U.S. ally and spoke to leaders about delivering aid to the Gaza Strip. Biden secured agreements during the trip from Israel and Egypt to allow 20 truckloads of humanitarian aid through the southern Rafah crossing into Gaza, although it’s unclear when it will be delivered. He spent several hours in Israel, but aid talks in Jordan with regional leaders were canceled following the Gaza hospital explosion.