Ban Ki-Moon praises President Kenyatta's leadership

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon at the Nairobi National Park on June 28, 2014. The UN chief expressed confidence in President Kenyatta’s leadership and offered solidarity to Kenya over recent terror attacks. PHOTO/BILLY MUTAI

What you need to know:

  • This followed a meeting of the two leaders at State House Nairobi earlier Saturday.
  • Mr Ban also expressed his “solidarity with the people of Kenya in light of the recent terrorist incidents.”
  • He thanked Kenya for hosting one of the UN's four headquarters.
  • Mr Ban praised Kenya's leading role in utilising renewable energy sources.

New York/United Nations

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday expressed his confidence in the leadership of President Uhuru Kenyatta.

This followed a meeting of the two leaders at State House Nairobi earlier Saturday.

Mr Ban also expressed his “solidarity with the people of Kenya in light of the recent terrorist incidents.”

“He expressed his confidence in the president's leadership in maintaining Kenya's unity in the face of the security challenges,” a statement from the UN added.

The UN chief and Kenya's head of state also discussed the situations in Somalia and Sudan, with Mr Ban expressing “appreciation to President Kenyatta for the leadership role Kenya is playing to help create sustainable peace in both places.”

Mr Ban had traveled to Nairobi to take part in the UN Environment Assembly that brought together representatives from 163 nations.

He thanked Kenya for hosting one of the UN's four headquarters.

Nairobi is home to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the UN Human Settlements Progamme (UN-Habitat).

The secretary general and President Kenyatta also discussed about the sustainable development goals that are being crafted as part of a global agenda to be adopted in 2015.

In that regard, Mr Ban “praised Kenya's leading role in utilising renewable energy sources,” the meeting summary said.