President William Ruto departed for New York on Sunday evening to attend the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). This trip occurs just before the potential expiration of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) on September 30, a critical issue for Kenya and other African nations.

• President Ruto will speak at the summit, emphasizing Kenya's commitment to multilateralism and advocating for reforms to streamline financing for developing countries.
• He will address challenges in Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, and Haiti, and champion Africa's position on UN Security Council reform.
• A key event will be hosting a high-level side event on the Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission in Haiti, showcasing lessons learned from the deployment of Kenyan troops.
• Ruto will also lead discussions to consolidate Africa's stance ahead of COP30 in Belém, Brazil, in his capacity as Chair of the African Union's Committee of Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC).
• He plans to host a high-level breakfast with more than 30 Heads of State and Governments to promote his flagship Affordable Housing project and engage in bilateral talks to attract investment.

Dennis Itumbi, Head of Presidential Special Projects and Creative Economy, has publicly defended President William Ruto against media criticism, comparing it to the scrutiny faced by former President Mwai Kibaki's administration. Itumbi cited a 2003 The Standard headline, "Kenyans Becoming Poorer Under Narc," to illustrate a historical pattern of media criticism against new governments.

• Itumbi's comments were made on Sunday, September 21, on his official X account.
• He asserted that similar to Kibaki, President Ruto will not waver in his efforts to reform Kenya's political and economic landscape despite public disapproval.
• Itumbi previously criticized The Standard on Sunday, August 31, for publishing "fake" news and urged them to become a political party.
• The current criticism against Ruto's government stems from the rising cost of living, new tax policies, and alleged incompetence among officials.