President William Ruto has arrived in New York to present Kenya’s economic and diplomatic agenda at the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

• The UN General Debate, themed “Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all,” runs from Tuesday through September 28.
• Key engagements include discussions on attracting investment, co-chairing business roundtables with figures like Aliko Dangote, and promoting projects such as the proposed Sh2.2 trillion East Africa Refinery.
• President Ruto met with Kenyans in the United States, asserting that his administration has “stabilized our economy.”

President William Ruto is urging the United Nations to lead global governance of artificial intelligence (AI), emphasizing that the rules for the "intelligence era" should not be dictated by a select few.

• President Ruto advocates for AI governance to be "globally shaped, not globally imposed," ensuring those affected have a say.
• He is co-founding the AI Middle Powers (AIM) Initiative with Finland’s President Alexander Stubb to help middle-power nations collaborate on AI capabilities.
• Kenya has launched a nationwide public participation exercise on its draft AI policy, focusing on digital infrastructure, data and AI governance, and research and innovation.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Kenyan President William Ruto met on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York to explore a critical minerals partnership.

• The partnership aims to position Kenya as a key player in the critical minerals sector by enabling U.S. firms to add value to locally produced minerals.
• Key discussions involved Secretary Blinken and President Ruto.
• This aligns with President Ruto's recent commitment to no longer export raw materials, urging companies to process and add value within Kenya.

The Kenyan government is actively seeking land in Nairobi to construct new offices for its permanent missions to the United Nations. This move aims to bolster Kenya's role and presence at the UN's Nairobi headquarters.

• The government requires a parcel of land approximately 1 to 1.5 acres, preferably in the Gigiri diplomatic hub.
• Key entities involved include the Permanent Mission of Kenya to UNON and UNEP and the Permanent Mission to UN-Habitat.
• The proposed development comes as the UN considers relocating some operations to Nairobi, citing cost efficiencies.

Kenyan President William Ruto and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York to discuss cooperation in critical minerals and nuclear energy.

• The talks focused on positioning Kenya as a key player in critical minerals, attracting U.S. investment for value addition.
• President Ruto and Secretary Rubio explored opportunities for cooperation in nuclear energy and artificial intelligence.
• This discussion builds on a preliminary minerals deal announced in June 2026, emphasizing processing minerals within Kenya.

President William Ruto met with United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to discuss key bilateral and regional issues.

• Discussions focused on trade, technology, energy, and regional peace and security, with a welcomed extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) through December 31, 2028.
• President Ruto and Secretary of State Rubio explored expanded cooperation in artificial intelligence, critical minerals, and nuclear energy.
• Key regional security concerns addressed included the mission in Somalia, stability in Haiti, and the humanitarian crisis in Sudan.