"Existential threat": Ruto calls for joint global action on climate change

President William Ruto has appealed to the international community to integrate climate action in every development agenda, describing climate change as “an existential threat to humanity” that demands joint global action.

“Climate change is an existential threat to humanity. The solution lies in working together,” Ruto said while speaking during the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) held at the United Nations Complex in Gigiri, Nairobi.

He emphasised the need for collaborative mobilisation of resources to finance climate interventions, pledging Kenya’s continued leadership in addressing the crisis.

“Kenya remains committed to climate action and will continue to play its part in confronting the effects of climate change,” the President said.

AMCEN brings together environment ministers from across Africa to address key environmental challenges such as climate change, pollution, and sustainable development. Established in 1985, the conference also helps African nations consolidate positions ahead of global environmental negotiations.

Separately, the President also challenged his political opponents to present credible alternatives for job creation, saying inciting young people to cause chaos cannot be considered a solution to unemployment.

“What is your plan? It cannot be that your plan is to incite and pay young people to destroy property and burn businesses. That is not acceptable,” he said.

He made the remarks in Dandora during an inspection tour of the Nairobi River Regeneration Programme, where he urged the youth to reject leaders without constructive agendas.

“Do not accept to be led by leaders who have no plan and those driven by tribalism and hatred. We have no time for violence, chaos, and ethnicity. We want to build our country,” he said.

He insisted that national unity and peace were critical for economic growth, vowing to eliminate tribalism and regional exclusion.

“As the leader of this nation, I will make sure that no Kenyan is locked out, and no community or region is left behind,” the President stated.

Citing ongoing projects, President Ruto said his administration had already created hundreds of thousands of jobs across various initiatives. He noted that the Climate WorX programme had created 200,000 jobs countrywide, while the Affordable Housing Programme had employed over 320,000 people, with the figure set to double within the next three months.

Additionally, he revealed that 400,000 Kenyans had secured employment under the labour mobility programme, while 180,000 more were working in digital jobs.

On the Nairobi River Regeneration Programme, President Ruto said 20,000 youth in Nairobi had already been recruited, with another 20,000 scheduled to start work from Monday, bringing the total to 40,000.

The project includes constructing 54 kilometres of new sewer lines to prevent raw sewage discharge into the river, developing 10,000 social housing units along the riverbanks, and building community parks, public halls and toilets.

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Ruto added that walkways and cycle lanes would be constructed along the riverbanks, electrified for security, with 44 pedestrian bridges to be installed. He noted that the Kariobangi wastewater treatment plant will also be expanded.

The Head of State further said modern markets will be built for local traders, trees planted along riverbanks to control soil erosion and aquatic farming introduced. While housing units will be spread citywide, the first phase will focus on a 27.2km stretch of the Nairobi River between Naivasha Road and Dandora Falls. Phase two will cover the Mathare and Ngong Rivers.

“All these projects, including aquaculture, sewage systems, markets, and social housing, will be completed by January 15, 2027,” he said.

Earlier, the President commissioned the Savannah Stage 17 Bridge road connecting Embakasi Central and Embakasi East constituencies, pledging to turn Nairobi into a top global city.

He said the government was rolling out the construction of at least 70 kilometres of new roads within Nairobi to ease traffic congestion and facilitate trade.

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, who accompanied the President, said city residents had rejected tribal politics and were working together to transform Nairobi.