By Ajibola Adedoye
Kenya has launched the African Union meeting Secretariat Office in Nairobi, marking the commencement of Africa Climate Summit.
The meeting, held on Friday unveiled the event’s venue, theme, and its leadership and technical teams.
The summit of African Heads of State and Government on climate will be co-hosted by Kenya and the African Union in Nairobi from September 4 to 6.
This year’s Africa Climate Week will run from September 4 to 8 at Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).
Speaking during the unveiling of the Secretariat Office, Environment, Climate Change and Forestry CS Soipan Tuya said Kenya will host over 10,000 delegates for the twin events.
“We expect the participation of over 10,000 delegates in Nairobi for both events. The participants will include Government delegations, representatives from UN agencies, multilateral development institutions, financial institutions and private sector,” she said.
Tuya said Kenya got the greenlight to co-host the event from the Africa Union following an offer by President William Ruto.
“Ruto in his capacity as the Chair of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC) offered for Kenya to host the Africa Climate Summit and the offer was unanimously approved on 19th February 2023 during the 36th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,” she said.
“We thank the AU member states and leadership for putting their trust in Kenya as they have done time and again, reflecting confidence in our leadership,” Tuya added.
The CS stated the summit, to be held under the theme, “Africa Together for Bold, innovative and Resourced Climate Action will Unlock Climate Finance and Green Investments.