RUTO FLIES OUT OF THE COUNTRY FOR URGENT MEETING

President William Ruto, has embarked on a significant visit to Switzerland where he arrived on Thursday morning for a meeting with the United Nations. Ruto was accompanied by COTU Boss Francis Atwoli who warmly welcomed the president.

Ruto’s two day visit in Geneva includes a crucial engagement at the International Labour Conference, where he will deliver a keynote address.

One of the key highlights of Ruto’s visit is his scheduled bilateral meeting with Gilbert Houngbo, the Director General of the International Labour Organization (ILO). During their discussions, they are expected to focus on collaborative efforts aimed at promoting social justice and ensuring dignified work opportunities for all individuals.

The conference itself will convene global leaders, including Heads of State, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, and the Director General of the ILO. Their agenda will encompass vital themes such as tackling inequalities, fostering inclusive work environments, establishing robust social protection mechanisms, and advancing human rights.

All the leaders present are are expected to address key themes such as inequalities, promoting inclusive work environments, ensuring social protection and advancing human rights. In addition, the meeting will come up with strategies and also provide solutions for prevailing challenges in the aformentioned issues.

Meanwhile, back in Kenya, Ruto’s administration is set to present its first financial budget. The National Treasury Cabinet Secretary, Njuguna Ndung’u, will deliver the highly anticipated Kenya Kwanza Budget Statement for the Financial Year 2023-2024 at 3 pm today.

The proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year amounts to Sh3.6 trillion, reflecting an increase of Sh251 billion from the previous budget. To cover the Sh700 billion deficit, the government plans to secure financing through borrowing. The budget allocation includes Sh2.5 trillion for recurrent expenses and Sh769.3 billion for development initiatives.