President Kenyatta back from UN General Assembly

President Uhuru Kenyatta is back in the country after arriving on Thursday night from New York, U.S. where he attended the 70th United Nations General Assembly.

In New York, the President chaired several high-level meetings as part of the post 2015 Development Agenda. His schedule takes the record as the busiest ever for a Kenyan Head of State at the General Assembly.

President Kenyatta’s presence at the UN General Assembly was significant given that Kenya was a major mover in coming up with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that were adopted at a special summit.

The President, who delivered his address to the General Assembly on Monday evening, used his statement to galvanize global focus on regional security efforts in which Kenya plays a prominent role.

He emphasized Kenya’s policy on all-inclusive prosperity that can only be guaranteed through sustainable peace.

He also held a series of bilateral meetings with a dozen heads of state and governments including three UN Security Council member states.

Some of the leaders included Chinese President Xi Jinping with whom he also co-chaired a high-level summit at the UN and UK Prime Minister David Cameron.

He also held bilateral talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe with whom he also co-chaired an Africa focused development meeting.

President Kenyatta met Prime Minister Stefan Lofven of Sweden and President Raimonds Vejonis of Latvia, both of whom rooted for closer links between Kenya and their countries.

He also held meetings with leaders from the Caribbean region to discuss Kenya’s bid to amend a controversial rule of the International Criminal Court, among other bilateral issues of mutual interest.

Kenya has started a motion to revisit the controversial ICC rule at the next Assembly of State Parties and wants a reconsideration of the rule which has been improperly used by the ICC against Deputy President William Ruto and journalist Joshua Sang.

The leaders from the Caribbean included Mr Gaston Browne (Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda), Mr David Granger (President of Guyana) and Mr Ralph Gonzalves (Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines).

The President, who was accompanied by First Lady Margaret Kenyatta arrived at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport shortly before 12.00 midnight.

On arrival, he was received by Deputy President William Ruto and Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Samson Mwathethe among other senior government officials.