The Secretary General of the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), Cleophas Malala, has claimed that his party has already started the process of petitioning the United Nations (UN) to stop President William Ruto from making a speech at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV on Thursday, August 21, Malala argued that President Ruto does not deserve to speak to the world about human rights because of the way his government has been handling the issue in Kenya.
According to the former Kakamega Senator, the petition accuses President Ruto’s administration of being responsible for extrajudicial killings and unlawful detentions that have created fear and mistrust among ordinary Kenyans.
“We have petitioned the UN so that President Ruto is not allowed to speak about human rights. His government has been behind extrajudicial killings and illegal state detentions, and therefore he cannot lecture the world on such issues,” Malala said.
Malala further revealed that the DCP is preparing to launch a massive campaign to gather more than 10 million signatures from Kenyans in support of the petition. He explained that this public participation will serve as evidence to convince the United Nations not to give Ruto a platform to speak during the General Assembly.
“We have also announced that we will be collecting 10 million signatures across the country to back our petition. This will strengthen our call to the UN General Assembly to bar him from making statements on matters of human rights,” he added.
UNGA 80 Set to Open in September
Every September, world leaders travel to New York City to participate in the United Nations General Assembly, an important global platform where nations discuss pressing international challenges. This year, the 80th session of the UNGA (UNGA 80) will officially open on Tuesday, September 9.
The General Debate, which features speeches by heads of state and government, will begin on Tuesday, September 23, and run until September 27, before the summit officially concludes on September 29.
Apart from the General Debate, the session will also feature other high-level meetings. These include:
- A fourth high-level meeting on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health,
- A meeting to mark the 30th Anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women, and
- A meeting on the 30th Anniversary of the World Programme of Action for Youth.
Ruto’s Expected Attendance
President Ruto, like his predecessors, has always attended the UNGA sessions. As the Head of State, he has used these opportunities to address world leaders on global issues, including climate change, international trade, peace, and development in Africa.
This year’s session is seen as particularly important for Kenya and for President Ruto personally. His trip to New York will also mark his first visit to the United States under President Donald Trump’s new administration.
Observers note that his attendance comes at a sensitive time, as Kenya’s long-standing designation as a Major Non-NATO Ally of the United States is under review.
This designation has been key in strengthening security and defense cooperation between Nairobi and Washington, and any changes could significantly affect Kenya’s international standing.
For this reason, President Ruto’s participation at the UNGA will not only be about global diplomacy but also about reaffirming Kenya’s role on the world stage at a time when domestic and international scrutiny is growing.
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