Kenyan President in Atlanta: Inclusive global growth needed to counter democratic decline

WE leadership is needed to counter the growing narrative of democratic decline around the world, particularly in a pivotal year when 2 billion people turned out to vote in 90 countries, Kenyadeclared the president of Atlanta during the first engagement of his state visit to WE

While Kenya has strengthened its own electoral system to ensure the shared freedoms that have made the two nations natural partners during their 60 years of diplomatic relations, the rise of autocrats presenting alternative paths to prosperity presents a new risk of reputation for systems of representative government around the world. world, president William Ruto said during a speech at The Carter Center.

“We now face a growing risk that democracy and free markets will be associated with poverty and suffering, giving credence to widespread laments that democracy is or has been in decline in many parts of the world. including in Africa,” Mr Ruto said.

Praising the Carter Center’s work on global health and election monitoring, Ruto said fostering inclusive growth and creating jobs is key to showing citizens that “democracy works.”

During his visit to Washington this week, for the first state visit by an African president in 15 years, Mr Ruto said he would denounce “an unjust international financial architecture” that keeps developing countries in debt and poorly prepared for costly climate disasters.

It will call for “concessional development finance to support our economies, build resilience to the effects of climate change, strengthen our belief in a free market economy and energize our democratic enterprise,” he said.

Promoting this agenda is one of the main reasons why Kenya hosted the World Bank’s International Development Association African Leaders Summit in Nairobi in April, Ruto said. The IDA provides development assistance to 75 developing countries, including 39 in Africa.

“I believe that the United States of America has a historic opportunity to lead the free world in confronting this economic situation and to bring meaning to democracy and the market economy throughout the world, including in the Kenya and many other developing countries,” Mr Ruto said.

Democratic development in Kenya

In his wide-ranging remarks, Mr Ruto presented Kenya as a constructive partner helping to resolve regional and global challenges, a “viciously democratic” country whose credibility is underpinned by a robust constitution and a fervent commitment to protecting freedoms of its citizens.

The United States, he said, has been an integral part of Kenya’s democratic development since its independence in December 1963. Legal scholars like Thurgood Marshallwhose grave in Washington he will visit, helped shape the Kenyan constitution, while progressive leaders and civil rights activists also shaped his speech.

“These strategic and thoughtful interventions reflected our shared values ​​and enabled our young nation to stand confidently on its own and chart a path that we still celebrate today,” Mr Ruto said just before heading to headquarters. King Center visit the tomb of Martin Luther King Jr. And Coretta Scott King.

Students from the fledgling republic also came to the United States as part of a student exchange initiated by the president. John F. Kennedy, forging competent leaders who could help advance its economy. This spirit will be present in the signing of an agreement between five Kenyan universities and their American counterparts during the trip, Ruto said.

The president spent a lot of time emphasizing Kenya’s commitment to electoral transparency and the peaceful transfer of power, even though some established democracies like the United States have had problems in this area.

In Kenya, he said, rumors that a “deep state” was conspiring behind the scenes to influence the election outcome emerged ahead of its 2022 election.

“But believe me, if the deep state had to decide, or if ‘the system’ had to decide, a different person would stand before you today as the president of Kenya.”

He added that Kenya had made significant investments in its electronic voting systems and that its Supreme Court had experience handling election disputes, such as the one in August 2017 that was overturned after its challenger overturned it. do. Raila Odinga suspected digital interference.

Mr Ruto, the President’s then running mate Uhuru Kenyattabecame vice president after new elections were held in October, but not before violent post-election protests left dozens dead across the country.

“I tell you, it’s not good when your election is overturned, but it’s democracy and we choose to respect it,” he said.

In front of a large delegation of Kenyan media, Mr. Ruto then praised the press as being the key to holding leaders accountable and contributing to the eradication of corruption.

“The people of Kenya are the ultimate holders of all sovereign power. Leaders like me, and many of them here, have an irrevocable commitment every five years to renew their social contract with citizens. We celebrate the right of every Kenyan to choose their political representatives and participate in public office as a fundamental principle of democratic governance.

Solving regional and global challenges

While calling on major countries like the United States to step up their efforts, Kenya is not waiting to act to resolve regional and global challenges, seeing its destiny as “inseparable from the general well-being of humanity.”

Reflections during a fireside chat with the CEO of the Carter Center Paige Alexander on the country’s “difficult neighbourhood”, Mr Ruto said Kenya was helping to drive reforms at the African Union, train election workers to South Sudan and appealing Sudan transition to civilian government. She is working with the United States to ensure the withdrawal of international forces from Somalia does not leave a power vacuum that would be filled by terrorists. And in the Western Hemisphere, Kenya is leading a The United Nations-sustained effort to restore order in Haitiwhere violent gangs have taken control of large swaths of territory.

The setting of the Jimmy Carter Presidential Center and Library was appropriate, he said, given the former president’s work across the world, which Mr Ruto said would be intensified with the Carter Centre.

“We are called to honor his humanism and solidarity as well as his unwavering advocacy for the well-being of individuals and the creation of inclusive, equitable and just societies,” Mr Ruto said. “In today’s complex global landscape, it is crucial to reaffirm and resolutely defend the timeless principles of democracy and freedom,” Mr Ruto said.

The Carter legacy and Atlanta as a gateway

In his welcome speech, Rep. Nikema Williamsa Democrat from Georgia’s 5th District in Atlanta, said the launch of his historic visit to Atlanta was fitting given the city’s role as the “cradle of the civil rights movement.”

“We have a saying here in Atlanta: President Ruto: Atlanta Influences Everything,” and make no mistake, we are proud to influence active and engaged civil societies around the world,” said Ms. Williams, the successor of Congress to the legend of civil rights John Lewis.

Ms. Alexander, executive director of the Carter Center, said Mr. Ruto’s speech reminded her of a quote from Mr. Lewis: “Democracy is not a state. Democracy is an act, and it is the responsibility of several generations to move it forward.”

She said Mr. Lewis told her before his death that Kenya had sent a delegation to Atlanta to meet with Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committeewhich he co-founded in 1963, the first engagement in a long history of discussions with the Kenyans.

“So this commemorates 60 years of diplomatic relations, but it’s also 60 years of the relationship with Atlanta,” Ms. Alexander said.

The Carter Center has been active in Kenya since 1994, when it began working to eradicate Guinea worm disease in partnership with the country’s Ministry of Health. In 2000, a ceremony was held to recognize how strengthening reporting systems and national health infrastructure had eradicated the disease within Kenya’s borders. At the end of 2023, there were only 14 human cases left in five African countries.

Mr Ruto said as Kenya embarks on an effort to provide universal healthcare to its citizens, his government would sign an agreement with the Centers for Disaster Control and Prevention in Atlanta on Monday before engaging in a forum with the Kenyan community at Cobb Gallery. It should be on the front page of Prosper Africa business forum Tuesday evening.

Watch the CDC meeting and signing of the agreement broadcast live from the President’s Executive Mansion on X:

Transforming the Kenya-US Health Partnership, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta. https://t.co/6cRBf1RYQR

– William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) May 20, 2024

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