African heads of state arrive in Nairobi for climate summit

Several heads of state arrived in Kenya on Sunday, September 3 ahead of the Africa Climate Summit which kicks off on Monday.

The first to arrive was Burundi’s President Évariste Ndayishimiye, who is also the chairperson of the East African Community (EAC).

President Ndayishimiye was received by Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua and his Health counterpart Susan Nakhumicha at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi.

This afternoon I received H.E @GeneralNeva, President of the Republic of Burundi who arrived in Nairobi to participate in the @AfClimateSummit scheduled to take place from 4th to 5th September, 2023. President Ndayishimiye is also the Chairperson of the East African Community… pic.twitter.com/KdZ8VEOMez— Dr. Alfred N. Mutua (@DrAlfredMutua) September 3, 2023

Later on Sunday evening, Mutua also welcomed Azali Assoumani, the President of Comoros and Chairperson of the African Union (AU) into the country.

Other presidents who have arrived in Kenya are Ghana's Nana Akufo-Addo and Brahim Ghali, the President of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, who were received by Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria and Mutua respectively.

"I had the distinguished privilege, honour and pleasure to receive His Excellency the President of Ghana H.E. @NAkufoAddo who arrived ahead of the Africa Climate Summit set to kick off tomorrow in Nairobi. Karibu Nairobi Kenya," Kuria wrote on X, formally Twitter.

I had the distinguished privilege, honour and pleasure to receive His Excellency the President of Ghana H.E. @NAkufoAddo who arrived ahead of the Africa Climate Summit set to kick off tomorrow in Nairobi.

Karibu Nairobi Kenya. pic.twitter.com/wFmgIs7g6r— CS Moses Kuria (@HonMoses_Kuria) September 3, 2023

At least 24 heads of state and government are expected to attend the climate summit scheduled to take place at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) from 4th to 6th September.

“The summit will be graced by over 24 Heads of State and Government, high-level representatives of development partners and international institutions, as well as subject experts while about 30,000 delegates are expected to attend,” a Cabinet dispatch released on Tuesday read in part.

This year's Africa Climate Summit, themed ‘Driving Green Growth and Climate Finance Solutions for Africa and the World’, brings together leaders and investors from Africa and beyond to share experiences and solutions for a sustainable, resilient Africa.

The event's sessions will focus on adaptation and resilience, renewable energy and sustainable development, and financing for climate action.

The Kenyan government is co-hosting the summit with the African Union Commission (AUC).