Senator Mike Sonko is a funny character who never ceases to amaze. A few days ago, he joined president Uhuru and his deputy at the JKIA to bid Chinese Premier farewell.
Characteristic of him, he was dressed casually in a trendy slim fit ripped jeans which couldn’t go unnoticed. The ripped jeans stole the highlight of the moment as the president and his deputy found it funny and laughed uncontrollably.
NAIROBI: Kenya’s profile in the international community is set to rise as a UN agency hosted in Nairobi formally opens its membership to all nations worldwide.
The inauguration of a revamped United Nations Environmental Programme (Unep), scheduled for next month, will see Nairobi host more than 6,000 international visitors The Gigiri-based UN agency, with 54 member states, is estimated to contribute over Sh30 billion annually to the local economy.
With the membership now jumping to 193 states, this is expected to create a formidable economic zone for Nairobi. The historic meeting, which upgrades Unep’s membership from 53 to 193, will attract about 1,200 high level official delegates and an estimated 5,000 individuals from other interest groups and civil societies.
President Uhuru Kenyatta will open the assembly. After a long and fierce international scramble over whether to relocate or upgrade the Nairobi based UN agency, Kenya’s request was finally granted in 2012 with the first high level meeting to inaugurate the new body scheduled for next month.
“Environment ministers and government representatives from 193 UN member states and major groups will gather between June 23 and 27 for the inaugural meeting of the United Nations Environment Assembly ( Unea) in Nairobi,” said Unep Executive Director Achim Steiner.
Unea will replace Unep’s governing council with the mandate to open up the body to all 193 UN member States, observer States and other stakeholders. Although Kenya did not get a fully-fledged and autonomous Unep as retired President Kibaki had requested at a global climate meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2012, the UN agreed to enhance the status of the environmental body.
During the Rio meeting, Kibaki promised that the Government would offer more facilities and office space for an expanded Unep. President Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to confirm the pledge when he addresses the forth-coming meeting.