President Uhuru Kenyatta in Europe for Commonwealth, climate change summits

Malta: President Uhuru Kenyatta arrived in Malta Saturday morning to attend the 24th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

The plane carrying the President and his delegation touched down at Malta International Airport shortly before 9am (Kenya time) and was received by senior Maltese officials, Kenya’s Ambassador to Rome also accredited to Malta Josephine Gaita and Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed.

CHOGM brings together delegates from 53 countries to reflect on the Commonwealth’s strengths that can influence positive change on global socio-economic developments with special focus on matters affecting member nations.

The Summit, whose theme is “Adding Global Value”, is being hosted by the Prime Minister of Malta Joseph Muscat at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta, the capital city.

The meeting, officially opened by the Head of Commonwealth Queen Elizabeth II Friday, comes days ahead of the Paris Climate Conference (COP21) and has dedicated a special session to climate change.

President Kenyatta is Saturday morning expected to join other leaders for a breakfast Dialogue between Commonwealth Heads of Government and Youth Leaders.

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President Kenyatta will be in the Mediterranean island State of Malta on Saturday November 28 and Sunday November 29 for the Commonwealth meeting.

The President will use the Malta meeting to voice Kenya’s position as he joins other Commonwealth leaders in the search for solutions to emerging global challenges.

The agenda of this year’s CHOGM – whose theme is ‘Commonwealth: adding global value’ – includes deliberations on Climate Change, building small states’ resilience, trade and sustainable development, youth empowerment, gender equality and human rights.

The Commonwealth meeting will also discuss ways of pooling resources towards curbing violent extremism and radicalisation.

From Malta, President Kenyatta will travel to Paris for the Climate Change Conference where he will join other leaders in giving momentum to efforts geared towards addressing climate change challenges including the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

Meanwhile, a Kenyan, Faith Manthi has been elected Vice Chairperson, Partnerships and Resources of the Commonwealth Youth Council (CYC) for a two year period.

Ms. Manthi was elected by national youth delegates from 53 different Commonwealth countries during the ongoing Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

The Commonwealth Youth Council to be chaired by Kishva Ambigapathy from Malaysia, was first established in 2013 and is the official representative voice of more than 1.2 billion young people in the Commonwealth.