Ruto has clearly become Africa's de facto leader

President William Ruto make his speech at Climate Summit at KICC in Nairobi on September 06, 2023. [Stafford Ondego, Standard]

Before the September 10, 2000, Simon Biwott was a little-known pacemaker. On that day, he took part in the Berlin Marathon setting the pace for others expected to win. But instead of dropping out at the 28-kilometre mark as prearranged, he ran on to win Germany’s biggest and most prestigious road race. He had gotten in the zone!

The phrase “in the zone” is described by the Collins English dictionary as, “a mental state that enables one to perform to the best of one’s ability.” It is a heightened state of perception and response that borders on the preternatural. Being in the zone is what separates the mundane from greatness; what transforms a recondite runner into a record-breaking world-class athlete.

Kenya is getting in the zone. The successful hosting of Africa’s first climate summit proves it has come of age. President William Ruto has become the de facto leader of the continent.

He has lent his voice to a number of concerns whilst going out of his way to create the rapprochement that sees the continent speak with one voice.

Former US Secretary of State John Kerry recently said, “President Ruto is showing the path for everyone to follow.” Speaking directly to him, he further added, “your leadership is palpable. You have set a clear path for us. Africa is meeting. Africa is talking. Africa is deciding.”

That Kenya is now leading important international conversations is testament to the fact that she is taking charge of the continent’s destiny. Especially so when it comes to the duplicity of those who propose a radical shift to green energy without taking into account the current economic state of Africa.

Greenhouse gases

It is clear that the Global North has prospered on the backbone of fossil-fueled industrialisation. It is also clear that Africa only contributes 4 per cent of greenhouse gases. The deleterious effects of the remaining 97 per cent come from industrialised countries.

The biggest conundrum is in how to bring Africa at par with the rest of the world without adding to its carbon footprint. Proposals have been made for the continent to benefit from debt-relief in exchange for abandoning of fossil fuel.

It cannot meet its Agenda 2063 industrialisation objectives on green energy alone. Not when it is so heavily indebted to Bretton Woods institutions. And certainly not when most of the continent is in hock to predatory lenders from the Orient.

Kenya is at the forefront of these conversations. And she has the bona fides as one of the global leaders in renewable energy production. Seventy per cent of the country’s power is from sources such as geothermal, hydro, wind and solar energy. She is the indubitable leader of green energy on the continent.

How she extricates herself from the debt-trap policy of the East and navigates the thorny path from debt distress will be a case study for the rest of the continent.

Leonard Khafafa Public Policy Analyst