Ruto Meets Bill Gates: Virtual Summit with Foundation Leaders
On Monday evening, President William Ruto held a virtual meeting with American Billionaire Bill Gates and senior officials of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
The meeting, according to Ruto, centered on the organization’s work in Kenya, which he said had transformed many lives.
Climate change, a cause he has championed in the international arena, was cited by Ruto as one of the government’s top priorities for collaboration with the Gates Foundation.
Notably, Ruto’s meeting with Gates and his representatives takes place just days before he intends to convene African leaders for the inaugural Africa Climate Summit from September 4 to 6.
“We commend the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for its transformative work in Kenya. Ruto stated, “We commit to working together to combat the climate change crisis for the benefit of all.”
Rodger Voorhies, administrator of the foundation’s Global Growth & Opportunity Division, was also present at the meeting. Voorhies directs the organization’s efforts to combat climate change.
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Cheikh Oumar Seydi, who directs the activities of the foundation in Africa, also attended the meeting.
The presence of the two individuals at the meeting is viewed as a strategy for the foundation, which plans to construct a regional center in the country. Nairobi will be the location of the offices.
The cabinet ratified the establishment of the headquarters on June 27, 2022, following discussions between Ruto and Gates in November 2022.
The June Cabinet dispatch stated, “The decision to host the Gates Foundation was influenced by the importance of working with the private sector on Universal Healthcare.”
The Kenyan headquarters will oversee the organization’s activities in agriculture and information and communications technology.
Its precise location in Nairobi and construction schedule have not yet been made public.
Ruto Meets Bill Gates: Virtual Summit with Foundation Leaders