President Uhuru mulls for equitable access to global Covid-19 vaccine

His Excellency President Kenyatta has urged United Nations General Assembly to ensure equitable global vaccine access at the core of “Building Back Better” from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Speaking during the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Kenyatta said the pandemic’s devastating impact on global travel, tourism, supply chains and investment has caused the deepest economic recession in nearly a century.

“As of a week ago, close to five thousand Kenyans had succumbed to COVID-19. We mourn these Kenyans and the 4.7 million lives that have been lost around the world. The pandemic’s devastating impact on global travel, tourism, supply chains and investment has caused the deepest economic recession in nearly a century,” he said.

“Kenya responded swiftly and boldly to contain the pandemic; and, as a result, the human toll, though most distressing, pales in comparison to other parts of the world.”

According to Kenyatta, to rebuild successfully, in line with this year’s theme ‘building resilience and hope to recover from covid-19, there is an urgent need for a worldwide response to enable production and access to the vaccines in an equitable and accessible manner.

Adding that they must make concerted, structural changes that should enable a quantum increase in investment and technology transfers.

“Not as charity, but instead driven by enlightened self-interest and solidarity,” he said.

On climate change, the President said the issue should be considered while aiming to make clear commitments that contribute to developing country investments in green manufacturing and the infrastructure it requires.

Uhuru said is ready to become a leading green industry country.

“We have mounted a strong climate change response. We have submitted an updated National Determined Contribution (NDC) plan that aims to lower greenhouse gas emissions by 32 per cent by 2030,” he said.

“Kenya also has a “Green Economy Strategy and Implementation Plan (2016-2030). This will enable us to achieve higher economic growth and support a low-carbon development path.”

Additionally, he said that his administration was simultaneously focused on the immediate needs of its people.

He added that the Government had targeted 3.3 million households that are at risk and in the process achieved a 50 per cent reduction in the number of food insecure Kenyans.

According to President Kenyatta, by next year, Kenya will have achieved a 27 per cent reduction in malnutrition among children less than 5 years, created 1,000 agro-processing SMEs and 600,000 new jobs. We will also have recorded a 48 per cent increase in agriculture sector contribution.

Further, he said the unequal trade and investment patterns, the outflows of illicit finance and inflows of illicit small arms and light weapons, the extraction versus production mentality remain to be major factors escalating global inequality, fragility, conflict and violence.

The President said many of the tools at disposal to deal with these challenges are not living up to their promise.

“One such core tool is the United Nations Security Council in which Kenya has been an elected an active member since the beginning of the year,” he said.

He said this October 2021, the country will assume the Presidency of the Security Council where he will personally chair several signature events including how nations can make an appreciation for diversity, a core aim in promoting state-building and the pursuit of peace.