UNFPA Executive Director Natalia Kanem lauded President Uhuru Kenyatta on Thursday for his advocacy of youth empowerment, citing Kenya's leadership in advancing adolescent development under his administration.
Kanem specifically acknowledged First Lady Margaret Kenyatta's Beyond Zero campaign, which addresses maternal and child health challenges, calling her a "beacon of hope" for vulnerable populations.
The UNFPA chief met with Kenyatta at State House to discuss partnership opportunities, including scaling up support for Kenya's Universal Health Coverage initiative. The president emphasized the need for international collaboration to expand the pilot program, which aligns with the Big4 Agenda's health priorities.
Discussions also focused on Kenya's preparations to host the Nairobi Summit on the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD25) in November 2019. Kenyatta reaffirmed the government's commitment to the event, which will bring together global stakeholders to advance reproductive health and rights agendas.
The meeting included senior officials such as Public Service Head Joseph Kinyua, Health Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki, and UNEP Acting Executive Director Joyce Msuya. Msuya updated the president on the upcoming UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-4) in Nairobi, scheduled for the following week.
