The government of Kenya and the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) have signed a Sh8.7 billion second threshold program agreement to improve urban connectivity and ease the transition to e-mobility.

 The deal was signed on the sidelines of the ongoing United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.

“Mobility in Nairobi is very important to us. The city has 5 million people during the day and 4 million at night, so this means there are 1 million people who come every day, posing a very significant challenge to the infrastructure. The bus transport system is a very important component,” said Ruto.

“Today’s signing ceremony marks an exciting milestone in the growing partnership between Kenya and the United States.”

 The funding is aimed at providing support to climate-friendly buses for the emerging Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) network that will ease traffic congestion in Nairobi. 

 MCC Chief Executive Officer Alice Bright termed the grant as one of the “largest and most ambitious threshold programs” that the firm has ever offered with any partner country.

 “It reflects MCC’s confidence in Kenya to address its own challenges to economic growth and is yet one more symbol of the longstanding relationship between our two countries,” she said.

 MCC is an independent U.S. government agency working to reduce global poverty through economic growth by providing time-limited grants and assistance to countries with standards for good governance. 

 During his tour in the U.S., the president also met other international leaders on the event sidelines who expressed their commitment to Kenya.

In a meeting with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ruto said that the Ukrainian government is committed to setting up a grain hub to fight food insecurity in Kenya and East Africa at large. 

 “In New York, United States held talks with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy who committed to establishing a grain hub in the Port of Mombasa to address food shortage in East Africa,” Ruto stated on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter.

 President Ruto further reiterated Kenya’s support for a peaceful resolution to the Russian-Ukraine conflict.

 “Kenya advocates for a peaceful resolution of the Russia-Ukraine conflict to restore stability, alleviate the suffering of the people, and stop the destruction of property.” 

 He remarked that conflict resolution among the warring nations is a priority to all in the world as a sense of humanity.

 President Ruto also held talks with various international leaders including President of the World Bank Ajay Banga, Zuzana Caputova (Slovakia), Gambia Vice President Muhammad Jallow, Denmark and Sweden Prime Ministers Mette Frederiksen and Ulf Kristersson respectively. By Sharon Wanga, The Standard