President William Ruto speaking at the sidelines of UNGA / PCSKenya, Norway and the United States will co-host the second Africa Clean Cooking Summit in Nairobi in January 2027 as countries seek to accelerate investment and expand access to clean cooking across the continent.
President William Ruto said the summit will be held on January 27 and 28, 2027, bringing together governments and development partners to translate clean cooking commitments into concrete action.
Ruto invited participants to Nairobi, urging them to attend the summit with specific measures that can advance access to clean cooking.
“When we meet in Nairobi, let each one of us come prepared to point to one concrete step. A policy approved, a procurement launched, financing deployed, an investment committed, or a project advanced,” Ruto said.
He said clean cooking should be treated as essential energy infrastructure because of its links to public health, economic opportunity and Africa’s green transition.
Kenya has already identified a US$600 million investment opportunity in institutional clean cooking, targeting schools, healthcare facilities and correctional services.
“To translate that ambition into investment, we recently launched the Institutional Clean Cooking Investment Pack. It identifies a US$600 million investment opportunity across schools, healthcare facilities, and correctional services,” Ruto said.
The President said achieving universal access to clean cooking would require increased investment through local-currency financing, guarantees and other financial instruments that can turn demand into viable projects.
Ruto also called for stronger climate financing for Africa, saying affordable capital, guarantees and risk-sharing instruments were needed to unlock investment in renewable energy, green industries and climate-resilient infrastructure.
The summit will provide an opportunity for governments, investors and development partners to strengthen partnerships and move from commitments to implementation in the clean cooking sector.
Ruto also called for reforms to the United Nations and the international financial system, saying global institutions must reflect the changing world and better serve developing countries.
He spoke in New York on Tuesday as world leaders gathered for the opening of the General Debate of the 81st United Nations General Assembly.
The General Debate brings together heads of state, governments and delegations for a week of speeches and diplomatic engagements.
Ruto said the rules and institutions established decades ago had not kept pace with the world they were expected to govern.
He spoke while co-hosting the Partners for Multilateralism Summit with European Council President António Costa and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
"This is why Kenya continues to advocate reform of the UN Security Council to make it more representative and inclusive, particularly for Africa," Ruto said.
The President also called for reforms to the international financial architecture, saying it should become fairer, price risk more accurately and enable developing countries to mobilise more of their own capital for development.
"Trust will be restored when multilateralism works more fairly, rules are applied consistently, institutions reflect the world they govern, and cooperation delivers results that people can see and feel," he said.
Ruto's call for reforms came as the General Assembly opened under the theme "Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all".
