By Mohammed Juma
President William Ruto has urged global leaders to unite in reforming the international financial system, dismissing the notion that the debate should be framed as a conflict between developed and developing nations.
Speaking during a high-level forum on the Pact for Prosperity, People and Planet (4P), Ruto stressed the need for a just and inclusive financial structure that empowers all nations to respond to pressing global challenges, including climate change and poverty.
“The reform of the international financial architecture is not a North versus South affair,” President Ruto said.
“It is a moral, economic, and environmental imperative that affects us all, and must therefore be addressed through solidarity and cooperation,” he noted.
The 4P pact, which champions prosperity through sustainability, equity, and global unity, seeks to overhaul outdated financial systems that often disadvantage developing nations.
Ruto emphasized that inclusive reforms are critical to ensuring access to affordable financing for climate mitigation, infrastructure development, and social protection.
He further noted that the current global financial order disproportionately burdens low- and middle-income countries with high-interest debt, limiting their capacity for meaningful progress.
“We need a system that works for everyone, not one that deepens inequality,” he added.
Kenya’s strong stance on international financial reform has placed it among the leading voices pushing for a more equitable global order. Ruto’s remarks align with increasing calls from African leaders and global south partners for a finance system that reflects modern realities and shared global responsibilities.
The President concluded with a call for unity, urging nations to “act not out of competition, but collective responsibility to our people and our planet.”