Kenya Roundup: Seat on UN Security Council, traffic ring busted, US trade deal

Ruto demands permanent African seat on UN Security Council

Kenyan President William Ruto told the UN General Assembly on Wednesday that Africa’s absence from permanent membership of the Security Council is “unacceptable, unfair, and grossly unjust.” He called for reforms granting Africa at least two permanent seats with veto power and two additional non-permanent seats. Ruto noted that Africa dominates much of the Council’s agenda, contributes significant peacekeeping forces, and bears the greatest costs of instability, yet remains the only continent without permanent representation.

Ex-UN official extradited to US

Kenya has extradited Bile Jean Philippe Assemian, a former United Nations employee, to the United States to face charges in an international firearms trafficking case linked to West Africa. Assemian, an Ivorian national who previously worked with the UN Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS), was handed over to US authorities on Thursday and flown to Cleveland, Ohio, for a federal court appearance. Kenya’s Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions confirmed the extradition in a statement on X, sharing images of Assemian boarding a flight under police escort while using crutches.

Traffic ring busted by Kenya Police

Kenyan police have broken up a trafficking network accused of recruiting citizens to fight for Russia in the war in Ukraine. Authorities said a raid in Nairobi uncovered recruitment materials, forged travel documents, and fake job offers used to lure victims. The operation highlights how criminal networks exploit vulnerable youth and reflects the growing use of foreign nationals in Russia’s military campaign.

Kenya pushes for US trade deal

Kenyan President William Ruto said on Wednesday, September 24, that his country expects to conclude a trade agreement with the United States by the end of the year and will press Washington to extend the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) for at least five years. Speaking on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Ruto said AGOA, which grants duty-free access to U.S. markets for eligible African countries, is set to expire this month and remains critical to addressing trade deficits and strengthening U.S.-Africa ties. He is scheduled to meet U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to advance discussions on both the bilateral trade deal and the renewal of AGOA.

IMF to visit Kenya

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) will send a mission to Kenya from September 25 to October 9 to discuss a possible new programme with lending provisions, the Fund announced on Wednesday. Kenya’s previous $3.6 billion IMF arrangement expired in April, and officials, including Central Bank Governor Kamau Thugge, have expressed interest in a fresh deal. IMF mission chief Haimanot Teferra confirmed that talks will begin “in the coming days.” News of the planned discussions lifted Kenya’s dollar bonds, with the 2048 maturity rising 0.7 cents to 89.88 cents on the dollar, according to Tradeweb data. Analysts say a new IMF programme is critical for Kenya to manage external debt repayments.