Hussein Mohamed: Gov't only cleared 51 people to attend UAE climate summit

Speaking to Citizen TV's Sunday Live from the UAE, Mohamed claimed that the number of delegates reported to be representing Kenya was greatly exaggerated.

He told Citizen TV that while the government was committed to austerity measures, climate change, which affects many aspects of the economy, has seen various players drawn from county governments as well as the private sector sponsoring the attendees.

 "The number that was given was exaggerated; those registered does not necessarily mean those who came," Mohamed said on Sunday. 

"Non-government entities are facilitating several Kenyans to participate in this COP 28. The list of the people that were cleared by the government is 51," 

According to the State House spokesperson, while the President was committed to walking the talk, he had no control over other sectors outside the presidency that were sponsoring attendees.

"We have so many other Kenyans from the private sector, non-state actors, county government, parliament, is that part of the Presidency? No," he added. 

"The Head of State is walking the talk, he was clear about reducing the numbers and he had done so, the other day he even spoke about reducing the allowances given to people and he has done so." 

According to Hussein, while the president is eager to keep his word on austerity measures, he lacks the authority to order other institutions to do so.

"As far as the president is concerned, he has reduced the numbers to what is essential and for the rest they can only take the example of the president," he added. 

The latest comes in the backdrop of multiple reports that Kenya, despite committing to austerity measures in the face of a ballooning cost of living, had deployed a 763-man delegation to the UAE climate talks.

More than 97,000 participants have badges to attend this year’s Conference of the Parties (COP) in Dubai in person.

According to a statement from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) detailing the list of participants, Kenya ranks 12th with the most delegates.

Citizen Digital has observed that among those in attendance, led by President William Ruto, are First Lady Rachel Ruto, Second Lady Dorcas Rigathi, Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi, Environment and Forestry CS Soipan Tuya and Attorney General Justin Muturi.

Other CSs include Rebecca Miano (Trade), Njuguna Ndung'u (Treasury), Aisha Jumwa (Public Service), Alice Wahome (Water), Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohammed and COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli.

About 13 Governors, Senators, MPs, State House staff, Principal Secretaries (PSs), government officials, county staff, Personal Assistants (PAs), advisors, and researchers are also in attendance.

Meanwhile, in the ongoing talks, Kenya has bagged some 4.5 billion US dollars, the equivalent of Ksh.680 billion, deals to support green industrialisation in the country.

President William Ruto led African heads of state at the Africa Green Industrialization Initiative, which aims to accelerate and scale green industries and businesses across Africa.

Out of the 1.5 billion dollars, an equivalent of Ksh.225 billion will be used to finance green fertilizer projects, Ksh.90 billion to set up a data centre in partnership with KenGen and Konza City, Ksh. 150 billion will be invested in a 300 megawatts geothermal project at Suswa.

Investments that are set to accelerate such projects are already happening.

Such projects include Ndeda shores in Siaya County. Citizen TV travelled for an hour by boat to arrive at this island: