Kenyan President William Ruto says the UN stands at the crossroads, asking if the organisation is still relevant to the demands of the time.

He called for renewal of the international organisation to reflect modern reality.

Mr Ruto said this on Wednesday while addressing the 80th session of the General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York.

“Is the United Nations relevant to the demands of our time?

He, however, called for the renewal of the body, noting that the body must renew or decay.

He warned that institutions fail “not for lack of noble ideals but when they drift into irrelevance”.

“Today, the UN faces that danger, with the Security Council still frozen in 1945 structures and unable to respond effectively to crises,” he said.

On peace and security, he said, “its voice is too often drowned out by great power rivalries”.

He expressed grave concern over the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, calling for a permanent ceasefire, unconditional release of hostages, and a credible political process toward a two-State solution.

He further highlighted climate change as “the single greatest threat of our age and the greatest opportunity of our time,” spotlighting Kenya’s renewable energy success and Africa’s leadership through the Nairobi and Addis Ababa climate summits.

(NAN)