On 24th January, 2024, the Ag. Executive Director of The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) Amb. Michal Mlynár paid a courtesy call on the Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports Hon. Ababu Namwamba in his office at Talanta Plaza. The meeting was also attended by Mr. Daniel Kottut, the chargé d'affaires, Kenya Permanent Mission to UN-Habitat and Mr. Yobesh Mogire, Assistant Director at the Mission.
The Cabinet Secretary welcomed the UN Habitat delegation and congratulated Mr. Michal Mlynár for the new position as the Acting Executive Director, having served as ambassador of Slovakia to Kenya.
The Ag. Executive Director congratulated the Cabinet Secretary for having the Talanta Plaza completed and informed of the departure of his predecessor Ms. Maimunah Mohd Sharif, who achieved commendable milestones setting the bar so high. He pointed out that the United Nations Secretary General has high expectations on the UN Habitat institution to succeed. He proposed to the Cabinet Secretary that UN Habitat was ready to partner with the Ministry on the Talanta Hela initiative explaining that the youth and urbanization are interconnected; since the youth move more in search of opportunities and better quality of life.
The Ag. Executive Director informed of the Urban Forum in Cairo, Egypt in November, 2024 and the Youth Assembly that will take place by the sidelines on 4th - 8th November, 2024 and that the CS was invited. He also informed that in the UN Habitat MoU with the International Olympic Committee, sports are key in the planning of cities and are regarded as part of quality life. The Acting Executive Director informed that the city of Paris is putting a lot of inhabitation considerations towards hosting the 2024 Olympic Games in March, 2024.
The Ag. ED informed of UN Habitat ongoing projects in Kenya such as the Nairobi River life project which needs a comprehensive multi-faceted approach. There are aspects of the environment, land, water, housing and funding that that are handled by different Ministries. He apprised that the Go Blue Project, a partnership between the European Union and the Government of Kenya, was undertaking projects aimed at advancing the Blue Economy agenda through coastal development in the Counties of Kilifi, Lamu, Kwale, Mombasa and Taita Taveta. In Nairobi, the focus is on improving lives in the informal settlement of Mathare, Korogocho and Kibera through waste management and engaging the youth in cleaning the rivers.
The Cabinet Secretary assured the Ag. Executive Director of the Ministry’s readiness to collaborate with UN Habitat. He also appointed a focal point in his Ministry to work with UN-Habitat towards the Talanta Hela Initiative Programme and the upcoming Youth Assembly in November 2024 in Cairo, emphasizing it was a joint responsibility for all of us to improve our habitat. The CS affirmed that; he knew for sure that talents were being utilized to support livelihoods.