Kenya's Permanent Representative to UN-Habitat, Ambassador Susan Nakhumicha Wafula, has reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to advancing sustainable urban development after leading the country’s delegation to the High-Level Meeting on the Midterm Review of the New Urban Agenda in New York.
The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 2026 High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development and brought together world leaders and policymakers to assess progress in implementing the New Urban Agenda.
Kenya's Permanent Representative to UN-Habitat, Ambassador Susan Nakhumicha Wafula, has called for stronger African leadership in shaping global urban development policies during the United Nations General Assembly's High-Level Meeting on the Midterm Review of the New Urban Agenda in New York.
Speaking during the global forum, Nakhumicha emphasized that Africa's rapidly growing urban population presents an opportunity to drive sustainable development through inclusive planning, resilient infrastructure and innovative financing. She urged African countries to take a leading role in influencing international urban policies that reflect the continent's unique priorities and development needs.
The former Health Cabinet Secretary highlighted Kenya's progress in implementing the New Urban Agenda through initiatives such as affordable housing, sustainable urban planning and partnerships aimed at improving the quality of life in cities. She noted that effective collaboration between governments, development partners, the private sector and local communities is essential to achieving sustainable urbanisation.
Nakhumicha further stressed the importance of ensuring that urban growth is inclusive and environmentally sustainable, calling for increased investment in housing, public infrastructure and climate-resilient cities. She said African nations must work together to ensure urbanisation becomes a catalyst for economic growth, job creation and improved living standards rather than a source of inequality.
The High-Level Meeting marked the United Nations' midterm review of the New Urban Agenda, providing member states with an opportunity to assess progress made since its adoption in 2016 and identify strategies to accelerate implementation in line with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 2026 High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development and brought together world leaders and policymakers to assess progress in implementing the New Urban Agenda.
Kenya's Permanent Representative to UN-Habitat, Ambassador Susan Nakhumicha Wafula, has called for stronger African leadership in shaping global urban development policies during the United Nations General Assembly's High-Level Meeting on the Midterm Review of the New Urban Agenda in New York.
Speaking during the global forum, Nakhumicha emphasized that Africa's rapidly growing urban population presents an opportunity to drive sustainable development through inclusive planning, resilient infrastructure and innovative financing. She urged African countries to take a leading role in influencing international urban policies that reflect the continent's unique priorities and development needs.
The former Health Cabinet Secretary highlighted Kenya's progress in implementing the New Urban Agenda through initiatives such as affordable housing, sustainable urban planning and partnerships aimed at improving the quality of life in cities. She noted that effective collaboration between governments, development partners, the private sector and local communities is essential to achieving sustainable urbanisation.
Nakhumicha further stressed the importance of ensuring that urban growth is inclusive and environmentally sustainable, calling for increased investment in housing, public infrastructure and climate-resilient cities. She said African nations must work together to ensure urbanisation becomes a catalyst for economic growth, job creation and improved living standards rather than a source of inequality.
The High-Level Meeting marked the United Nations' midterm review of the New Urban Agenda, providing member states with an opportunity to assess progress made since its adoption in 2016 and identify strategies to accelerate implementation in line with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
