Kenyatta Urges African, Caribbean Leaders to “Wake Up” on COVID and Debt Issues

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta addressing the virtual African-CARICOM summit from the State House in Nairobi. Image via State House Kenya.

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta used his opening address at a virtual summit of African and Caribbean leaders on Wednesday to issue an urgent plea to fellow leaders that they have to “wake up” to the challenges presented by the pandemic and the worsening debt crisis that’s impacting their countries.

“This, my brothers and sisters, is a wake-up call for us in the developing world,” he told attendees of the African-CARICOM summit. Given the acute shortage of vaccines in poor countries, President Kenyatta implored leaders to “do what it takes” to build their own vaccine manufacturing capacity.

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by Eric Olander

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