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The red carpets are waiting for the many dignitaries at Nairobi, Kenya's Kenyatta International Convention Centre. 

The police band is waiting to play the national anthem to tee off the Presidential segment of the three-aday event at the Africa Climate Summit, which started on September 3, 2023. 

However, President Yoweri Museveni will not be one of them contrary to an earlier statement by Kenya President William Ruto.

Ruto had earlier said Museveni was expected to moderate a session on Tuesday (September 5, 2023).

However, the Ugandan President is being represented by three ministers: Sam Cheptoris (water and environment), Beatrice Anywar (environment, state) and Judith Nabakoba (lands).

The meeting is being convened by the African Union and the Kenyan government to provide political guidance to the African negotiators at COP28 (climate change), which will take place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates later in the year. A total of 26 presidents from across Africa are expected. 

Ruto opened the meeting on September 4, 2023, with a strong call for Africa to stop looking at itself as a victim of climate change and that Africa is a provider of solutions to climate change.

He said Africa is a source of 60 per cent of the minerals needed in the renewable energy sector and that this provides an opportunity for value addition through industrialisation, which can provide green jobs, improve livelihood and restore the environment in Africa.

The meeting has engagements on carbon trade, which is promising to create opportunities for communities and the private sector to earn money from various initiatives such as tree planting and energy efficient technologies such as cooking stoves and solar power plants. 

The countries are showcasing green technologies such as electric cars and collaborative efforts such as cobalt extraction and processing between DR Congo and Zambia. 

Cheptoris, Anywar and Nabakooba are expected to participate in different panels. Nabakooba on September 4, 2023, discussed the contribution of government to create livable cities in a panel discussion.