President William Ruto has said that the entire East Africa Community (EAC) will marshal support for one joint candidate for the coveted African Union Chairmanship (AUC) elections set for next year as he lobbied support for the opposition leader Raila Odinga who has declared interests for the seat.
And in a rare turn of events, Raila has also received backing of the Ruto Kenya Kwanza administration which he and the Azimio One Kenya Coalition brigade had failed recognise despite the Supreme Court having upheld their election victory in 2022.
While addressing the third sitting of the third session of the fifth East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) today, Ruto revealed that he has been in consultation with leaders of Member States to nominate one candidate who will succeed outgoing chairperson Moussa Faki.
He said that the talks have been fruitful as the leaders have agreed with him to front one candidate to be able to secure the seat.
The EAC member states include the Republic of Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda and Tanzania.
“The chair of the AU is becoming vacant next year as the term of Moussa Faki, our current chair, comes to an end. It is going to be the turn for East Africa to provide the chair for the African Union.” President Ruto noted.
“We have consulted as Heads of State from the East Africa Community and we have agreed to sponsor one candidate as East Africans because that is the strength of our community; that we can do things together. It speaks to the spirit of leadership that is being provided by our region.” He added.
The government is actively campaigning for Raila to replace Moussa Faki at the helm of the African Union Commission.
While addressing the African Diplomatic Corps in Nairobi on Monday this week, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi who also doubles as the Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Minister said Kenya will be seeking the support of African countries in order to secure Raila’s bid.
“Kenya is determined to strengthen its position within the African Union Commission. We will be coming to you to support our candidate.” Mudavadi stated.
He further said that Kenya will be using its leadership of the AUC to foster ties, including trade and investments, between African countries.
“Kenya is determined to strengthen its position within the African Union Commission.” Mudavadi said.
According to EALA speaker Joseph Ntakirutimana, the assembly special sittings will take place until March 20 2024 with members expected to grace the International women days’ celebration in Embu County.
EALA legislators last held their sittings in Nairobi back in 2018 at the Kenya parliament buildings.
The legislative assembly was attended by the EALA MPs, speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetangula and his Senate counterpart Amason Kingi as well as other top government officials led by Mudavadi.
