President William Ruto on Tuesday affirmed that East African Community leaders have agreed to sponsor Azimio leader Raila Odinga as the candidate for the African Union (AU) Commission chairman post.
Addressing the preliminary opening of the East Africa Legislative Assembly (EALA) special sittings held at Parliament chambers, Ruto urged that the move to support Odinga’s bid will help secure wins for the African continent.
“As you are all aware that the chairmanship of the AU is coming up next year as the term for the current chair Moussa Faki comes to an end. It is going to be the turn for East Africa to provide the next chair,” President Ruto stated.
The head of state revealed that various Head of states hailing from the East African Community held consultative meetings and all agreed to endorse Odinga’s bid for the AU top job.
“We have sat down in the spirit of the East African Community and consulted as Head of states from the East African Community together and we have agreed to sponsor one candidate as East Africa because that is the strength of our community,” he said.
The government on Monday announced that it will be actively campaigning for the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya coalition Raila Odinga who is seeking to replace Moussa Faki at the helm of the African Union Commission.
While addressing the African Diplomatic Corps in Nairobi on Monday Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi said Kenya will be seeking the support of African countries in order to secure Odinga’s bid.
“Kenya is determined to strengthen it’s 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 it’s leadership of the AUC to foster ties, including trade and investments, between African countries.
“Kenya is determined to strengthen it’s position within the African Union Commission,” he 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 Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.
