Boost for Raila Odinga's AUC bid as Heads of State meet in Nairobi

Several Heads of State from the continent are expected in Nairobi today for the high-level extended Bureau Retreat on African Union (AU) Institutional reforms. 

President William Ruto will be leading the retreat centring on Institutional reforms at the AU.

Ethiopia’s President Taye Atske, Comoros’ Azali Assoumani, Ghana’s John Dramani, Togo’s Faure Gnassingbe and Angola’s Joao Lourenco are expected to land in the country between today and tomorrow. Outgoing African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat will also be in attendance.

Guinea Bissau’s Umaro Sissaco Embalo arrived in the country Saturday.

The Heads of State will have engagements with President Ruto with key topics on the agenda being their support for Kenya’s bid for the AUC chairperson position.

President Sissaco yesterday endorsed Kenya’s candidate Raila Odinga for the AUC chairman position. Raila is set to face off with Madagascar’s former Foreign Minister Richard Randriamandrato and Djibouti’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf.

Raila, whose bid has received immense support from the State, has in the recent past intensified his shuttle diplomacy, gaining endorsements from several leaders with the latest coming from Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki.

READ: Raila : Why I am best suited for AUC job

Sources within State House disclosed that Ruto is intent on leveraging on the meetings with his African counterparts to pursue more endorsements as the race enters its final stretch and Kenya seeks to assert its dominance within the African Union.

“As an African Union champion institutional reforms, some of the issues President Ruto is pursuing is the elevation of the African Court of Human Rights to Africa Court of Justice where member states can be seeking legal address whenever there are disputes,” said the source.

He is also said to be pushing for the independence of the Pan African parliament where countries will nominate two members, a man and a woman, as their representatives overseeing AUC. They will also be part of debating and passing the AUC budget.

Currently, the Pan-African parliament is comprised of members drawn from parliaments of African countries. Increasing the number of members of the Pan African parliament from the current 275 to 100 is also on the cards for Ruto.

“There is also a bid to streamline the AUC agenda when Heads of State meet for their summit to actionable agenda as opposed to the current situation where the summit seats for hours non-stop with all manner of agendas on the table,” the source added.

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A press statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said the retreat would be focusing on enhancing financial autonomy, accelerating the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA), revitalising AU organs and promoting inclusion and equity.

Speaking during their joint briefing at State House Nairobi, Ruto announced that Sissoco had thrown his weight behind Raila’s candidature.

“In the context of the forthcoming African Union Commission (AUC) elections, I express my deep appreciation to Your Excellency for Guinea-Bissau’s endorsement of Kenya’s candidate for the position of AUC Chairperson for the 2025-2028 term,” Ruto said.

He highlighted that Kenya’s candidature is informed by the country’s longstanding commitment to championing the Pan-African agenda and delivering on the continent’s aspirations.