EAC leaders to back Kenya’s Odinga for AU Commission top job

Arusha. The East African Community (EAC) leaders will back one candidate for chairmanship of the African Union Commission (AUC).

This was announced in Nairobi on Tuesday by President William Ruto of Kenya when addressing the East African Legislative Assembly (Eala).

Two candidates from the region, Mr Raila Odinga of Kenya and former Somalia foreign minister Fawzia Yusuf Adam, will contest for the position.

But the Kenyan leader told the regional lawmakers that the East African presidents have agreed to support one candidate for the chairmanship.

“We have sat down in the spirit of the EAC, we have consulted as Heads of State and we have agreed to front one candidate,” he was quoted saying by the Kenya press.

According to Mr Ruto, the decision was arrived at after intensive consultation. “We will sponsor one candidate as East Africans because that is the strength of our community,” he stated.

Mr Raila’s candidature to AUC chairmanship has generated some debate in the Kenyan political matrix given that he was a bitter rival of President Ruto.

Ever since news of his candidature became public, the opposition leader has toned down his verbal attacks on Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza government.

The opposition camp has not been spared either as it has found itself divided, with some predicting the end of forceful direct challenge to the government in power.

The Kenyan press has lately been awash with reports that the Raila-led Azimio la Umoja coalition could break into two alliances; one aligned to ODM with stronghold in western Kenya and Jubilee associated with former president Uhuru Kenyatta.

Other analysts believe the election of Raila as AUC chairman will see his departure from active opposition in Kenyan local politics and hence a relief for Kenya Kwanza.

However, Mr Raila has repeatedly denied this, insisting that he would still play his part in the opposition politics despite having enjoyed backing Mr Ruto for the AUC post.

President Ruto and Mr Raila turned bitter enemies during the 2022 presidential elections in Kenya when Mr Ruto won by a small margin, triggering complaints from the opposition camp.

Mr.Ruto garnered 7.1 million votes or 50.5 percent against Raila’s 6.9 million or 48.8 percent of the votes cast. Mr Raila was contesting the presidency for the fifth time.

During his speech, Ruto also stated that the security enjoyed in the East African region has contributed to the tremendous growth of the EAC, making it a competitive commercial hub across the globe.

“There is no doubt that as a result of the progress made in entrenching our regional integration as a social, cultural, political, and economic reality,” he said as quoted by Kenyan press websites.

According to the Kenyan leader, East Africa is emerging as a beacon of unity, stability, security, and progress, the beating heart of Pan African integration.

He also announced that Kenya will be hosting this year’s World Bank Group’s International Development Association (IDA) Summit on April 29, 2024.

IDA is the largest source of development assistance, and donor funding for basic social services for the world’s 75 low-income countries.

The meeting will seek to support economic transformation in Africa and throughout the Global South, he pointed out.