William Ruto Breaks Silence after Meeting Raila over His AU Bid
President William Ruto hopes that his political foe-turned-ally will be successful in his bid for the African Union Commission chairmanship.
Raila declared his candidature on February 15.
Speaking in Homa Bay county, one of Raila’s political bases, on Tuesday, February 15, Ruto stated that he wanted to see all of his compatriots succeed in their leadership endeavours.
While acknowledging Kenya’s political diversity, the president emphasised that the identity of belonging to one nation outweighs all differences, not just in politics but also in culture and other important aspects.
“Perhaps I’m the only presidential candidate in the independent Kenya who campaigned and slept here in Homa Bay. And there are things I told you we will plan and no one will be left behind. You thought I was joking but now you can see. We pray that it goes through. We want everyone to win because you don’t win by making others lose. We belong to one country and are one people,” said Ruto.
Ruto spoke just one day after President Yoweri Museveni hosted him and Raila.
The main topic on the agenda was Raila’s candidature for chairmanship of the African Union Commission (AUC).
Ruto and Museveni promised to support the former prime minister’s bid to succeed Moussa Faki as president of the AUC by March 2025.
While announcing his candidature, Raila stated that he would use his extensive experience to lobby the heads of state and government voting in the AU Assembly.
He revealed that he had conducted extensive consultations prior to the move.
“I am ready to go for the championship of the African Union. I have been consulting widely. I think if am ready to serve the continent of Africa. Africa deserves better. If we marshal our resources as a continent, pull in one direction, then we can be able to make Africa greater,” Raila said.
“I have served in the AU in the capacity of high representative, it gave me a good advantage to be able to learn about every African country and the comparative advantages and I believe that by walking together with the countries we can make Africa great,” he added.
Raila will need consensus or a two-thirds majority vote from member states represented by their heads.
From 2018 to 2023, the former prime minister served as the African Union’s High Representative for Infrastructure Development.
The AUC Commission consists of the chairperson, deputy chairperson, commissioners, and staff.
The chairperson and deputy are elected by the Assembly, which is made up of heads of state and government.
The Executive Council elects the commissioners, who are appointed by the Assembly.
The Commission members serve four-year terms that are renewable once.
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William Ruto Breaks Silence after Meeting Raila over His AU Bid
