- President William Ruto is taking a proactive role in diplomacy to support Raila Odinga’s bid for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship
- The head of state has travelled to Burundi for the COMESA summit, where one of his key agendas is to secure support for Raila
- This comes weeks after the head of state met up with six African presidents in China where he rallied them behind the bid of the Kenyan candidate
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Faith Chandianya, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and Current Affairs in Kenya
As the African Union Commission elections approach, Kenya is intensifying its campaign for its candidate in the chairperson race.
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President William Ruto has travelled to Burundi to gather support for Raila Odinga’s AUC bid for the COMESA summit.
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What is Ruto’s agenda at the COMESA summit in Burundi?
In a statement seen by TUKO.co.ke, State House spokesperson Hussein Mohammed, said the head of state’s agenda includes rallying support for Raila.
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This will occur during his scheduled meetings with various African leaders, including the presidents of Egypt and Zambia and the prime minister of Ethiopia, among others.
“Additional topics of discussion with COMESA leaders and the COMESA secretariat will be mobilising support for Kenya’s candidacy for the African Union Commission chairperson position,” the statement read in part.
He will also participate in high-level discussions to enhance Kenya’s ties with key strategic partners, emphasising bolstering regional value chains to advance COMESA integration.
Ruto is also set to meet with the presidents of Egypt and Zambia, as well as the prime minister of Ethiopia.
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“The discussions with Egypt will focus on enhancing the Kenya-Egypt partnership, with a joint commitment to increase trade between the two nations. His bilateral meeting with Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema will explore avenues to facilitate trade, including the formation of a Joint Trade Committee to address and resolve non-tariff barriers,” the statement read in part.
Talks with COMESA leaders and the secretariat will also address a final extension of sugar safeguard measures to boost the sugar sector.
He will also seek support for Kenya’s bid to host the Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) Secretariat, which brings together three regional economic blocs: COMESA, the East African Community, and the Southern African Development Community.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
