President William Ruto on Tuesday August 27, 2024 presided over the launch of Raila Odinga’s bid for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship.

The following is President Ruto’s full speech during the event. 

“I am honoured to have this opportunity to extend, on behalf of the people of Kenya, a warm welcome to each one of you, and to thank you for making time out of your busy schedules to attend this historic event. 

We do not take it for granted. On the contrary, your visit honours our nation greatly. It is therefore an immense privilege to host you as we assemble in Nairobi to announce Kenya’s nomination of the Rt. Hon Raila Amolo Odinga is a candidate for the position of chairperson of the African Union Commission.

Excellencies, our meeting today underscores our shared commitment to regional solidarity and integration in Eastern Africa, and our determination to mobilise effective collective action for the benefit of the citizens of our countries and the entire African continent.

Our Eastern Africa region, which is home to more than 500 million people, rightly considers this moment to be its turn to offer leadership on the basis of the principle of inter-regional rotation. 

I am encouraged by the fact that more than ever, our region’s leadership is alive to the complexity and dynamism of the challenges which form the regional and broader international context of our Pan-African moment.

These challenges range from political instability and associated governance issues, conflict and insecurity together with related humanitarian tragedies, and cross-border and international crime, including various forms of illegal trafficking in drugs, arms and persons. 

Others include climate change, whose effects have trapped many communities in the difficult place between extreme drought and devastating flooding.

Equally encouraging is our firm shared understanding that this context is incomplete if we do not pay attention to the global implications of an African continent that is undeniably on the rise, powered by an unprecedented demographic dividend and equally incomparable endowment of natural resources, including critical mineral and renewable energy potential, which are vital for a future that is going to be underpinned by sustainable green Growth.

Our Pan-African moment must be defined by the transformation of our collective capacity to solve our various crises and turn our potential into the engine of sustainable growth and inclusive prosperity for present and future generations. 

In other words, the time has come for Africa to radically recalibrate its institutions to effectively facilitate growth and development across a broad range of spheres, thereby enlarging the field of possibilities for our nations and peoples.

To seize this moment, we need an African Union that can coordinate, oversee and drive important continental agendas in a manner that brings Agenda 2063 onto the fastest delivery track.

This will be an AU that is empowered with adequate diplomatic, security, governance, financial, technological and ecological leadership and management capacity to steer us rapidly beyond the sustainable development goals to the Africa We Want for the benefit of every nation and every citizen.

The feeling that Africa is ripe for this historic moment of radical transformation is shared by all our people and all our friends.

Nothing stops us from moving into the necessary gear to claim our destiny, and this is why institutional reforms at the AU are fundamentally essential. 

This understanding of the monumental possibilities before us, and the urgency of our historic moment, was underscored here in Nairobi when, at the close of the inaugural Africa Climate Summit, the continent’s leaders announced a new transformative agenda under the African Leaders Nairobi Declaration on Climate Change and Call to Action. 

Among many significant pronouncements, the Nairobi Declaration emphasised the imperative for just, inclusive, equitable and fair multilateral institutional architecture as a fundamental prerequisite for us to transform our immense potential into inclusive opportunities and sustainable prosperity.

Fellow African leaders agreed at the summit that this would be by enabling our continent to industrialise for the world, while also decarbonising it using its abundant human, mineral, energy and other natural resources.

To actualise this ambition, the transformation must begin here at home, in our continental institutions. 

Africa must aim for greater self-reliance and a more pronounced role in global governance. 

For this to happen, reliable and predictable resources to implement the African Union’s goals of sustainable development and deeper integration are necessary. 

To this end, Kenya is firmly committed to upholding the Kigali Decision and will remain a strong contributor to the AU budget and a pioneer in implementing the 0.2% levy on eligible imports.

The evolving global landscape requires us to discard outdated principles, practices and institutional arrangements in order to embrace new opportunities. 

It is a fact that our continent is now a significant global player, and we must leverage this enhanced profile to our advantage. 

The success of our transformation will be measured in terms of the relevance and effectiveness of our policies in transforming Africa from the ground up.

Moreover, to give all our peoples and nations a fair chance to seize emerging opportunities, the task of addressing the persistent problems of State fragility and forgotten conflicts, while boosting humanitarian efforts, must further escalate significantly as a critical priority for us. 

Accordingly, Kenya has committed significant resources to processes aimed at the achievement of peace and stability in Sudan and Somalia.

The complicated challenges arising from the prevailing geopolitical environment, including the impacts of war in the Middle East and Eastern Europe, and the growing threats to cybersecurity at a time when humanity is increasingly reliant on technology and connectivity, have intensified the dynamism and complexity of the operating environment of our institutions, and require a flexible approach to technology and security. 

Our commitment to strengthening multilateralism, from regional to global levels, remains steadfast.

Kenya has already stepped up to enhance its contribution to Africa’s development by championing institutional reforms at the African Union. 

We believe that offering a highly qualified, experienced and competent candidate to lead the AU

Commission is perfectly consistent with our commitment to the transformation of our continent through our institutions of PanAfrican unity.

Hon Raila Odinga is a celebrated statesman whose longevity in leadership has been sustained by an unrelenting devotion to democratic change as the foundation of sustainable freedom and prosperity. 

Kenya has benefited from progress, both on the broad stage of national governance as well as the evolution of specific sectors that are attributable to reforms championed by the patriotic league of indomitable visionaries like Hon Odinga.

He possesses the professional capacity and experience, a proven track record of transformative leadership and wide experience of accomplishment at the national and regional levels.

Furthermore, Hon Odinga enjoys a sterling reputation as a zealous Pan-African who has consistently demonstrated a strong faith in Africa’s possibilities and exemplary commitment to the cause of laying a robust foundation for Africa’s transformation in our time.

Therefore, I know that Hon Odinga not only possesses the requisite credentials, but he is also the ideal candidate to lead the African Union Commission. 

Accordingly, Kenya endorses his candidacy unreservedly, and we commit wholeheartedly to supporting his candidature, his vision and his leadership. 

He embodies extensive experience and a deep understanding of both African affairs and global dynamics, which are crucial for leading the African Union farther into the centre of global affairs and closer to the hearts of our people.

Excellencies, I present to you a visionary Pan-African, a bold and wise leader, a professional and technocrat as well as a towering statesman and veteran mobiliser for positive change. I am confident that he will give his utmost and do all it takes to make Africa proud and powerful.

To assist in making the case for Hon Odinga’s candidature, I also unveil the secretariat, which will be led by Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei and Ambassador Elkana Odembo. 

It will also include a diverse membership drawn from the five regions of the African Union.

The assignment we are called upon to undertake at the African Union Commission is the work of all Africans, for all Africans and a noble cause to bring our peoples and nations in touch with the promise of the glorious future we all deserve. 

A new chapter in our common journey has begun, and we shall travel on this road to freedom and democracy, stability and security, peace and prosperity, with all our people, all their leaders, governments and our partners throughout the world. 

We take this assignment seriously and have entrusted it to a most capable steward. On behalf of the people of Kenya, I wish Hon Odinga success as he makes his case to be elected as the Chairperson of the African Union Commission.

I am highly indebted to each one of you, Excellencies, for taking part in this historic event.”