By Frank Kamuntu
The African Union (AU) Assembly of Heads of State and Government has appointed President William Ruto as the Champion for Institutional Reform.
President Ruto will be replacing Rwandan President Paul Kagame who is set to step down from the role after serving for seven years.
The head of state will be mandated with the responsibility of providing political leadership and vision and completing the Comprehensive Institutional Reform Initiative that kicked off in 2016.
The reforms involve revitalizing the structure, functioning, and focus of the African Union Commission, AU organs, and specialized agencies.
This will boost the effectiveness and efficiency managing of the African Union Programmes.
The president attended the presidential dialogue on global Financial Institutions reforms in Addis Ababa, where he stressed that the need for reform of the global financial system is a fundamental and urgent Agenda for Africa and the entire global south.
“The reform of the global financial system is an urgent agenda for Africa and, indeed, the entire Global South. These countries access funding from multilateral financial institutions at a much higher cost than others in the Global North,” he stated on X.
Meanwhile, these come at a time when Ruto’s rival Raila Odinga has officially announced his candidacy for the Chairperson position of the African Union Commission.
In a press briefing held on Thursday, Odinga declared his readiness to contest for the influential role, highlighting his extensive consultations with allies before making the decision.
“If the leadership of Africa desires my services, I am prepared and offer myself to serve this continent. I am ready to pursue the chairmanship of the African Union,” affirmed Odinga.
Expressing concern over the “brain drain” phenomenon, Odinga voiced his discontent with the plight of African youth forced to seek opportunities abroad due to challenging economic conditions. He pledged to leverage his leadership to transform Africa’s fortunes and position the continent as an economic powerhouse.
“As a Pan-Africanist, I firmly believe that Africa should aspire for more. We deserve better,” Odinga asserted. “We must reverse this trend and harness all our resources for the accelerated socio-economic growth of our continent.”
Citing his tenure as the AU special envoy for infrastructure development in Africa from 2018 to 2023, Odinga emphasized his qualifications for the position, noting his comprehensive understanding of the socio-economic landscape across the continent.
“This role provided me with a unique advantage to gain insights into every African country. I am confident that by collaborating with these nations, we can uplift Africa,” Odinga remarked.
The AUC chairperson position is set to become vacant next year, with the incumbent, Chad’s Moussa Faki, concluding his two-term tenure. The chairperson serves as the chief executive officer and legal representative of the AU, overseeing administrative and financial matters, promoting the AU’s objectives, and engaging with stakeholders.
As Odinga throws his hat into the ring for one of Africa’s most prestigious leadership roles, his candidacy carries implications not only for Kenya but for the broader trajectory of continental governance and development.
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