Uhuru formally launches Amina’s bid for AU top post at State House

Dennis Tarus

November 4, 2016 5:48 PM

The President launched the bid at a gathering of African diplomats at a colourful ceremony in State House, Nairobi.

President Uhuru Kenyatta last evening formally launched Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amb Amina Mohamed’s candidature to become the African Union chairperson.

He described Amb Amina as a focused public servant who is known for the positions she has taken on issues affecting Africa and Kenya.

“She is an individual who brings people together, is organised and will help us organise the African Union,” Uhuru said.

Speaking at the event, Amb Amina said she will strive to ensure that Africa’s dignity is never tampered with if she gets elected as the chairperson.

Shuttle diplomacy

Uhuru and his deputy, William Ruto have in the past month been on a charm offensive wooing fellow African countries to support Kenya’s bid for the top AU post.

Amb. Mohamed’s candidacy received a major boost last month as the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) members endorsed her bid.

The endorsement came after Deputy President William Ruto attended the 19th Comesa Heads of State and Government Summit in Antananarivo, Madagascar.

Ruto used the summit to lobby the other Comesa countries to support Amina’s bid.

During the summit, the member countries made it clear that they believed that her long experience of diplomacy, her proven experience working with multilateral organisations, and her successful stint as Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs all made her the best candidate to advance Africa's Agenda.

The aim for Kenya is to get at least two-thirds majority in the first round during the AU elections.

Ms Mohamed will now face it off with Agapito Mba Mokuy of Equatorial Guinea, Abdoulaye Bathily of Senegal and Botswana’s Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi for the powerful position.

Dennis Tarus