AUC chair race: Ruto says EAC leaders to sponsor one candidate

East African Community (EAC) leaders have agreed to sponsor a single candidate for the African Union Commission (AUC) chair job, President William Ruto announced Tuesday.

Ruto, addressing the preliminary opening of special sittings of the East Africa Legislative Assembly (EALA), said the move reflects the spirit of the EAC.

"As you are all aware the chairmanship of the AUC is coming up next year as the term of current chair Moussa Faki comes to an end. It is going to be the turn of East Africa to provide the next chair," he said, adding regional leaders discussed the matter and agreed to endorse one candidate.

"We have sat down in the spirit of the East African Community and consulted as heads of state, and have agreed to sponsor one candidate because that is the strength of our community," he told the meeting at the Parliament Buildings in Nairobi.

Ruto did not give further details and an EAC member state envoy present at the meeting told The Eastleigh Voice that his capital was "yet to receive formal requests from Kenya seeking support".

Interestingly, Kenya and Somalia, both members of the EAC have already fronted candidates for the post.

Opposition leader Raila Odinga, leader of the Azimio la Umoja coalition and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), is the Kenyan candidate while Fawzia Haji Adan is the Somali contender.

Thus far, Raila's candidature has been endorsed publicly by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo and President Ruto has visited Uganda with him to seek the support of President Yoweri Museveni.

On Monday, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi urged African countries to support Kenya's bid, noting that it is EA's turn and that the primary goal is to foster trade and investment ties on the continent.

Mudavadi drummed up support for Kenya in an address at a meeting of the African Diplomatic Corps, comprising African ambassadors accredited to Kenya and residing in Nairobi.

"Kenya is determined to strengthen its position within the African Union Commission," he said, highlighting the country's commitment to building a more interconnected and prosperous Africa.

Raila formally declared his bid on February 15, 2024, saying he was ready to serve a content that he noted deserves better leadership. He has served in the past as the AU's High Representative for Infrastructure Development in Africa.

Fawzia, Somalia's first female deputy prime minister and Foreign Affairs minister, announced her candidature on February 29, 2024, saying she believed she had a good chance of winning.