President William Ruto has secured Zimbabwe’s backing for Raila Odinga’s candidacy for the chairmanship of the African Union Commission.
Kenya has officially put forth its nomination for the AUC Chairperson for the period spanning 2025 to 2028.
This endorsement follows a unanimous resolution by the African Union Executive Council on March 15, 2024, mandating the Eastern Africa region to present candidates for the AU Chairperson position.
President Ruto emphasized Kenya’s candidacy as rooted in the nation’s commitment to advancing the Pan-African Agenda.
Speaking during bilateral discussions with his counterpart Emmerson Mnangagwa at Bulawayo State House in Zimbabwe, President Ruto expressed confidence in the enduring partnership between Kenya and Zimbabwe, affirming mutual support on bilateral, regional, and continental fronts alongside the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
The meeting witnessed the signing of nine Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) covering sectors such as transport, infrastructure, health, education, defense, trade, and investments.
President Mnangagwa emphasized the abundant investment opportunities in both nations, urging investors to capitalize on existing prospects.
Echoing sentiments of shared history and socio-cultural ties, President Ruto advocated for Zimbabwe’s readmission to the Commonwealth and called for the lifting of all illegal sanctions against the country in alignment with the African Union’s stance.
Asserting Kenya’s commitment to sovereign equality and a rule-based multilateral system, President Ruto emphasized the imperative of partnership and consultation in fostering bilateral relations.
Addressing a banquet at Bulawayo State House, President Ruto lauded President Mnangagwa’s initiatives to bolster energy, transport, and communications infrastructure, applauding Zimbabwe’s adoption of a new currency backed by gold reserves as a bold step towards economic revitalization.