President Kenyatta leaves for AU summit in Kigali

President Uhuru Kenyatta. FILE PHOTO | JOAN PERERUAN | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The summit’s theme is the “African Year of Human Rights with a particular focus on Women Rights”.
  • During the summit, the African Union Commission (AUC) elections will take place where a new chairperson and a deputy chairperson shall be elected.
  • Eight other commissioner positions will also be voted upon.

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Saturday morning left the country for Kigali, Rwanda, to attend the 27th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union.

The summit’s theme is the “African Year of Human Rights with a particular focus on Women Rights”.

During the summit, the African Union Commission (AUC) elections will take place where a new chairperson and a deputy chairperson shall be elected.

Eight other commissioner positions will also be voted upon.
Kenya’s Mahboub M. Maalim is vying for the seat of Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy.

AU PASSPORT

At the summit, African leaders will officially launch AU passport.

The launch of the passport is considered a critical development to ease free movement of people, spur economic growth and development as well as promote Intra-African trade.

With the promotion of Intra-African trade, the AU passport will come in handy, boosting and easing doing of business within African countries with an intention to reduce the trade deficit among African nations.

The President is also scheduled to attend the Committee of 10 on United Nations Reforms and Igad special summit.

First Lady Margaret Kenyatta, who is accompanying the President, is scheduled to attend the Organisation of African First Ladies Against HIV/AIDS (OAFLA).