President elected to Peer Review Forum

President Uhuru Kenyatta has been elected the vice-chairperson of the African Peer Review Forum of Heads of State and Government.

He was also elected the Third Vice-Chairperson of the bureau of the African Union at the Heads of State Summit that ended on Saturday evening at the headquarters in Addis Ababa.

The position of vice-chair of the African Peer Review (APR) Forum is new and Kenya is the first country to serve in that position.

Liberia’s Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf is the current chairperson but her country is currently battling the Ebola crisis.

She asked for the election of the vice-chairperson.

South Africa moved the proposal for nomination of Kenya, with Sudan, Congo, Uganda, Benin, Malawi supporting it before the decision was endorsed by acclamation.

Countries use the APRM to learn from each other by adopting best practices in governance by sharing information and experiences.

In a statement read on his behalf by Devolution and Planning Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru, President Kenyatta assured the meeting that Kenya will take the opportunity to serve the people of Africa with diligence and commitment.

He acknowledged the role South Africa has played in managing the restructuring of the APRM continental office and commended the work of Dr Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, CEO of the Nepad Agency, in managing the transition.

Ms Waiguru said Kenya aims to re-invigorate the mechanism as a global benchmark for governance accountability and peer learning.

“It is a unique and innovative framework which, if well implemented, can deliver a solid, Africa-owned governance index,” said Ms Waiguru.