President Kenyatta launches Amina Mohammeds bid for AU top job

President Uhuru Kenyatta has formally launched Ambassador Amina Mohamed’s bid for the top post at the African Union.

The president launched the bid last evening at a gathering of African diplomats at State House, Nairobi where he described Ambassador Mohamed as an experienced consensus-builder.

“I believe that we have a lady of courage and valour. Mine is to request you to lend your support for the candidature of Amb Amina with a promise that you will get a servant who will work for each one of us,” he said.

President Kenyatta said Amb Mohamed’s nomination follows wide consultations with other African Heads of State and governments.

“We were submitting a name of an individual who is a consensus builder, an individual who brings people together. An individual who is organised and will help us organise the African Union,” he said.

“You know Amb Amina as a focused public servant who is known for the positions she has taken on issues affecting Africa and Kenya and has been vocal even in the global arena.”

On her part, the Foreign Affairs CS said she aims to bring to the AU her vast experience in the public service and the United Nations.

“I will strive to ensure that Africa’s dignity is never tampered with if elected as the chairperson. I will ensure the African Union delivers a better life for Africans,” she said.

“We (Africans) have been politically emancipated. We are working hard to ensure we are economically emancipated. We also need to ensure that our institutions, systems and mechanisms are emancipated and that is what I hope you will allow me to work on.”

Amb Amina Mohamed has passionately pushed for a fair handling of the African leaders at the International Criminal Court and has even called for mass withdrawal of the continent from the Rome Statute that established the court.

“We have to start talking about ourselves as Africans because that is how the world sees us. If we act collectively we will be able to deliver for the continent.”

If elected, Amina will be succeeding South African Nkosozana Dlamini Zuma, the first woman to lead the continental body. The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) has already thrown its weight behind Amb Mohamed’s candidature for AU’s top post.