The Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya, was yesterday received in audience by the Prime Minister, Philemon Yang on behalf of the Head of State in Yaounde.

Cameroon’s support is once again solicited by countries vying for the post of African Union Commission Chair. The Kenyan Deputy President, William Kipchirchir Samoei arap Ruto, special envoy of President Uhuru Kenyatta, yesterday Sunday, January 8, 2017, held talks with the Prime Minister, Head of Government Philemon Yang, at the Star Building in Yaounde. The Kenyan Deputy President during their discussions solicited Cameroon’s support for Kenya’s candidate, Amina Mohammed, to the post of African Union (AU) Commission Chair.

“We have brought the President’s request and that of the people and government of Kenya on a matter that is very dear to us all as Africans. The President, government and people of Kenya have presented Amina Mohammed as the candidate for AU Commission Chair and that is why I came here to discuss and to present the wishes of the President and the government of Kenya to the President, government and people of Cameroon to support the candidature of Amina Mohammed”, Mr Ruto told reporters.

The Kenyan Deputy President, who was accompanied by the Kenyan candidate, stated that his country believes in the unity of the continent which should be connected by infrastructure, people and investment as the prosperity of one part of the continent is tied to that of the entire Africa.  The African Union, which is an important instrument for the progress, unity and all what Africa desires, will be best achieved if there is proper, focused and experienced leadership.

Amina Mohammed, who is Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr Ruto stated, is a seasoned public servant who has served as Ambassador, Permanent Secretary, UN Under Secretary and First Kenya female Minister, has the requisite experience to be able to provide the stewardship of AU Commission in achieving the Agenda 2063 that Africa is committed to.

Amina Mohammed is among five others from Botswana, Senegal, Equatorial Guinea, Mali and Chad, vying for the AU Commission Chairperson. The election is scheduled for January 30-31, 2017 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.