By Executive Editor
“I was happy to meet President Ruto and Rt. Hon. Odinga this afternoon at my farm in Kisozi. We discussed issues of mutual interest between our two countries and the East African Community. I welcome them,” said President Yoweri Museveni on Monday.
The meeting comes at a time when Kenya’s Opposition Leader, Raila Odinga, is chasing an African Union job.
“I am glad that the issues affecting the flow of petroleum products between Kenya and Uganda are being resolved. We have agreed on a way forward of sourcing and scheduling imports for the region in a manner that will ensure we achieve the most competitive pricing and maximum logistical efficiency. In my meeting with President Kaguta Museveni today, we also discussed the need for the two countries to urgently pursue the design and construction of the earlier conceptualized Eldoret-Kampala-Kigali refined petroleum product pipeline,” said Kenya’s William Ruto.
According to Ruto, also discussed was the declared candidacy of Kenya’s former Prime Minister Raila Odinga for the Africa Union Commission Chairmanship.
Odinga confirmed the AU-job-discussion. He says Museveni endorsed his candidacy.
“Several days ago, I accepted an invitation from President Kaguta Museveni of Uganda for a joint meeting with President Williams Ruto today to discuss the deepening of regional integration within the East African Community.
Crucially, at the urging of President Museveni, we also discussed my candidacy for Chairperson of the African Union Commission. I am very grateful to President Museveni for strongly endorsing my candidacy and to President Ruto for fully backing it. We took time out of our busy engagement to visit President Museveni’s wonderous cattle farm in Kisozi,” said Odinga.
Weeks ago, Odinga started lobbying other African leaders to support his candidature as he prepares to formally submit his application for the role currently held by Moussa Faki Mahamat.
“I am prepared to take on this challenge and offer myself for service. I have requested my friend, former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo, to continue advocating for my candidacy and engage with other leaders,” Odinga stated after a meeting with the former president in Nairobi.
Previously, Odinga served as the AU High Representative for Infrastructure Development in Africa from 2018 to February 2023, a tenure that ended amidst controversy.
President William Ruto is fronting Raila’s candidature, potentially reshaping Kenya’s political landscape, as it may preclude Odinga from participating in the 2027 presidential race.
