President Uhuru Kenyatta travels to Ethiopia for AU Summit

President Uhuru Kenyatta and deputy William Ruto at JKIA shortly before leaving for Addis Ababa

Nairobi: President Uhuru Kenyatta this morning travelled to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to attend the 26th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union.

President Kenyatta is accompanied by the First Lady Margaret Kenyatta who will also attend the Organization of African First Ladies Against HIV/AIDS-(OAFLA) which takes place on the sidelines of the AU summit.

The plane carrying the President and his entourage departed Jomo Kenyatta International Airport shortly before 11:00 am.

Deputy President William Ruto and Chief of Defence Forces General Samson Mwathethe led senior government officials in seeing off the President.

Earlier at the airport, President Kenyatta bid farewell to the Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari who has been in the country for a three day state visit.

During his visit to Kenya, Nigerian President who is also heading to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for AU summit had fruitful bilateral talks with his host President Kenyatta.

The two leaders pledged to work together to make Africa a better place for present and future generations.

They agreed to join hands in addressing challenges facing Nigeria and Kenya in rooting out corruption, terrorism and radicalization, which they termed as “obstacles to development”.

The theme of this years’ summit, is ‘African Year of Human Rights with a particular focus on Women’s Rights’.

At this years’ summit, the Heads of State and Government are expected to appoint the Bureau and Drafting Committee for 2016; discuss strategic issues such as financing the African Union, Governance, Elections and Constitutionalism.

African leaders are also to launch the theme, ‘African Year of Human Rights with a particular focus on Women’s Rights’; consider reports and draft decisions of the Committees of the Union as well as adopting decisions and declarations of the Assembly of the African Union.

President Kenyatta who is leading the Kenyan delegation at the summit is expected to voice Kenya’s position on a number of issues at the continental level.

While in Addis Ababa, the President will also attend the Meeting of the Committee of Ten (C10) on the United Nations reforms.

 The C10 is an initiative of the African Union to accelerate United Nations reforms, particularly in the Security Council.

The Meeting will play an important role in intensifying efforts of promoting the Common African Position on UN reform as enunciated in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration.

President Kenyatta will also chair the 24th Summit of the Heads of State and Government participating in the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM).

 The President, who is the current Chairman of the APRM, will lead deliberations at the Summit whose theme is, ‘Revitalizing the APRM to strengthen Governance in Africa. 

In addition to holding discussions on the theme, the Heads of State and Government will consider administrative matters such as the appointment of the Chief Executive Officer of the APRM Secretariat.

 President Kenyatta will also attend a meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council.

The meeting will focus on the issue of terrorism in Africa and review developments in South Sudan and Somalia.

It will avail an opportunity for the Heads of State and Government to reflect on terrorism in Africa, with a view to enhancing Africa’s efforts against the menace.

They will also review the situation in South Sudan, in light of the developments in that country.

First Lady Margaret Kenyatta has been pushing a vigorous campaign against the spread of HIV/AIDS and to conquer stigma and discrimination against people living with the disease through her ‘Beyond Zero’ initiative.

The theme of this years’ OAFLA meeting will be ‘Advancing Sustainable Partnerships to end Pediatric Aids and improve Adolescent Sexual reproductive Health and Rights.

The Beyond Zero campaign is aimed at accelerating implementation of the national plan towards elimination of new HIV infections among children and promoting maternal, newborn and child health in Kenya.

Through the ‘Beyond Zero’ campaign, the First Lady has been able to deliver mobile clinics in 36 counties.