Kenyan to head African telecoms body

John Omo, newly elected ATU Secretary General.

A Kenyan has clinched the top seat at the African Telecommunications Union (ATU), the Africa Union’s specialised agency on telecommunications.

John Omo was elected secretary general of ATU with 23 votes, beating his sole challenger, Burundi’s Constaque Hakizimana, who managed two votes.

The elections were held last week during the Ordinary Session of the ATU Plenipotentiary conference in Nairobi. Mr Omo said his work would entail positioning ATU as the sole voice of information, communication and technology matters on the continent.

He added that he would leverage on the foundation established by his predecessor Abdoulkarim Soumaila to ensure the continent reaps the benefits ICT for the region’s socio-economic development.

"I undertake to build on the good work of my predecessor to take this organisation to the next level," said Omo.