PHOTO CREDIT – CITIZEN DIGITAL
Kisumu and Nairobi residents got a front-row seat to the highly anticipated African Union Commission (AUC) elections in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, as giant screens were set up to broadcast live proceedings.
In Kisumu, a massive screen under the Kondele flyover allowed locals to follow every move of Kenya’s candidate, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, as he competed for the AUC chairmanship. Nairobi’s Central Business District also saw the installation of a giant screen along Aga Khan Walk, providing city residents an opportunity to witness the election outcome in real time.
The public screenings sparked excitement among Raila Odinga supporters. Owino, a local resident in Kisumu, told a local TV station, “I have no doubt that Raila will win this time. We have prepared almost 500 goats and 100 chickens, but we are holding off on the celebrations until the official announcement.”
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The 38th Ordinary Session of the African Union Summit began at 10:30 am East African Time at Nelson Mandela Hall, marking a crucial moment in continental leadership. The session opened with a speech by outgoing AUC Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat, followed by a welcome address from Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres also addressed the assembly, alongside the Arab League secretary-general.
A key development during the summit was the transition of the African Union chairmanship from Mauritania’s President Mohamed Ahmed Ould Ghazouani to Angola’s President João Lourenço, who will lead the AU for 2025. The official theme for the summit was unveiled: “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations.”
After a brief break, closed-door sessions commenced to determine the leadership of the African Union Commission, including the selection of six commissioners. Once private deliberations conclude, the AU Summit will introduce newly elected heads of state, including Liberia’s President Joseph Nyumah Boakai, Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, Botswana’s President Duma Gideon Boko, and Mauritius’ Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam.
With Raila Odinga’s supporters glued to the screens in Kenya, anticipation continues to mount as the final results of the AUC chairmanship vote are awaited.
For more of these stories, read metros.co.ke/.
