This week, President William Ruto hosted a high-level retreat of the Extended Bureau of the African Union Institutional Reforms at State House, Nairobi. The retreat comes just weeks before the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union. 

For Kenya, the upcoming summit is significant as its candidate for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson will be on the ballot. It, therefore, came as no surprise that President Ruto hosted the retreat at this time and had Raila Odinga, who is the Kenyan candidate for AUC, present. President Ruto sees Mr Odinga as the key to driving Kenya’s push for reforms from within the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa. The President has used various meetings with other African leaders to lobby for Mr Odinga’s candidature.

African leaders have been calling for substantial reforms to the AU to transform it into a more effective and self-reliant body. Presidents who attended the Monday retreat were John Mahama (Ghana), Azali Assoumani (Comoros), Taye Atske Selassie (Ethiopia) and Umaro Sissoco Embaló (Guinea-Bissau). Also present was the AUC Chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat.  

During a press conference after the meeting, President Ruto called for a united front in reforming the African Union to make it efficient and responsive in serving Member States and the people of Africa effectively.  

The President announced they had agreed on the need to establish a committee of five presidents to complement efforts by the African Union’s Champion for Institutional Reform. President Ruto was given the mandate to champion African Union reforms by fellow Heads of State last year.   The committee, he said, will help to drive the implementation of agreed reforms of various agencies, institutions and organisations. “This will broaden the ownership of the reform process, enhance the momentum and provide strategic leadership for the implementation process,” he said.  

Ruto’s vision

President Ruto champions a vision of a reformed AU that can properly address the continent’s challenges and goals. He has been a consistent and vocal advocate for this movement. His position reflects not just his Pan-African ideals but also his practical understanding of the institutional and systemic barriers holding the AU back.  

From his speeches, the President envisions an AU centred on financial independence, effective governance, and a stronger global presence for Africa. He believes Africa must take control of its destiny by reducing reliance on external funding and enhancing the AU’s capacity to address continental issues. 

One of his key proposals is to streamline the AU’s decision-making structures to create a leaner, more agile AU that can respond swiftly to crises such as conflicts, pandemics, and economic shocks. He has also advocated for empowering the AU Commission with greater authority to execute mandates without excessive interference from Member States.  

Ruto’s rhetoric consistently underscores the importance of Africa speaking with one voice on the global stage. He envisions an AU that unites Member States in pursuing common objectives, aligning with broader Pan-African aspirations of fostering solidarity and collective action across the continent. 

Since assuming office, the Head of State has positioned Kenya as a leader in driving AU reforms. He has engaged in discussions on financial autonomy for the Union, particularly through mechanisms like the African Union Peace Fund. This fund, established to reduce dependency on external donors, reflects Ruto’s broader argument that Africa must finance its own development and peacekeeping efforts to assert true independence. 

Kenya, under Ruto, has been an active participant in key AU initiatives, including the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Ruto has championed AfCFTA as a transformative project that can boost intra-African trade and unlock economic opportunities across the continent. By supporting reforms that facilitate trade and investment, he has underscored the need for the AU to focus on economic empowerment as a cornerstone of its mission. 

Challenges and critiques 

While President Ruto’s vision for AU reforms is ambitious, significant challenges remain. One of the most pressing is resistance from some member states, as many countries prioritise national interests over collective goals, leading to gridlock in decision-making.  Another challenge is the AU’s financial dependence on external donors. Ruto’s push for financial independence will require not only political will but also robust economic strategies to generate sustainable funding. 

Critics have also questioned whether Ruto’s approach to reforms adequately addresses grassroots issues across Africa. While his focus on governance and financial autonomy is crucial, some argue that more attention should be paid to pressing social challenges, such as youth unemployment, gender inequality, and access to healthcare. Balancing high-level reforms with ground-level impact will be essential for the AU to remain relevant to ordinary Africans.

Opportunities for Africa

If successfully implemented, AU reforms could unlock tremendous opportunities for the continent. A more financially independent AU would be better positioned to fund its own peacekeeping missions, development programmes, and crisis response initiatives. This would enhance Africa’s credibility and influence on the global stage. 

Reforms could also lead to greater unity among African nations in addressing shared challenges. For example, a streamlined AU with effective governance structures could play a pivotal role in tackling cross-border issues, such as climate change, migration, and food security. Initiatives like AfCFTA have the potential to transform Africa into a powerful economic bloc capable of competing globally. 

President Ruto’s stance on AU reforms reflects both a deep commitment to Pan-Africanism and a pragmatic understanding of the challenges facing the continent. His calls for financial independence, streamlined governance, and collective action highlight the need for bold leadership to drive meaningful change within the AU.    

While challenges remain, Ruto’s contributions have sparked critical conversations about the future of the Union and Africa’s place in the world. As the AU navigates the complexities of reform, leaders like Ruto will play a pivotal role in shaping its trajectory.