Former Jubilee Secretary General Raphael Tuju, on Thursday, July 6, was among the top dignitaries invited to address a high-level conference in Morocco.
The former Jubilee Party secretary general was invited to share his experience in diplomatic affairs to promote African inclusivity.
Tuju took a backseat from politics following the defeat of Azimio La Umoja Candidate Raila Odinga in the August 2022 General Election.
Under the theme of a South-South, win-win, active and mutually supportive partnership: Football as a factor of integration and global visibility for the Continent, Tuju used a soccer analogy to argue that a united African continent will eliminate barriers and address crises facing Africa.
"The whole world understands the language of football and language is an important factor of socialisation. So it is important that we appreciate it as a very powerful instrument that we should be able to use," Tuju stated.
Tuju alluded to conflict in Europe, where he indicated that a football tournament was used to end the conflict between some of the warring nations.
He implored African leaders to accept new reforms based on mutual trust, which converges the interests and development of each nation involved. The former Foreign Affairs Minister emphasised that continental unity will help Africans find solutions to issues bedevilling them.
His bold sentiments came after months of political silence. The former Cabinet Secretary without portfolio, a close ally to former President Uhuru Kenyatta, had thrown his weight behind Raila, who lost to Ruto in the tightly contested presidential race.
One of his last public appearances was at the funeral of former Education Cabinet Secretary, George Magoha, in February 2023.
Other global leaders who attended the high-level conference in Morocco included Lamine Kaba Bajo, President of the Gambian Football Federation, and former Minister of Foreign Affairs; Mamadi Touré, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Guinea; Moubarack Lo, President of the Emergence Institute, Senegal and other presidential advisors.
Meanwhile, Tuju reinforced President William Ruto's vision of advocating for a united Africa through the elimination of barriers hindering its progress. Through various forums, Ruto called on African leaders to champion the positioning of the Pan-African Parliament as a key institution in the management of continental affairs.
Defending his push for reforms, Ruto indicated that it would help reduce the over-reliance on donations in terms of adversity and build financial freedom.
"We must understand that when we talk about African solutions, we are also talking about actual capacity to develop and execute high-quality ideas, concepts and strategies that will liberate our people in diverse spheres, including food sovereignty, financial independence and economic freedom, innovation and the freedom to imagine," Ruto stated during Comoros independence day celebrations on Thursday, July 6.
