AU Presidents Endorse Monica Juma

Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary (CS) Monica Juma
National Security Advisor Monica Juma Monica Juma speaking at an event on February 2022.
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Ministry of Energy

Energy Cabinet Secretary (CS) Monica Juma was endorsed by the African Union presidents for the position of Secretary-General of the Commonwealth in polls slated for June 2022. 

The Kenyan diplomat secured the endorsement during the 35th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from February 5 to 6, 2022.

A statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday, February 10 stated that the heads of state agreed to back Juma for the post. 

President Uhuru Kenyatta addresses the Global Education Summit in July 2021.
President Uhuru Kenyatta addresses the Global Education Summit in July 2021.
GLOBAL EDUCATION SUMMIT

Last year in August, President Kenyatta announced that Kenya had decided to nominate CS Juma as its candidate for the office of Secretary-General of the Commonwealth. 

The Secretary-General of the Commonwealth is an executive officer who runs the commonwealth - an organisation of 54 countries that were previously colonised by Britain. 

In the 35th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly, Kenya was also endorsed to seek the Vice-President slot for the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly running from 2022 to 2023.

AU also backed Kenya for membership at the United Nations Commission of International Trade Law (UNICITRAL) from 2022 to 2027.

Other seats Kenya was endorsed to challenge for include the Council of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) from 2023 to 2026, the Coordinating Board of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) for the period 2023 to 2025 and the UNESCO World Heritage Committee from 2023 to 2027.

AU presidents and heads of government also appointed President Uhuru Kenyatta as the Coordinator of the Committee on Climate Change (CAHOSCC) for a period of two years.

President Kenyatta took over the leadership mantle from South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa.

President Uhuru attends a virtual meeting on climate change
President Uhuru attends a virtual meeting on climate change.
PSCU

The powerful office has traditionally been hotly contested and the occupant is usually the one who receives the majority votes from the collective heads of governments.

The incumbent, Patricia Scotland, was first elected in 2016 and although eligible to serve two terms - her request for a second term was rejected over complaints in the running of the secretariat.