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President William Ruto yesterday assured Kenyans that his government will offer all the support required to ensure former Prime Minister Raila Odinga becomes the next African Union Commission (AUC) chairman.

He said he will campaign for him alongside other African leaders who have agreed to support his candidacy.

On Tuesday, Kenya unveiled Raila candidacy at a colourful ceremony at State House in Nairobi also attended several East African Community heads of state.

The leaders were Presidents Salva Kiir (South Sudan), Samia Suluhu Hassan (Tanzania) and Yoweri Museveni (Uganda).

Also attending were Burundi Prime Minister Gervais Ndirakobuca, Rwandan state minister for foreign affairs James Kabarebe, former Tanzania president Jakaya Kikwete and Nigerian ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo.

“Recently, we saw all EAC leaders who came to the country and we all agree that Raila Amollo Odinga be our continental leader,” said Ruto.

Enthusiastic welcome

The President was speaking in Homa Bay town during the second day of his working tour of the Luo Nyanza region, where he received an enthusiastic welcome in his eighth visit to the county since he was elected.

“You people of Homa Bay, you remember very well during the last campaigns I came and slept here in town where I held meetings with a number of youths and I promised you that there will be a time we will be working together with Baba. Now, are you not seeing what I predicted,” said Ruto to a cheering crowd.

The President brought with him goodies to residents of the lakeside county.

Ruto, who had earlier commissioned the Sh706.3 million construction of the Oyugis water supply and sanitation project, said his government had added another Sh200 million to ensure that the people of Kasipul get access to clean water.

The President also said his government had allocated another Sh200 million for the ongoing construction of the Sh567 million Kendu Bay water supply.

Ruto revealed that his government had also allocated another Sh450million for Homa Bay town to improve residents’ access to clean and safe drinking water.

The President then inspected the ongoing Sh346 million Homa Bay modern fish market, which he promised to commission by December upon its completion.

“When I visited Homa Bay the last time, we agreed to construct a port and a modern fish market at the shore of Lake Victoria,” he said.

“I had sent a contractor and I have today come to check the progress. I am satisfied with the ongoing works and by December this year I will be personally back to officially commission it to help in business growth in Homa Bay” he said.