Kenya’s fourth president, Uhuru Kenyatta, who leads the African Union Election Observation Mission (AUEOM) to Ethiopia’s 1 June 2026 general elections, met the Chairperson of the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE), Melatwork Hailu, in Addis Ababa.

According to a statement posted on X on Sunday, May 31, 2026, by the African Union Political Affairs Peace and Security department (@AUC_PAPS), the meeting took place as part of the mission’s engagement with Ethiopia’s electoral authorities ahead of the vote.

The statement confirmed that Kenyatta, in his role as head of the AUEOM, met the NEBE chairperson, who briefed the delegation on preparations for the upcoming elections. The engagement focused on the state of preparedness of the electoral body ahead of polling day.

The AU communication stated that Melatwork Hailu briefed the AUEOM delegation on the state of preparedness for the elections. The briefing formed part of the formal interaction between the election management body and the continental observer mission.

“H.E. Former President @4thPresidentKE of Kenya and Head of the African Union Election Observation Mission (#AUEOM) to the 1 June 2026 General Elections in the Federal Democratic Republic of #Ethiopia, met with Chairperson Melatwork Hailu of the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE), who briefed the AUEOM delegation on the state of preparedness for the upcoming elections,” the statement reads.

Kenyatta leads the AU team deployed to observe the electoral process in Ethiopia. The mission operates under the African Union’s Political Affairs, Peace and Security department and is part of the AU’s wider work in supporting member states during elections.

The statement described the meeting as part of the official programme of the observer mission ahead of the June 1, 2026, general elections in Ethiopia.

NEBE briefs AU Mission

The meeting between the AU delegation and NEBE leadership allowed the observers to receive a briefing directly from the electoral authority responsible for organising the vote. The Chairperson updated the delegation on the readiness of the commission and the preparations undertaken ahead of election day.

The AU Election Observation Mission continues its deployment in Ethiopia as part of its mandate to observe the conduct of the elections. The mission’s work includes engagement with electoral bodies, monitoring of the electoral process, and reporting on findings after voting.

The AU mission is led by Kenyatta in his capacity as Head of the AUEOM to Ethiopia’s 2026 general elections. The mission remains in the country ahead of polling day, continuing its observation activities in line with African Union procedures.

Ethiopia’s National Election Board, led by Chairperson Melatwork Hailu, is the institution responsible for managing and overseeing the electoral process. The engagement forms part of the AU’s standard election observation process, where missions meet electoral authorities before voting begins to understand preparations and readiness.