What Ruto can learn from EU to enable Raila impact the AU

Raila Odinga’s expressed interest for the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairman position has sparked intense debates not only in his Nyanza political backyard but also in the entire country Kenya but across the African continent.

I am quite intrigued by the confidence Kenyans have that they are offering Africa one of their best leaders for this Job. We almost feel it’s a big sacrifice we are making given the role Mr Odinga has played in Kenya’s modern democracy. This is why some Kenyans are campaigning calling him the President of Africa.

But does AUC chair have the powers equivalent to the expectations? William Ruto recently inherited Paul Kagame’s burden to strengthen the African Union amid varied interests.

The question is whether as AU Champion for Institutional Reform, Dr Ruto can make the AUC and Pan-African Parliament (PAP) reflect the structures that have made the European Union (EU) stronger than not only individual member states but also a collective of the member states that is the opposite of the AU. As it is currently, the AU is only as strong as member states allow it since African presidents have the misconception that a stronger AU threatens their sovereignty hence National interests are prioritised over transferring powers to AU. So what lessons can President Ruto learn from EU that can transform the AU to live its expectations?

First, the EU is in prime position when it comes to global trade. The openness of its trade regime has meant that the EU is the biggest player on the global trading scene and remains a good region to do business with. That same cannot be said of Africa since Africa is far from being the market that Europe is. One can establish a hub in some key cities within EU and distribute to all EU member states like what flower farms or pharmaceutical firms do but the same cannot be said of Africa.

In fact, the EU’s population of 448.4 million is a third of Africa’s 1.46 billion people. But it is the world’s largest trading bloc and the world’s largest trader of manufactured goods and services. The question is how Africa’s heads of state and government can position the continent in global trade. By integrating AU’s trading regime. But this cannot happen when narrow National interests come ahead of economic integration. The AU exists yet the continent has too many economic blocs that are equally not well integrated to boost global trade.