Ruto urges Pan-African Parliament to amplify continent's voice

President William Ruto has urged the Pan-African Parliament to amplify its voice on crucial issues that affect the continent.

Ruto asked the parliament to encourage democratic institutions across the continent to ensure free, fair and credible elections.

He spoke o Tuesday when he met the president of the Pan-African Parliament, Fortune Charumbira, and the Kenyan delegation at State House.

"It is the people who decide their leaders and we must continue to defer to them," he said.

Ruto further asked the continental parliament to "tie the loose ends" on the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), saying the bloc provides Africa immense opportunities for exponential economic growth through trade and investment.

"Today, Africa contributes only three per cent of global trade yet it has 17 per cent of the world's population and market," he noted.

By 2050, Ruto said, Africa will be home to 25 per cent of global population and a huge market, noting that there was need to organise it to benefit Africans. 

On climate change, the President said it was time for Africa to end the use of fossil fuels and embrace renewable sources of energy.

He added that the continent has the largest untapped reservoirs of clean energy.

Addressing the meeting, Charumbira invited Ruto to a climate summit hosted by the Pan-African Parliament in Midrand, South Africa in May. 

He commended Kenya for holding free and fair elections on August 2022. 

"What happens in Kenya means a lot to the whole continent," Charumbira said. 

In attendance were National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi and Environment and Climate Change PS Festus Ng'eno.

Kenyan members of the Pan-African Parliament Musa Sirma (Eldama Ravine), Esther Passaris (Nairobi), Rahab Mùkami (Nyeri), Majimbo Kalasinga (Kabuchai), Danston Mungatana (Tana River) and Margaret Kamar (Nominated Senator) among others were also present.