NAIROBI, Kenya – Deputy President Kithure Kindiki on Friday departed for Uganda to represent Kenya at the Second Extraordinary Summit of the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), where regional leaders are expected to deliberate on the future of peace and security operations in Somalia.
Kindiki left aboard a Kenya Air Force aircraft for Entebbe and was seen off by Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya before the official trip.
The high-level summit will bring together Heads of State, senior government officials and representatives from troop-contributing countries to assess the security situation in Somalia and explore measures aimed at strengthening regional stability.
A key agenda at the meeting is expected to be the financing of AUSSOM operations, following growing concerns over the sustainability of the mission amid escalating attacks by militant groups in Somalia.
The leaders are also expected to discuss long-term strategies to enhance security cooperation and support peace efforts across the Horn of Africa.
Photos shared by Kindiki on his social media platforms showed the Deputy President arriving at the airbase accompanied by senior government officials before boarding the military aircraft for Uganda.
His trip comes as political debate continues over reports suggesting that some administrative responsibilities previously associated with the Office of the Deputy President have been reassigned to Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.
While the reports have sparked speculation over possible changes within government, neither State House nor the Office of the Deputy President has officially commented on the claims. Kindiki has dismissed the reports as “fake news” without providing further details.
The visit also coincides with increased political discussions surrounding government realignments and speculation over President William Ruto’s running mate ahead of the next General Election.
Despite the speculation, Kindiki has maintained a busy schedule focused on government programmes, security matters and representing Kenya in regional engagements.
The summit is expected to review the progress made by AUSSOM, which replaced the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), and determine the next phase of efforts to support Somalia’s security institutions.
The meeting comes months after the United States announced it would withdraw financial and logistical support for both AUSSOM and the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) after December 31, 2026.
Washington cited the slow implementation of Somalia’s security sector reforms, prompting renewed discussions among African Union member states on alternative funding mechanisms for the mission.
