Deputy President Kithure Kindiki on Friday morning departed for Entebbe, Uganda, to attend the Second Extraordinary Summit of the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), where regional leaders are expected to discuss the future of the peace support mission and security in the Horn of Africa.
Kindiki left the country aboard a Kenya Air Force aircraft and was seen off by Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya before traveling to Uganda for the high-level meeting.
The summit will bring together heads of state, senior government officials from troop-contributing countries, and regional leaders to assess the security situation in Somalia and review the progress of AUSSOM.
Among the key issues on the agenda are the financing of AUSSOM operations and strategies to strengthen regional security amid renewed militant activity in Somalia.
Photos shared on the Deputy President’s social media platforms showed him arriving at the airbase alongside senior government officials before boarding the military aircraft.
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Kindiki’s trip comes amid heightened political speculation in Kenya following reports that some administrative functions previously associated with the Office of the Deputy President had been reassigned to Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.
While reports have sparked debate over possible changes within government, neither State House nor the Office of the Deputy President has officially commented. Kindiki has dismissed the claims as “fake news” without providing further details.
His departure also coincides with growing political discussions over President Ruto’s running mate ahead of the 2027 General Election. Despite the speculation, Kindiki has continued to undertake official duties, including overseeing development programmes, participating in security engagements, and representing Kenya at regional forums.
The AU Summit is expected to chart the next phase of the mission following the transition from the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) to AUSSOM.
The meeting also comes after the United States announced it would end its financial and logistical support for AUSSOM and the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) after December 31, 2026, citing Somalia’s slow progress in implementing security sector reforms.
The announcement has prompted renewed discussions among African Union member states on sustainable funding mechanisms and the long-term future of the Somalia peace support mission.
