President William Ruto is now calling for the country's collective support for Raila Odinga's African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson bid.

Speaking on Saturday in Kakamega during the thanksgiving ceremony for Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya at Butere Constituency, President Ruto said a win for Odinga will be a win for all Kenyans.

The President termed Odinga as an astute Pan-Africanist with all the required qualifications to lead the African continent.

“Let us all come together and support our candidate Raila Odinga to be the AUC chair,” Ruto said, adding: “Raila has all it takes to lead the AUC...his win is not a personal win, it is a win for Kenya.”

The Head of State also used the opportunity to call for forgiveness and asked the political rivals to set aside their differences and unite behind the broad-based government for posterity.

“Hapa akina Atwoli walikuwa wanasema kata miti…sasa nawaambia pandeni miti....kwa hivyo viongozi tushikane ndio maana mimi nimesema nimeweka serikali ya pamoja,” said Ruto.

President Ruto's remarks come days before he hands over a flag to Odinga to begin his continental campaign.

ODM leaders who attended the event called on the five Cabinet Secretaries picked from the opposition party to carry out their mandate without fear or compromise.

"Wale mawaziri wametoka chama cha ODM msituabishe....tunawaangalia sana, tunataka mfanye kazi mpaka rais aseme kumbe ODM ndio chama ya 2027,” said Kisii Governor Simba Arati.

Leaders present raised concerns over the JSS teachers standoff, with the Budget Committee Chair in the National Assembly affirming that Parliament approved Ksh.18 billion for the JSS teachers and the government should hire the intern teachers to avert strikes.

“Sisi tulipitisha kama Bunge...we want to see TSC move with speed and gazette the employment of the JSS teachers on PnP because we passed their budget," Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro said.

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja added: "JSS issues should be resolved immediately to avoid teachers' strike."