Members of the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations have said there is a need for more structured engagements on African Union Affairs.

This was one of the recommendations adopted by Members in a Report of the Committee Delegation that participated in the 36th Ordinary Session of the AU held in Addis Ababa Ethiopia in February this year.

Members also recommended that the Ministries, Departments, and Agencies overseeing Kenya's implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) 2022-2027 strategy undertake more robust follow-ups to maximize Kenya's benefits from the initiative.

Committee Chairperson Hon. Nelson Koech said Members' input in regional and continental affairs was important to safeguard the country's interests in the Global League of Nations.

"That is why we will be taking a more central role on issues around the AU and other regional bodies alongside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as part of our oversight mandate," said Hon. Koech.

The delegation to the AU meeting comprised Vice-Chairperson Hon. Major (Rtd) Bashir Abdullah (Mandera-North),  and Hon. Martha Wangari (Gilgil).

Among the key outcomes of the meeting was a call for more commitment among AU member states to achieve continental and global goals for nutrition ahead of the 2025 World Health Assembly Nutrition Target deadline.

There was also a call for Member States to double the spirit of Pan-Africanism, Solidarity, and Brotherhood by accelerating the operationalization of AfCFTA.