Basketball

Global athletics icons back Amina for WTO top post

Kenya’s athletics icons led by the dauntless marathon record holder Eliud Kipchoge have given a moving appraisal of Sports Cabinet Amina Mohamed as she guns for the director-general post of the World Trade Organization.

The second round of voting is in progress until October 6 when the 164 individuals from the WTO will pick the last two challengers.

Sports CS Amina Mohamed, previous Nigerian Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee, Saudi Arabia’s Mohammad al-Tuwaijri and previous British Minister Liam Fox are in the reckoning. WTO, which has never had a leader who is female or from Africa, would like to select the victor by early November to supplant Brazilian Roberto Azevedo.

In nominating CS Amina Mohamed, President Uhuru Kenyatta stated: “Kenya offers Amina C. Mohamed, a uniquely qualified person to lead the WTO at this critical time. Minister Mohamed understands the WTO, understands its processes, having chaired all its high-level decision-making bodies. For example, the Ministerial Conference, General Council, Dispute Settlement Body as well as the Trade Review Body.”

What’s more, presently, the world’s celebrated athletes have likewise supported the career diplomat, who has additionally made her heart to the sporting fraternity as Kenya’s Sports minister. This what they said.