Ambassador Erastus Mwencha is the immediate former Vice Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC). He was elected to this position in January 2008 by the Heads of State and Government of the 54 Member States of the African Union, and re-elected to the same position in July 2012. Prior to his election at the AUC, he worked at Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) for over 25 years, and served as its Secretary General for 10 years.

Amb. Mwencha contributed to the transformation of the regional body into a viable economic integration entity, with the largest free trade area (FTA) in Africa. He was particularly instrumental in contributing to the expansion of intra-COMESA trade, developing programs for private sector cooperation and trade with the rest of world, spearheading regional hard and soft infrastructure programs in transport, communication, and energy. He also developed the continental negotiating position for the Doha Round of Negotiations of the World Trade Organization, Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and actively supported the programs to integrate women in development.

Amb. Mwencha has also held several senior roles within the Ministry of Industry in Kenya.