Kenya’s New Move: Campaign Secretariat Teams Up with Raila Odinga for AU Commission Chair Bid
The Government of Kenya has established a campaign secretariat to collaborate with political leader Raila Odinga in bolstering his candidacy for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson position.
At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters in Nairobi, Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi announced that a consultative meeting with Odinga and his team has been held to review preparations for the prestigious AU role.
Mudavadi expressed confidence in Odinga’s ability to secure the seat, affirming that the government will fully support their candidate, providing all necessary assistance.
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“We believe the candidate will strive for excellence, aligning with the continent’s collective aspirations for Africa we envision in 2063, as outlined in the AUC development framework,” Mudavadi stated.
To reinforce this commitment, Mudavadi revealed that Odinga’s campaign efforts will now be state-led, with the newly formed secretariat closely collaborating with Odinga’s consultation team.
“The secretariat will prepare all necessary briefs for the candidate, create campaign materials, including a digital presence, and organize the public debate to be broadcast live for African citizens,” said Mudavadi.
The team is finalizing preparatory and application documents, including translating the resume into six languages: Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, French, English, and Kiswahili.
He mentioned that submission preparations would be completed by the end of June, ahead of the regional submissions deadline set for August 6, 2024. Public debates will be held six months before the election.
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Odinga welcomed the government’s support, expressing his readiness to work closely with the respective teams to achieve his significant goal.
“With committed and proper coordination between my team and the government, we should secure the seat. We agreed that synergy is crucial as we proceed with the application submission,” said Odinga.
“Individually, I am leveraging my experience, relationships, and understanding of the continent to gain support from as many nations as possible.”
Odinga mentioned receiving encouraging affirmations from “senior government officials” willing to support his bid for the AUC chairperson position.
CS Mudavadi highlighted that President William Ruto’s efforts to garner support from other African states have been fruitful, with their candidacy being well-received.
Odinga has secured endorsements from nine heads of state, including Kenya’s William Ruto, Rwanda’s Paul Kagame, and Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni.
Other leaders supporting Odinga include Tanzania’s Mama Suluhu, South Sudan’s Salva Kiir, South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Félix Tshisekedi.
Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa have also endorsed Odinga.
The African Union Executive Council decided on March 15, 2024, that the Eastern Africa region would submit candidates for the position.
Odinga will compete against Djibouti’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mahmoud Youssouf and Somalia’s former deputy prime minister and current member of the Federal Parliament Fawzia Yusuf.
If successful, Odinga will serve as the AUC chairperson from 2025 to 2028.
The position will become vacant next year as the current occupant, Chad’s Moussa Faki, completes his second term. Faki first assumed office in 2017 and was re-elected in 2021.
Kenya’s New Move: Campaign Secretariat Teams Up with Raila Odinga for AU Commission Chair Bid