Raila formally kicks off AUC chair campaign in Addis Ababa

President William Ruto (right), former Prime Minister Raila Odinga (centre) and Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio during the World Without Hunger 2024 Conference, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on November 7, 2024. [PCS]

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga will formally begin his journey in continental politics Friday, abandoning his involvement in the local arena.

Raila’s secretariat will launch his African Union Commission bid at the continental body’s headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, stepping up a gear in the campaign for a seat that becomes vacant in February.

The secretariat, led by Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei and former Kenya Ambassador to the United States Elkanah Odembo said it would “host a series of events in Addis Ababa to formally unveil him to the continent as the candidate of the Republic of Kenya for chairperson of the African Union Commission.”

“The candidate will use the forum to outline his Pan-African vision and priorities in line with AU Agenda 2063. The candidate will crown the activities with a keynote address at the Grand Campaign Reception to be held at the AU Multipurpose Hall on the evening of November 8, 2024,” reads a statement from the secretariat.

Raila recently unveiled a team, comprising diplomats and political strategists, which will steer his campaign. They include Makumi Mwagiru, Boaz Mbaya, Mohamud Jama, Dismas Mokua, Catherine Mwangi, Ochieng’ Kamudhayi, Herman Manyora, Tom Amolo and Karuti Kanyinga.

The team met last Friday to plan for today’s launch. 

Kenya’s previous bid, through former Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed, was unsuccessful, as she lost to outgoing chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat, who has served his two-term limit.

Raila fancies his chances of replacing the Chadian despite the stiff competition ahead. The former premier faces three other Eastern African candidates, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf (Djibouti), Richard Mahitsison Randriamandrato (Madagascar) and Anil Gayan (Mauritius).

Youssouf, Djibouti’s Foreign Affairs minister, is deemed the strongest challenger to Raila, a veteran opposition politician with solid networks across the continent. In August, President William Ruto held a reception for Raila at State House, which served as an unveiling event for Kenya’s candidate.

Several East African heads and their representatives attended the event, declaring their support for Raila. Among them were Presidents Samia Suluhu (Tanzania), Yoweri Museveni (Uganda) and Salva Kiir (South Sudan).

Burundi sent Prime Minister Gervais Ndirakobuca, with Rwanda’s Foreign Affairs Minister James Kabarebe representing President Paul Kagame, who Raila met in March, securing Kigali’s endorsement. Former Tanzania President Jakaya Kikwete also attended the event.

Dr Ruto has successfully pushed to have the East African Community rally behind a single candidate.

Last week, the President campaigned for Raila during the 23rd summit of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) Heads of State and Government in Burundi. The Head of State met with Presidents Abdel Fattah El-Sisi (Egypt) and Hakainde Hichilema (Zambia), and Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, pitching Raila’s bid.

Ruto has been full of platitudes for the ally-turned-foe-turned-ally, vouching for Raila’s leadership experience as he seeks the AUC seat.

“Kenya has benefited from progress, both on the broad stage of national governance as well as the evolution of specific sectors that are attributable to reforms championed by the patriotic league of indomitable visionaries like Hon Odinga,” Ruto said in August.

The former primier has also met various presidents, securing their endorsement.

Raila is banking on a four-point agenda that includes spurring economic transformation in the continent, enhancing intra-Africa trade, securing financial independence and gender equality. He is also big on the climate change agenda that affects African states disproportionately.