Political leaders have heaped praise on Raila Odinga as he fixes his eyes on the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson position.
While appearing on Citizen TV’s Daybreak show on Monday, Senator Ledama Olekina, MPs Beatrice Elachi (Dagoreti North), Geoffrey Ruku (Mbeere North) and Former Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary General Wilson Sossion opined that Odinga is the best candidate for the job.
Olekina said that Odinga boasts of a polished expertise on African geo-politics and his victory will help integrate African states and allow the achievement of the African development goal.
“There is no more experienced leader in this continent than Raila Odinga. We want to call on all our African brothers to consider giving an opportunity for Raila to be able to serve as the chairperson,” he said.
“He is also a humanitarian, he has played a critical role in making sure that those who have access to a good environment.”
MP Ruku added that Odinga has a proven track record in African leadership given his stint as the African Union (AU) special envoy for infrastructure development in Africa.
He noted that his appointment will spur economic growth and foster a firm link between Western and African economies.
“Raila is one of the greatest pan-Africanists we have in Africa. There are very few people who have the stature of Raila,” he said.
“It is right for us in Kenya Kwanza to support him. We are asking President Ruto to give Raila his vote and ensure he lobbies other heads of state for his bid to go through.”
On her part, Elachi said that Odinga’s experience with the African landscape gives him an edge to secure the position and will allow him to introduce critical reforms to the continent.
“It is only him who understands the history of any African nation. African nations will open their borders and infrastructures,” she noted.
Sossion echoed the trio’s sentiments noting that Odinga’s boldness will give Africa a global competitor status.
“Raila is the best for AU Commission considering that Kenya is a strong multi-party democracy and therefore we need a strong political value.”
While announcing his bid for the AU Commission job, Odinga affirmed that he will be determined to transform the face of Africa and realign it to become an economic superpower.
“As a Pan-Africanist I believe strongly that Africa is playing in the league that it should not play. That Africa deserves better,” he noted.
“This is something we need to reverse and it can only be reversed if we as a continent marshal all our resources for the faster socio-economic growth of our continent.”
Support from African Heads of State will be crucial in catapulting Odinga to the plum job.
The seat is set to fall vacant next year as its current occupant, Chad’s Moussa Faki, is set to finish his second term.
Faki was first appointed in 2017 and won a second term in 2021.
