Raila Odinga’s candidacy for the chairperson of the African Union Commission is gaining momentum, with plans to launch a joint campaign secretariat expected this week.
This joint secretariat will integrate strategy and campaign teams from Raila’s supporters and the government.
According to The Star, sources reveal the secretariat will be based at the Railways Building, where the office of Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi is located.
President William Ruto’s administration has pledged full support to ensure Raila secures this prestigious position, potentially elevating him to a head of state stature.
Former Kenyan ambassador to the US Elkanah Odembo confirmed that the government has committed to establishing the joint secretariat within the week.
”The Joint Secretariat will be in place by the end of next week(this week),” Odembo told the Star in a text message.
Raila Odinga’s candidacy for the African Union Commission chairperson’s position is advancing swiftly, with plans to formally submit his nomination to the AU secretariat by the third week of July.
Kenya faces a tight deadline to officially endorse Raila for the AUC role, having missed the initial June 30 deadline, citing recent protests in the country as a cause for delay.
The African Union Commission has stipulated August 6 as the final submission deadline for all candidates vying to succeed Moussa Faki.
According to a communiqué from the Office of the Legal Council in May, each candidate must submit a curriculum vitae (CV) in the AU-approved format, accompanied by a brief statement outlining their vision for the position.
Kenya will submit Raila’s candidacy, CV, and vision statement in English, Arabic, French, Portuguese, Spanish, and Kiswahili.
Raila has intensified his campaign efforts for the AUC role, with the government organizing diplomatic initiatives in support of his candidacy.
Recently, Raila met with East African Community (EAC) foreign affairs ministers in Zanzibar, where he outlined his agenda for the continent.
“I present myself as a candidate deeply committed to the principles of unity, peace, and development,” Odinga affirmed during the meeting.
“Now is the right time for my leadership, as Africa navigates through a transformative period requiring strong and visionary leadership.”
Raila underscored the importance of regional representation within the larger African Union formation, emphasizing the readiness of the East Africa region towards producing the next AU chairperson.
“The time is ripe for East Africa to assume the helm of the AU leadership. The AU rotational leadership policy places our region at the best position possible this time round,” Raila said.
Raila said his visionary leadership in the multi-faceted transition around the continent is what he will be banking on.
He said it is time to take Africa and her interests to the next level and make Africa a destination for investment and unlocking untapped economic opportunities.
“My tenure as AU’s Special Envoy for infrastructure equipped me with the understanding of Africa’s challenges and the options we have to advance solutions to help move our continent into the next frontier,” Raila said.
The ongoing ministerial meeting serves as a pivotal forum for advancing continental cooperation and leadership, with discussions focused on selecting a candidate who can effectively guide Africa toward unity, prosperity, and global influence.
During the meeting, Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi urged the EAC member states to support Raila’s candidature.
Mudavadi said Raila is better placed to represent the EAC region in the race adding that his credentials and experience place him in an advantageous position for the AUC job.
“We believe and are certain that this is the time for our region to produce the chairperson who will be at the helm of the continental leadership. I urge all member states to keenly scrutinize Odinga’s candidacy so that we can speak with one voice” Mudavadi said.
Last week, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei chaired the first technical committee comprising the government and Odinga’s teams after a long lull that triggered concerns about Kenya’s candidature.
“The committee reviewed the progress made towards submission of the formal application, the official launch of candidature and the outreach programme,” Sing’oei said after the meeting.
Those who sit in Raila’s AUC campaigns strategy team include Odembo, Intergovernmental Authority on Development (Igad) former Executive Director Mahboub Maalim, Ambassador Anthony Okara, professor Makau Mutua and ex-Nyeri Deputy Governor Caroline Karugu.
