Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga is preparing to travel to New York for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) as part of his campaign for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson position. He aims to engage with African heads of state at the meeting to garner support for his candidacy.
Raila’s campaign is led by former Kenyan Ambassador to the US, Elkana Odembo, and will include Foreign Affairs PS Korir Sing’Oei. They are scheduled to depart for the UNGA either Wednesday or Thursday. The 79th session of the UNGA, which started on September 10 and ends on September 24, will address various global issues through dedicated agenda items.
Raila’s attendance at the UNGA is a strategic move to highlight his vision for Africa and seek support from African leaders. This follows his recent visit to China with President William Ruto, where they met several African presidents to promote Raila’s candidacy. Among those they met were Rwanda’s Paul Kagame, Guinea-Bissau’s Umaro Sissoco, Mali’s Assimi Goita, Togo’s Faure Gnassingbé, Chad’s Mahamat Idriss Déby, and Zambia’s Hakainde Hichilema.
In the upcoming February 2025 election for the AUC chairperson, Raila will face competition from Djibouti’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mahmoud Youssouf, as well as Anil Gayan from Mauritius and Richard Randriamandrato from Madagascar. To support Raila’s campaign, President Ruto has established a comprehensive campaign secretariat with members from across the African continent, though the specific individuals from each region have not yet been disclosed.
