Mudavadi, Odinga Hold Joint Briefing on Status of Kenya's Candidacy for AUC Chairmanship

The government has launched a strategic campaign machinery to support the election of Azimio leader Raila Odinga as the next African Union Commission chairperson ahead of the February 2025 polls.

Kenya plans to submit former Prime Minister Raila Odinga's candidacy for the African Union Commission (AUC) by June 30, as announced by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi on Wednesday. 

Mr. Mudavadi, who also serves as the Foreign and Diaspora Affairs CS, mentioned that the government is establishing a secretariat to lead the ODM leader's campaign efforts.

“Overall, the campaigns are led by the State with highly experienced and knowledgeable officers. The State Department for Foreign Affairs has established a campaign Secretariat which includes the candidate’s strategy team,” Mr. Mudavadi stated.

He noted that the secretariat will prepare all briefs for the candidate, create campaign materials including a digital presence, and get ready for the public debate to be broadcast to African citizens.

“This will take place six months before the election date,” Mr. Mudavadi mentioned.

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi announced that, in preparation for the polls, the campaign secretariat is currently organizing application documents, including translating Raila Odinga’s resume into the six AU languages. Mudavadi stated that this needs to be completed before the August 6, 2024, deadline for submitting regional nominations to the AU Commission.

“Currently, the team is firming up preparatory and application documents together with requisite translations of the resume into six AU languages, that is French, English, Kiswahili, Arabic, Portuguese and Spanish,” Mudavadi said.

Speaking outside his office at the Railway Headquarters, Mudavadi said the campaign will be led by the state, consisting of highly experienced experts.

He stated that Raila’s strategy team will be part of the campaign secretariat, tasked with preparing Raila’s briefs, developing campaign materials, and preparing him for a public debate that will be broadcast live across Africa six months before the election date.

He explained that a detailed campaign strategy has been developed, which identifies the opportunities, challenges, and risks facing Kenya's candidature.

Furthermore, the campaign includes outreach programs to the capitals of AU member states, briefing Kenya's missions abroad, and engaging with the Diplomatic Corps in Nairobi.

“Kenya is certain that our candidate, Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga, has the credentials and the passion to advocate for Africa’s interests globally, and champion for more opportunities for Africa and her people."

Mr. Odinga is aiming for a position in Africa, not within the government or the Republic of Kenya, he clarified.

"...but I need the endorsement of the government of Kenya for that African position. At this meeting, we exchanged notes on the current status of the quest, the preparations from both my side and the government’s side, and the next steps," Mr. Mudavadi said.

Accompanying Mr. Mudavadi, Mr. Odinga stated that he was seeking the position as a Kenyan, and that no one had asked him to run.

"The Kenyan government did not ask me. I made the decision to serve the continent, and as you know, you cannot run for this position without being sponsored by your country," Raila said.

“Your candidature is not valid until your country says yes. I was pleasantly surprised when the Kenyan government said they would support me. I expected them to say no, I don’t know why they said yes, that’s their own decision, not mine,” he added.

Mr. Mudavadi stated that the government supports Mr. Odinga because “he is competent, and we are looking at Kenya and Africa’s interest.”

“It’s not about our local issues. We must protect Kenya's national interest. It will be a first for Kenya and will be an opportunity for Kenya to offer leadership to the African Union,” he said, emphasizing that Mr. Odinga has the necessary experience for the role.

Raila announced his candidacy for the AU Commission chairmanship on February 15, 2024, during a joint press briefing in Nairobi with former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo.

READ MORE: Raila Odinga Formally Declares Interest in AU Topmost Job.

He stated that he is pursuing the top AU position because he believes Africa deserves to be in a better league as a continent. Raila emphasized that his Pan-Africanism and experience as the AU High Representative for Infrastructure Development make him well-suited for the role.

The ODM leader previously served as the AU’s High Representative for Infrastructure Development.

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