President Ruto is scheduled to present Raila Odinga’s application for AUC leadership

Raila Odinga, Kenya’s former Prime Minister, is scheduled to be introduced as the nation’s candidate for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship on Tuesday.

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi stated on the eve of the Tokyo International Conference on Africa Development (TICAD-9) Ministerial Meeting, which concluded on Sunday, that Kenya will be fully prepared to secure the seat after President Ruto officially launches Mr. Odinga’s candidature.

“The President will not only inform the Kenyan people, but also the continent and the international community at large, that Raila Amolo Odinga is the official candidate for Kenya in the AUC race,” stated Mr. Mudavadi.

President Ruto has extended an invitation to the heads of state of the East African Community (EAC) to attend the formal unveiling of Mr. Odinga.

On Saturday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that all the heads of state of the East African Community (EAC) had been invited to the event. This event will serve as the official commencement of Mr. Odinga’s campaigns in anticipation of the February 2025 elections.

The East African Community (EAC) is composed of eight member states: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, Burundi, Rwanda, and South Sudan.

The Kenyan government and Mr. Odinga’s secretariat will be merged into a single entity for the inauguration on Tuesday, according to insiders.

Additionally, his campaign website will be launched, which was established by the government to enhance his chances.

Mr. Mudavadi, who serves as the Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, stated that the campaigns will be overseen by individuals who possess extensive experience and expertise to guarantee a well-coordinated, focused, and outcome-oriented outcome.

The team of strategists that Dr. Ruto is anticipated to appoint to collaborate with Mr. Odinga’s team in the joint secretariat to secure the AUC post is expected to intensify regional campaigns and shuttle diplomacy.

Mr. Odinga had already appointed his team, which is comprised of seasoned diplomats. This team includes former Intergovernmental Authority on Development (Igad) Executive Secretary Mahboub Maalim, former Kenyan ambassador to the United States Elkanah Odembo, Ambassador Anthony Okara, Prof Makau Mutua, and former Nyeri Deputy Governor Dr. Caroline Karugu.

Mr. Mudavadi capitalized on the occasion to mobilize numerous Foreign Affairs Ministers from African Union member states who were in attendance at the conference to lend their backing to Kenya’s initiative while in Tokyo.

“We have spent a significant amount of time conversing and persuading the over 25 Ministers of Foreign Affairs who are representing their respective countries at this conference. Our objective is to increase the level of support and lobby aggressively in favor of the Kenyan candidate,” stated the PCS.

“We are currently unable to afford to waste time, as the election is scheduled for February 2025.” Africa is vast, and the President has been conducting numerous campaigns, engaging with numerous colleagues on the continent, prior to the official inauguration. He further stated, “We must now follow up and collaborate with the candidate to establish a solid foundation.”

Mr. Mudavadi presented Kenya’s case to foreign ministers from Senegal, Liberia, Mauritania, and Egypt, among others.

He observed that the primary objective would be to increase support rather than to concede any ground at any given moment.

He had previously stated that the secretariat would be responsible for the drafting of all essential briefs for the candidate, the production of campaign materials, and the organization of a public debate that would be broadcast live across Africa.

“We will need to go full throttle immediately following the official launch on Tuesday, as these campaigns will primarily necessitate foreign engagement,” he stated. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which I oversee, will be instrumental in this endeavor.”