Kenya has officially submitted the name of Azimio leader Raila Odinga as a candidate for the African Union Commission chairperson ahead of the elections slated for February 2025.
This is after the ministry of foreign affairs on Monday, July 29, 2024, presented Odinga’s credentials in Addis Ababa.
Foreign affairs principal secretary Korir Sing’Oei presented the nomination of the ODM leader to the continent’s Eastern Region Dean Dharmraj Busgeeth, ambassador of Mauritius in the company of Odinga’s strategists.
Kenya had settled on the former prime minister as its nominee for the seat to succeed Moussa Faki whose term is coming to an end.
Sing’Oei presented the nomination just two days after confirming the conclusion of the preparatory processes.
“All-Set-Go,” Sing’Oei said Saturday when he shared a preview of two bundles containing translations of Odinga’s documents.
The deadline for the application for the AUC Chairmanship bid for any interested parties is August 6.
The government had in June this year announced the establishment of a campaign secretariat run by the State Department for Foreign Affairs to bolster Odinga’s chances of winning the AUC Chairperson slot.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi indicated that the team, including Odinga’s strategists, will assist the candidate in preparation for the high-stakes election.
Mudavadi said the team will prepare briefs for the candidate, develop campaign materials, and prepare for a televised debate among candidates.
Odinga has since received endorsement from countries including Uganda, Rwanda, Ghana, Zimbabwe and lately Algeria.
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The endorsement from Algeria came after President William Ruto held discussions with Algerian President Tebboune Amadjid during the G7 meeting in Apulia, Italy.
“I have held a discussion with President Tebboune Amadjid, Algeria, on the sidelines of the G7 meeting in Apulia, Italy, who has pledged support for Kenya’s Africa Union Commission chairmanship bid,” President Ruto said on June 14.
Odinga is competing against several candidates from the Eastern Africa bloc including Djibouti’s Foreign Affairs minister Mahmoud Youssouf, Somalia’s former deputy prime minister and current member of the Federal Parliament, Fawzia Yusuf and Seychelles’ former Vice President Vincent Meriton for the continental post.
Tanzania recently emerged as a likely contender to join the race for the AUC seat with former Foreign Minister January Makamba fronted as a likely candidate.
Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhi terminated the appointment of Makamba on July 22 in a mini change in her cabinet without providing reasons for his removal.
Speaking on his candidature on June 5, Odinga said he was “pleasantly surprised” by the government’s decision to front him for the AUC chairmanship.
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