I’m my own man, says Raila Odinga as State joins his bid for African Union post
Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga during a press briefing on the status of Kenya's candidacy for the African Union chairmanship in Nairobi on June 5, 2024.
What you need to know:
- Mr Odinga pointed out that he was seeking the position as a Kenyan, and that nobody had asked him to contest.
- The ODM leader previously served as AU’s High Representative for Infrastructure Development.
President Ruto has been making a case for Mr Odinga in various countries.
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has set the record straight that he is not a “government project” in his quest for the top continental job.
Mr Odinga on Wednesday, June 5, said he was vying for a position in Africa, and not in the government or the country.
“But I need the endorsement of the government of Kenya for that Africa position. At this meeting, we exchanged notes on the state of the quest so far, the preparations from my side and the government’s side and the next steps,” the former Prime Minister said.
Mr Odinga pointed out that he was seeking the position as a Kenyan, and that nobody had asked him to contest.
“The Kenyan government did not ask me. I made the decision myself that I want to serve the continent and as you know, you cannot run for this position without being sponsored by your country.”
“Your candidature is not valid until your country says yes. I was pleasantly surprised when the government said they will support me. I expected them to say no. I don’t know why they said yes, that’s their own decision not mine,” added the ODM chief.
During yesterday’s joint press briefing, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi announced that the country’s journey to the AU was on course and noted that the government backed Mr Odinga because “he is competent and we are looking at Kenya’s and Africa’s best interests.”
National interest
“So it’s not about our local issues. We must project the national interest for Kenya. It will be a first for Kenya and will be an opportunity for Kenya to offer leadership to the African Union,” said Mr Mudavadi, who is also the Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary.
He said Mr Odinga has the requisite experience for the job.
The ODM leader previously served as AU’s High Representative for Infrastructure Development.
“As a government and a country, we wish Raila godspeed in this noble endeavour for the continent. Africa also needs a Baba,” said Mr Mudavadi, adding that based on the principle of inter-regional rotation, this was the time for Eastern Africa to nominate a candidate for the position of AU Commission chairperson.
Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga (left) and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi during a press briefing in Nairobi on June 5, 2024.
“Therefore, as per the schedule of the AU elections calendar, the deadline for the submission of the regional nominations to the AU Commission is August 6, 2024, two months from now.
President Ruto has been making a case for Mr Odinga in various countries.
While in Ghana in April, the Head of State secured support for Mr Odinga’s bid after president Nana Akufo-Addo pledged his support.
Out of office
Mr Akufo-Addo will probably be out of office by the time elections at both the African Union Commission and the Commonwealth take place.
He is onto his last term ahead of presidential elections due in December this year. AU will go into polls in February next year, while the Commonwealth will vote in September. But it will matter less if Addo’s party retains the power.
It was the first such pitch by President Ruto in West Africa since they had some form of ‘handshake’ with his erstwhile nemesis, Mr Odinga, who he has since publicly backed to seek the top AU seat.
Previously he had campaigned for Odinga to neighbours, with Rwanda and Uganda publicly pledging their support.
Speaking during his State visit to the West African nation, President Ruto said Kenya’s candidature is informed by its leading role in enhancing and sustaining the pan-African agenda.
“…this is in terms of independence and sovereignty, peace and security, development and prosperity as well as sustainability and climate action.
“We hope to work with all as we strive to achieve Africa’s 2063 agenda,” President Ruto said.
In turn, Dr Ruto said Kenya will support Ghana’s bid for the position of Secretary General of the Commonwealth for the period 2024-2029.
Ghana’s Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey will, so far, compete with Lesotho’s candidate for the post.
“This presents an opportunity for Kenya and Ghana to collaborate,” he said.
Only candidates from Eastern Africa region will be eligible for the AUC chairperson’s position, as part of new rules on rotation.
After rigorous vetting, they will then debate each other at a public televised forum where they will field questions from the public.
Mr Odinga will face Seychelles’s former Vice President Vincent Meriton, Djibouti’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Mahmoud Youssouf and former Somalia Foreign Minister Fawzia Yusuf in next February’s poll.
While fielding questions from journalists, Mr Mudavadi said “we are focusing on a Kenyan candidacy. Other countries will speak about their own.”
“We have a long journey to go to campaigns and our candidate is Raila Amollo Odinga and the strategy is in place and we shall be looking at all the challenges and opportunities as we go along.
Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga (left) and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi during a press briefing in Nairobi on June 5, 2024.
“Our President has made several strides in talking to his counterparts across Africa and all that will count for something in the next few months,” said Mr Mudavadi.
It is now all system go as the government officially unveiled the roadmap for Mr Odinga’s AUC candidacy.
The government set in motion the campaign strategy with an interim secretariat, even as President Ruto is set to unveil the joint team to spearhead the exercise.
Shuttle diplomacy
The stage is set for a joint shuttle diplomacy to woo the continental leadership to back Mr Odinga’s bid, an announcement made in an historic event that saw the government and opposition speak in one voice, since the disputed presidential polls and the anti-government protests.
Mr Mudavadi warned that local politics should not upset the bigger cause, saying that Kenya will officially submit Mr Odinga’s candidacy for the chairperson of the AUC by June 30.
Nation established that an interim secretariat shall be set at the PCS’s Kenya Railways office headquarters.
Mr Odinga’s strategy team includes former Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Amb Mahboub Maalim, former Kenyan ambassador to the US Elkanah Odembo, Amb Anthony Okara, Prof Makau Mutua and former Nyeri Deputy Governor Dr Caroline Karugu.
The Nation has also learnt from close sources that the government team to be unveiled soon includes “people at ambassadorial level and seasoned diplomats.”
“Some served in significant stations like the United Nations, and African Union itself,” an impeccable source privy to the campaigns from the government side told the Nation.
Last month, President Ruto appointed former Kenyan ambassador to the United States Lazarus Amayo as the special envoy of the African Union Champion for Institution Reform.
According to the Head of Public Service and Chief of Staff Felix Koskei, Mr Amayo will support the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs in steering the President’s mandate as the African Union Champion for Institutional Reform.
However, the government is yet to unveil Amb Amayo as part of Mr Odinga’s campaign secretariat.
Amb Yobesh Monari, Director General Foreign Service Administration, is also said to be warming up to join the team alongside other “diplomats with wide networks.”
“This core team will be supported by a robust team of seasoned diplomats in Kenya, and very importantly, a team of advisers and influencers from the five regions of the AU,” another source revealed.
Addressing the joint press briefing at his Railways headquarters offices with Mr Odinga, Mr Mudavadi said they were firming up preparatory and application documents together with requisite translations of the resume into the six AU languages (French, English, Kiswahili, Arabic, Portuguese and Spanish) in readiness for submission to the AU Secretariat by the end of this month.
Mr Mudavadi said the government was also working on a secretariat to spearhead the ODM leader’s campaigns.
“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 announced.
The secretariat, he noted, will prepare all the briefs for use by the candidate, develop campaign materials, including a digital presence, and prepare for the public debate to be broadcast to African citizens.
Campaign strategy
“This will take place six months before the election date,” the PCS said.
He said that an empirical campaign strategy has been developed, which includes identifying opportunities, challenges, and risks that Kenya’s candidature faces.
“Additionally, the campaign involves outreach programmes to capitals of AU member states, briefing of Kenya missions abroad, and engagements with diplomatic corps in Nairobi.
“Kenya is certain that our candidate, the 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 Mudavadi added.
