Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s campaign secretariat has tapped the expertise of ex-diplomats and strategists for his African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship bid.
The team held its first strategy meeting in Nairobi on Friday last week ahead of his final campaign launch in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Friday.
The advisory team consisting of seasoned diplomats, experts and strategists has been clustered into five regional groups—Northern, Southern, Eastern, Western and Central Africa.
Mr Odinga’s campaign secretariat said last week’s meeting was jointly organised with the Global Centre for Policy and Strategy (Gloceps) led by Executive Director Ken Asembo.
“Last week’s meeting was to tap into the enormous experience and expertise of former diplomats, thought leaders and academics, including some of Kenya’s former diplomats with extensive networks that now need to be leveraged to get us the needed support,” Mr Odinga’s secretariat said.
The secretariat and Gloceps are following up on the meeting by developing a structure that will facilitate regular engagement with some of the diplomats and thought leaders who have offered to support the campaign.
The Northern Africa diplomatic strategy team has Prof Makumi Mwagiru, Dr Hassan Khannenje, Amb. Boaz Mbaya, Prof Mohamud Jama and Herman Manyora, while the Southern team has Amb. Anthony Okara, Amb. Catherine Mwangi, Prof Ochieng Kamudhayi, Prof Karuti Kanyinga and Mr Dismus Mokua.
The Eastern team consists of; Amb. Muita Muburi, Amb. Salim Salim, Prof Noah Midamba, Dr Janet Kiguru, Col (Rtd) Godfrey Gitonga and Dr Sylvia Wakena, while the Western group has Lt-Gen (Rtd) Lazaro Sumbeiywo, Alexander Muteshi Imbenzi, Brig Gen (Rtd) Wilson Boinnet, Amb. Tom Amolo, Dr Kizito Sabala and Dr Sylvia Wakena, and Central has Amb. Ali Guyo, Dr George Masafu, Amb. John Mwangemi, Dr Josephine Ojiambo, Dr Peter Kirui and Wilfred Nasong’o Muliro.
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei and former Kenya ambassador to the US Elkanah Odembo had been unveiled by President William Ruto as the heads of the secretariat.
Other members of the team include former Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development Mahboub Maalim and ex-ambassador Anthony Okara.
Mr Odembo told the Nation that the strategy team discussed the strengths and weaknesses of Kenya’s bid and gave a clear roadmap for campaigns.
“We asked the team to come out very strongly and candidly talk about the strengths and weaknesses of Kenya as a country in this regional geopolitics,” Mr Odembo said.
“The launch will mainly involve Addis based diplomats. We shall apprise them of the candidate’s concrete plans to elevate the AU, enhance its prestige and position it as the anchor negotiator for Africa,” Dr Sing’oei said. He disclosed that there shall also be a media breakfast on November 9.
Kenya already launched Mr Odinga’s bid in Nairobi on August 27, a ceremony that was attended by various East African Community Heads of State who endorsed his candidacy.
On Thursday last week, President Ruto attended the 23rd Summit of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa Heads of State and Government in Bujumbura, Burundi, where he vouched for Mr Odinga’s candidacy.
The President also met with the presidents of Egypt and Zambia, as well as the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, and mobilised support for Kenya’s candidacy.
