In an exclusive interview with The Weekly Review, veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga speaks about the AU top job, his plans for the continent, the 2027 polls, and much more.
Weekly Review: How long have you been working on this quest for the African Union Commission chairmanship?
Raila: I’ve not really been working on it, but it’s something that came up when a number of friends from across the continent approached me and drew my attention to this fact that the tenure of the current AU Commission chair is ending next February and he’d not be eligible for re-election. They urged me to go for it.
We have seen former Nigerian President Obasanjo actively supporting you. Any other support or endorsements of senior African leaders and government from different regions of the continent?
It’s now that I’m beginning to secure support. You know I have other friends in West Africa apart from Obasanjo, I have friends in north, southern and central Africa, and of course eastern Africa which is home. There was a resolution passed at the last AU Summit that the next Commission chair should be from East Africa.
Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga (left) with former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo in Nairobi on February 15, 2024.
Photo credit: Lucy Wanjiru | Nation Media Group
Since the AU was formed in 1963, only one person has come from East Africa, that was Dr Salim Salim of Tanzania, who served as Secretary-General under the old Organisation of African Unity.
Since OAU converted to AU, the first Commission chair was former Malian President Alpha Konary of West Africa. Second was Jean Ping of Gabon in Central Africa. Third was Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma from South Africa.
And then again it went back to Central Africa, the current one Moussa Faki Mahamat of Chad. Incidentally, he beat Kenya’s former Foreign Affairs Minister Amina Mohammed in the election.
A resolution was subsequently passed mandating the Commission chairmanship rotate, in alphabetical order. So from Central Africa it should come to East, then to North, to South, and then West before going back to Central. That is the order.
Within his region, have you actively sought support from the presidents of East African Community states and the wider Igad bloc?
I have not formally sought support, but informally, yes. I have first to launch my candidature officially, and then I will start the lobbying. At the ongoing AU meeting I’m indicating my interest, but the application has to be submitted by April.
There have been media reports that President Ruto is supporting your candidature. Have you had you had any direct engagement on this?
No. I think they just heard from the grapevine that I’m interested. We heard Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi out of the blue talking about it at a public rally in Bondo , I had never discussed it with him, I was shocked, but did not want to deny, because as a candidate you need endorsement of your home country.
You did serve the AU as High Representative for Infrastructure, but on taking power in 2022 the Ruto government was not happy with that position. Why do you expect that they’ll support you on this one?
I’m not sure. I’ve not approached them, but once my application is in, I will formally do so. However, if they can indicate their support even now, it would be quite welcome.
Media reports suggest that support from Ruto would be under a political deal akin to the post-2017 election ‘handshake’ between you and President Uhuru Kenyatta, this time tied around the National Dialogue report coming up in Parliament, and you giving the President some breathing space.
There is no such deal. That is empty speculation. There is nothing like that and we have had no such talks. We are still waiting for the National Dialogue report to be debated and approved by Parliament.
There is also the issue of recruitment of IEBC commissioners. Resolution of those issues will then create room for us to have direct conversation.
Whatever the outcome, what will you going for the AU job mean to your continuing engagement in local politics? Are you retiring from politics?
No, you can call it a sabbatical from local politics to concentrate on serving the continent. But nothing stops me from coming back to the local scene should the situation warrant it.
Obviously, your absence would leave a big void at various levels, one in Luo leadership, your ODM party, and Azimio and the wider opposition alliance. Have you thought of succession?
First, Luo leadership is not elective, and I’ll continue to support the community. And not only the Luo, but also to other communities like the Luhyia, the Mijikenda and all other communities of Kenya I will be available all the time.
I’m not going out of this world, I’ll be a stone’s throw away as Addis Ababa is only two-and-a-half hours by plane. Whoever needs my support, I’ll be available.
Secondly, political leadership is always shared. Even if I’m not around, there are competent people around me ready to step in and provide leadership in both ODM and Azimio.
Specific to 2027 elections, it is obvious that if you secure the AU Commission seat you will be away then. Does that rule out another presidential bid?
Yes and No. I said if I’m required, there’s nothing to prevent me from coming back to run. But there are other candidates who are ready and competent to run, and the movement will be at liberty to select a candidate.
I’m saying I’m not out of the (presidential) race yet because, firstly, I haven’t even been nominated for the AU post, and even if I’m nominated and elected, nothing stops me from coming back home.
Musalia is at the AU ministerial meeting right now. Is there anything he is doing to advance your candidacy that you are aware of?
Not to my knowledge. I’ve sent my own personal assistant there to go scout around and check and confirm what exactly is required of me. He’ll report back to me.
I’m not a stranger to the AU system, having worked as High Representative for Infrastructure Development in Africa. I know the strengths and weaknesses of the organisation.
I know that it is punching below its weight and yet it’s an instrument of great potential to facilitate transformation of the continent of Africa.
Africa as a continent is also punching below its capacity. It is the most endowed continent on earth in terms of resources. It is the cradle of humankind, first human beings to walk on two feet.
Africans were the first people to invent iron making, the first iron tools were made in Africa. It is the cradle of civilisation. The paradox is that the most endowed continent is also the poorest today.
We know the historical circumstances and can lament the past of slave trade, colonialism and neo-colonialism, but other continents also went through their problems, so there is no reason why Africa should continue lagging behind. We need to change direction and mobilise the human and natural resources that we have in abundance.
Intra-Africa trade is key through, but there are several impediments to realisation of that potential. A major one is lack of infrastructure.
As High Representative for Infrastructure I came across blueprints for Inter-African highways, Trans-Africa railway networks, fibre-optic connectivity across the continent, open skies and development of waterways, our lakes and rivers. We have untapped potential in green energy, hydro, geothermal, wind and, solar.
Then there is value addition for the raw materials that we have like copper, bauxite. We are exporting all our strategic minerals like coltan, lithium, but we can do value addition. The potential can only be realised if Africa is working together.
Some of us are looking north, others east, others south others west, but none of us looking inward. Solution to Africa’s problems will come from Africa, not Europe, Asia or the Americas. We have the brain drain of African intellectuals and researchers working in Europe, USA and China because conditions back home are not attractive.
We need to reverse the flight of manpower. Africans are dying in the Sahara Desert and drowning in the Mediterranean Sea while fleeing for greener pastures in Europe. We need to stem this exodus of Africans going into modern-day slavery. We need to stop exporting labour instead of creating jobs at home.
