Today, many different leaders, led by President William Ruto, drawn from the East Africa Community (EAC), gathered at State House, to unveil the candidature of Raila Odinga as the chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC). The leaders drawn from different calibers, came out to show a solid regional backing, for their fellow East African son. It was a good show that presented a united front for the region, to back Mr Odinga’s bid.
Today’s launch marks the official start of Odinga’s campaign in the upcoming February 2025 elections. The current chair, Mr Moussa Faki Mahamat, hails from Djibouti.
Leaders Present
The heads of state present included: South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit (EAC chairman), Tanzanian’s Samia Suluhu Hassan, and Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni. Former Presidents Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania and Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria were also in attendance.
Rwanda was represented by State Minister for Foreign Affairs James Kabarebe while Burundi was represented by Prime Minister Gervais Ndirakobuca.
Ready to Serve
“I am ready to serve, my heart is ready, my hands are steady and with your support, I shall get the opportunity to be of service to Africa, the cradle of mankind. I am made in Eastern Africa for Africa.“- Raila Odinga
“If elected chairman, I propose to utilize the transition period to critically analyze the existing proposals for reforms and building capacity of the AU Commission.
The ultimate aim is to follow up on the implementation of the reports so far formulated.
Certainly, the story of Africa is not all gloom and doom.”
“Thanks to the work African Heads of State are doing, Africa has been on an upward and positive trajectory in recent years.
Thanks to the work African Heads of State are doing, Africa has been on an upward and positive trajectory in recent years.
In February, the African Development Bank reported that Africa will account for eleven of the world’s 20 fastest-growing economies this year.”
From the hills of Kenya to the deserts of the Sahara and Kalahari, from the lakes of the Great Rift to the rainforests of Central Africa, Africans have to be one, their resilience and hope for a bright future transmitted to our young people.
My selection to be Kenya’s candidate is not about one man’s ambition, but an African’s journey to serve the motherland.
Indeed, I plan to constitute my “Cabinet of the Chairperson” with a continental outlook.”
Other Leaders Quotes
“We are here to unveil Kenya’s finest to go and lead the continent. I want to tell leaders here from Africa and representatives, we present Raila because our motherland deserves the best,” Gachagua said.
“Raila embodies the ideals of a people-centered visionary leadership that AUC needs. He is a leader who has tirelessly championed the cause of African unity and progress and unwavering espousing the principle of thinking Africa above all,” Mudavadi stated.
“We’ve never had an occasion like this, where we have a candidate and the candidate is given so much support at home like we have given Raila. Not just making him a candidate for Kenya, but a candidate of the East African Community,” Obasanjo stated.
“It is on this note that the United Republic of Tanzania assures the Republic of Kenya of its full support of the candidature of Raila Odinga for the position of AUC Chairperson,” President Samia Suluhu.
“We believe that offering a highly qualified, experienced, and competent candidate to lead the AU Commission is perfectly consistent with our commitment to the transformation of our continent through our institutions of Pan-African Unity,” the Head of State said.
Countries Supporting Raila’s AU Bid
- Tanzania
- Uganda
- South Sudan
- Burundi
- Rwanda
- Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
- South Africa
- Nigeria
- Somalia
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
- Malawi
- Seychelles
- Ghana
- Guinea-Bissau
- Algeria
- Angola
- Kenya
- Congo
Mr. Odinga is up against Djibouti’s Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssou, former Mauritius Foreign Minister Anil Kumarsingh Gayan, and former Madagascar Foreign Minister. Richard James Randriamandrato.
