When Ruto Will Formally Launch Raila's Bid For AUC Chairperson

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has confirmed that President William Ruto will formally launch Raila Odinga's candidacy for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson on Tuesday, August 27, 2024.

Mudavadi was speaking on Wednesday, August 21 alongside Odinga in a joint press briefing outside the Prime Cabinet Secretary's offices in Nairobi.

"It is also programmed that next week, on the 27th of August 2024, His Excellency President Ruto will be formally launching the candidacy of the Kenyan candidate in the name of Raila Odinga," he announced.

The Prime Cabinet Secretary noted that it is important for the Head of State to formally communicate to the world that Kenya is rallying behind Raila.

President William Ruto and Opposition leader Raila Odinga shook hands and shared a podium at the funeral of Mukami, the widow of Mau Mau freedom fighter Dedan Kimathi, for the first time since the August 2022 elections. /CAPITAL GROUP

"Just as we cheered our Kenyan athletes in the recent Olympics, let us lend our full support to Raila Odinga as he carries the Kenyan flag high in the race for the chairmanship of the African Union Commission. This is more than a candidacy, it is a national mission," he said.

He also assured that the Kenyan government will play its part in helping the former Prime Minister in his campaigns.

According to Mudavadi, Raila would have to crisscross through the entire continent and need substantial resources to aid the campaigns.

“The government will play its part because this is a Kenyan nominee... To be a candidate apart from you fitting the bill in terms of competence it will also require substantial resources because you are traversing a continent of 55 countries and a population of 1.4 billion people so definitely it is not a walk in the park and Kenya is ready to walk this journey.

Raila on his part thanked the Kenyan government for supporting his AUC candidature. Terming all systems go, he urged Kenyans to support him in his bid to become the next AUC chairperson.

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader will be going against Djibouti’s Foreign Minister, Mahmoud Youssouf, as Anil Kumarsingh Gayan from Mauritius and Richard Randriamandrato from Madagascar in the AUC chairperson election which will be held in February 2025 during the African Union Summit.

On July 29, Kenya formally submitted the requisite documentation of Odinga who is aiming to replace outgoing AUC chairperson Moussa Faki.

Odinga's candidacy has so far been endorsed by over eight heads of state, including Kenya's William Ruto, Uganda's Yoweri Museveni, and Paul Kagame of Rwanda.

On April 26, Raila revealed his manifesto declaring what he intends to fulfil in the event he is elected African Union (AU) Commission chairperson, including reducing the burden Africans have in terms of travel between the 54 countries in the continent.