Government forms secretariat to help Raila’s campaign for AUC

By Catherine Muema Last updated Jun 6, 2024

By Antynet Ford

The government of Kenya has announced the formation of a campaign secretariat that will work with former prime minister Raila Odinga in cementing his bid for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson.

This was announced today by the ministry of Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi after holding a consultative meeting with Odinga and his team.

The foreign affairs CS said the Secretariat formed will work closely with Odinga’s consultation team.

He added that the Secretariat will be in charge of digital presence and preparation of live broadcast for the public debate.

Mudavadi said the Secretariat preparations include requisite translation into six languages majorly spoken across the continent.

“It will prepare all the briefs for use by the candidate, develop campaign materials including digital presence, and prepare for the public debate to be broadcast live for African citizens.” Mudavadi said.

“The team is firming up preparatory and application documents together with requisite translations of the resume into 6 languages; Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, French, English, and Kiswahili.” He added.

Mudavadi added that the submission preparations will be made by the end of this month ahead of the deadline for regional submissions set for August 6, 20204.

The public debates are expected to be held six months before the election date.

Mudavadi expressed confidence in the opposition leader’s potential to clinch the seat asserting that the government is fully in support of him as it’s candidate promising to offer any support required.

“We have no doubt that the candidate will pursue excellence in line with the continent’s collective aspirations of the Africa we want in 2063 as framed in the AUC development framework.” The CS said.

Raila has since welcomed the government’s offer noting that he is willing to work closely with the respective teams to help him achieve his monumental quest.

“With committed and proper coordination between my team and the government, we should be able to clinch the seat. We agreed that synergy is going to be critical as we embark on the next steps that include the submission of my application.” He said.

“On my own, I am making all efforts to tap into my experience, relationships and understanding of the continent to win the support of as many nations as I can.” Raila added.

The opposition leader said he revealed to have received heartwarming affirmations from “senior government officials” willing to join his journey to the AUC chairperson seat.

CS Mudavadi added that deliberate efforts by President William Ruto to lobby for support from other African states have borne fruit and “so far our candidature has been positively received”.

As of this month, Raila has secured endorsements from 9 heads of state among them Kenya’s William Ruto, Paul Kagame (Rwanda) and Yoweri Museveni (Uganda).

Raila revealed today that he has also received endorsement from

Tanzanian president Suluhu Samia who promised to support him, South Sudan’s Salva Kiir, South Africa president elect Cyril Ramaphosa, and DRC’s Felix Tshisekedi.

Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his Zimabwe counterpart Emmerson Mnangagwa have also endorsed the Kenyan firebrand.

A unanimous decision by the African Union Executive Council, on March 15, 2024, deliberated that the Eastern Africa region submit candidates for the position.

Raila will be competing against Djibouti’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mahmoud Youssouf and Somalia’s former deputy prime minister and current member of the Federal Parliament Fawzia Yusuf.

If Raila clinches the seat, he is expected to serve from 2025 to 2028.

The seat is set to fall vacant next year as its current occupant, Chad’s Moussa Faki finishes his second term.

Faki first served from 2017 and he won a second term in 2021.