Kenya has formally submitted its nomination of Raila Odinga to contest for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship in elections slated for February 2025.
Kenya settled on the former Prime Minister as its nominee for the race to succeed Moussa Faki who has held the position since March 2017.
Details indicate that Kenya’s Foreign Affiars Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei presented the nomination to the continet’s Eastern Region Dean Dharmraj Busgeeth, Ambassador of Mauritius, accompanied by Odinga’s strategists.
Sing’Oei presented the nomination just two days after confirming conclusion of preparatory processes.
“All-Set-Go,” Sing’Oei said Saturday when he shared a preview of two bundles in conitaing translations of Odinga’s documents.
Kenya had on June 5 said it would submit its bid by June 30, a timeline that has since lapsed.
The deadline for the application for the AUC Chairmanship bid for any interested parties is August 6.
On June 5, Kenya announced the establishment of a campaign secretariat run by the State Department for Foreign Affairs to bolster Odinga’s chances of winning the AUC Chairperson slot.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi indicated that the team, including Odinga’s strategists, will assist the candidate in preparation for the high stakes election.
Mudavadi explained the team will prepare briefs for the candidate, develop campaign materials, and prepare for a televised debate among candidates.
Kenya has since received endorsement from a number of countries including Uganda, Rwanda, Ghana, Zimbabwe and lately Algeria.
The endorsement from Algeria came after President William Ruto held discussions with Algerian President Tebboune Amadjid during the G7 meeting in Apulia, Italy.
“I have held a discussion with President Tebboune Amadjid, Algeria, on the sidelines of G7 meeting in Apulia, Italy, who has pledged support for Kenya’s Africa Union Commission chairmanship bid,” President Ruto said on June 14.
Odinga is competing against a number of candidates from the Eastern Africa bloc including jibouti’s Foreign Affairs minister Mahmoud Youssouf, Somalia’s former deputy prime minister and current member of the Federal Parliament, Fawzia Yusuf and Seychelles’ former Vice President Vincent Meriton for the continental post.
Tanzania recently emerged as a likely contender to join the race for the AUC seat with former Foreign Minister January Makamba fronted as a likely candidate.
Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhi terminated the appointment of Makamba on July 22 in a mini changes in her cabinet without providing reasosn for his removal.
