Today marks a significant juncture for African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson contender Raila Odinga as President William Ruto formally unveils his candidature.
Presidents from the East Africa region are expected to attend the launch at State House Nairobi this morning.
They include Yoweri Museveni (Uganda), Samia Suluhu (Tanzania), Salva Kiir (South Sudan) and Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia.
Burundi Prime Minister Gervais Ndirakobuca and Rwanda Foreign Affairs Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe are also expected to attend.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has been campaigning for Raila, the latest being rallying Foreign Affairs Ministers from African Union member States to support Kenya’s bid.
Mudavadi presented Raila’s bid on the sidelines of the Tokyo International Conference on Africa Development (TICAD-9) ministerial meeting in Japan last week.
“There are over 25 Ministers for Foreign Affairs representing their countries in this conference and we have spent a lot of time talking and persuading them as we target to harness more support and lobby aggressively for the Kenyan candidate,” he said.
Among the Foreign Ministers that Mudavadi met include Senegal’s, Liberia’s, Mauritania’s and Egypt’s.
The Prime Cabinet Secretary said Raila’s campaign is on course and after the launch, nothing will be left to chance to ensure Kenya clinches the seat.
“The President will not only be announcing to Kenyans but also to the continent and the international community that the official candidate for Kenya in the AUC race is none other than Raila Odinga,” said Mudavadi.
Mudavadi, who is also the Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, said the campaigns will be led by highly experienced and knowledgeable people to ensure a well-coordinated, targeted and result oriented output.
Since Kenya handed in Raila’s credentials earlier in this month, Mudavadi said structured planning has been on going ahead of the official launch.
Raila has said he envisions a united Africa characterized by peace, prosperity, and sustainable progress for all.
“We must harness our vast human and natural resources, and integrate the energy of our youth with the vision and wisdom of our leaders. As a lifelong Pan-Africanist, I will offer participatory leadership to ensure delivery on the priorities of the African peoples as envisioned in the African Union Agenda 2063,” an AUC brochure that highlights his vision and achievements, states.
Some of the priorities and strategies that Raila has committed to include economic transformation, enhancing intra-African trade, financial independence, gender equity and equality, agricultural transformation, climate action, continental integration as well as peace and security.
