Azimio Party Leader Raila Odinga has unveiled his campaign team for his African Union Commission Chairmanship (AUC) position race as the February 2025 election approaches.
Odinga’s campaign team, is led by former Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Executive Secretary Mahboub Maalim and Kenya’s former ambassador to the US Elkanah Odembo.
Others include former Nyeri County, Deputy Governor, Carolyne Karugu, and prominent blogger, digital strategist and social media influencer Pauline Njoroge.
Also in the team is Professor Makau Mutua and Seasonal Lawyer Anthony Okara.
However, Raila explained that the faces supporting his candidacy will keep changing along the way.
“It is a process, and not an instant coffee. So, you will be seeing different faces around me as things move on. More people will join others will exit, that is normal. There is no problem about that at all,” Raila said.
In support of Raila’s candidature, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi in June 2024 CS said that the government had set up an elaborate secretariat made of government bureaucrats and strategists that will spearhead Raila’s bid.
Mudavadi said the secretariat includes officials from the government and Raila’s team that will work around the clock to facilitate the opposition leader’s campaign.
While addressing the press on Wednesday August 21, the Prime CS said the government has formally submitted the requisite documents to support its candidate, Raila Odinga, in his bid to become the AUC chairperson.
Mudavadi said the Kenyan delegation led by Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei, submitted the documentation to the Office of the Legal Counsel of the African Union in Addis Ababa through the Dean of Eastern Region, Dharmraj Busgeeth.
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According to Mudavadi, Raila’s priorities at the helm of AU will include African Integration and Infrastructure Development, Economic Transformation of the Continent, Enhancing Intra-African Trade, and Financial Independence.
Others include Gender Equity and Equality, Agricultural Transformation, Climate Action, Peace and Security and Youth Empowerment Agenda for Africa.
Ahead of the elections conducted in a secret ballot, candidates vying for the position of the Chairperson of the Commission participate in a televised debate broadcasted live to citizens in African nations.
The Africa Leadership Debate dubbed MjadalaAfrika is a platform that provides candidates an opportunity to outline their vision of how they will lead the transformation of Africa through the implementation of the AU Mandate and Africa’s Agenda 2063.
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The debate allows African citizens and other stakeholders to put forward questions to the candidates on issues they want addressed on how to propel the continent’s growth and ensure Africa achieves its goals for integrated and sustainable development and becoming a major player in the Global Arena.
Odinga will face Seychelles’s former Vice President Vincent Meriton, Djibouti’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Mahmoud Youssouf.
Former Somalia Foreign Affairs Minister Fawzia Yusuf Adam who had also been a contender for the seat declared her support for Raila after pulling out of the race.
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