Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei has unveiled the campaign strategy of Kenya’s former Prime Minister Raila Odinga in his bid for the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairman.
Speaking to the media, Dr. Sing’oei stated that the Forum on China-Africa presents Raila with an opportunity to address the critical issues that connect the two continents.
“These forums also afford the Azimio leader an opportunity to interact with heads of States who are the voters during the session that will undertake the elections in February of next year,” Sing’oei said.
The PS asserted that the Anglophone-Francophone divide, described as a geopolitical fault line, is insignificant to them in the upcoming election.
Campaign Strategy
According to experts, such a divide may characterize the electoral landscape; however, the government is banking on Raila Odinga‘s political credentials to outweigh those of other candidates.
“As a matter of fact, Raila Odinga bid is receiving enormous support from quite a number of so-called Francophone speaking countries because at the end of the day today what is controlling in candidate and what he’s controlling in elections just like in National politics is interest,” he said.
Also Read: Govt Explains Why Raila Flew to China with Ruto After Uproar
The government has also stated that it has mapped out the continent, dividing it into regional blocks to secure a handful of votes in a diplomatic mission aimed at projecting Odinga in his bid
“Towards the end of next week, I will be convening the committee of candidature that brings together Principal Secretaries from the East African region to make a decision and to endorse the candidature of Odinga as East Africa Community in its entirety,” added Sing’oei.
“We will then roll out this campaign across the countries. The first layer of it obviously is that we will reach out to critical countries that we have already mapped out including the Southern Africa Development Corporation (SADC) as well as Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Beijing China offered President William Ruto with an opportunity to bolster Odinga’s campaigns doubling his diplomatic efforts.
Ruto Intensifies Campaign for Raila
President Ruto and the former prime minister on Wednesday September 4 met several heads of state including President Umaro Sissoco (Guinea Bissau), Faure Essozimna (Togo), Mahamat Idriss (Chad), and Rwanda (Paul Kagame).
Others include Zambia President Hakainde Hichilema who is also the chair of COMESA, Denis Sassou Nguesso (Congo Brazzaville) and Asimi Goita (Mali).
Also Read: Unpacking Ruto – Raila Alliance and What it Means for 2027 General Elections
On August 26, President Ruto hosted East African Community heads of state and other top officials in Nairobi to launch Raila Odinga’s bid.
The event was attended by Presidents Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Samia Suluhu of Tanzania, and Silva Kiir of South Sudan.
Burundi Prime Minister Gervais Ndirakobuca represented President Évariste Ndayishimiye.
Former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria and Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania were also present. Although Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was scheduled to attend, he sent last-minute apologies.
In the February 2025 poll, Raila Odinga will face Djibouti Foreign Affairs Minister Mahmoud Youssouf, who is regarded as his main opponent.
Anil Gayan from Mauritius and Richard Randriamandrato from Madagascar are also vying for the seat.
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