President William Ruto launched an intense campaign for Kenya’s candidate for the African Union Commission chairperson post, Raila Odinga.
It is said that he has been marketing Raila Odinga for the post. Ruto met with six presidents in one day as he toured China to attend the China-Africa summit in Beijing.
On Wednesday, Ruto met with African leaders in a bid to drum up support for Raila’s candidature. The critical meetings were brokered by Kenya’s top diplomats.
Raila Odinga joined Ruto in selling his candidature before the heads of state attending the summit. The delegation was accompanied by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.
These meetings are critical in Kenya’s strategy to rally support for Raila ahead of the February 2025 election. Raila’s presence on the tour underscores Kenya’s seriousness with his candidature.
Among those he met were Rwanda President Paul Kagame and Umaro Sissoco of Guinea-Bissau, who had been represented at Raila’s unveiling in Nairobi by his Foreign Affairs Minister James Kabarebe. “Rwanda is a strong ally and strategic partner,” said Ruto on X, citing the long ties between Kenya and Rwanda.
Ruto talked of strengthening the Kenya-Rwanda relationship and Raila’s AUC candidature.
Other African presidents he met were Asimi Goita of Mali, Faure Essozimna of Togo, Mahamat Idriss of Chad and Zambia’s Hakainde Hichilema. Hichilema is also the chair of COMESA.
The Kenyan diplomatic push for Raila’s bid is ceaseless, with Ruto himself leading the delegation.
The delegation expects to round up more endorsements from African leaders over the summit. The China-Africa summit will continue until Friday with more meetings expected.
This five-month effort and intense campaigning is the Kenyan strategic momentum in gaining people’s support for Raila. And all their efforts’ result will hold the key to this year’s elections.
