STATE IN RACE AGAINST TIME TO OFFICIALLY NOMINATE RAILA ODINGA FOR AUC POST
The Kenyan government finds itself in a sprint against the clock as it strives to officially nominate former Prime Minister Raila Odinga for the chairmanship of the African Union Commission (AUC). Despite missing its initial deadline to submit the country’s candidature by June 30, the government is now mobilizing to keep Odinga’s campaign on track.
On Monday, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei chaired the first technical committee, bringing together representatives from both the government and Odinga’s team. The committee reviewed progress made toward submitting the formal application, launching the candidature, and conducting outreach programs. Sing’oei emphasized the government’s unwavering support for Odinga’s bid.
Odinga’s camp has assembled a strategy team comprising key figures:
- Elkanah Odembo: Kenya’s former ambassador to the United States.
- Mahboub Maalim: Former executive secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).
- Ambassador Anthony Okara
- Prof Makau Mutua
- Caroline Karugu: Nyeri’s former deputy governor.
However, reliable sources indicate that meeting the June deadline was not feasible due to a lack of consensus on what to submit. The African Union Commission has set strict conditions for candidates vying for the chairperson position. Each candidate must provide a curriculum vitae (CV) in the approved AU format, along with a vision statement for the role. The statement should address critical AU and continental issues in at least two of the Union’s working languages.
Odinga, along with other candidates from eastern Africa, including Djibouti’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mahmoud Youssouf, Seychelles’ former Vice President Vincent Meriton, and Somalia’s former Foreign Minister Fawzia Yusuf, will submit their CVs and vision statements in English, Arabic, French, Portuguese, Spanish, and Kiswahili. The Commission encourages member states from the eastern region to submit candidates’ information in all six languages.
As the clock ticks, Kenya remains committed to ensuring that Raila Odinga’s bid for the AUC chairmanship remains competitive. The presidency, Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, and Odinga himself are yet to harmonize the application before its submission.
