Kenya’s seasoned political leader, Raila Odinga, has declared his commitment to transforming the African continent if elected as the next Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC). Odinga, who is known for his fiery political rhetoric and long-standing influence in Kenya, made the declaration during the launch of Kenya’s bid for the AUC seat at State House on Tuesday.
“My selection to be Kenya’s candidate is not a one man’s ambition but an African’s journey to serve the motherland,” Odinga proclaimed. “I am ready to serve. My heart is ready and my hands are steady, and with your support, I shall get the opportunity to serve Africa.”
Odinga emphasized the importance of creating a borderless Africa, where the movement of people is unrestricted and the continent can thrive as a unified entity. “I dream of an Africa where those borders and colonial languages no longer divide us. From the hills of Kenya to the deserts of the Sahara and Kalahari, from the lakes of the Great Rift to the rainforests of Central Africa, Africans have to be one,” he stated.
The former Kenyan Prime Minister also vowed to address climate change, highlighting the disproportionate impact it has on Africa despite the continent being one of the least contributors to global carbon emissions. “Africa is a victim of climate change. We suffer from droughts and floods, yet we have emitted very little of the carbon gases that pollute the world. Africa needs to be compensated, and this cannot happen if we negotiate as individual countries,” he argued.
Odinga further stressed the need for Africa to harness its vast resources effectively and curb exploitation by external forces. “We need to make sure that Africa uses the resources that it has effectively. We need to also ensure that Africa trades with this wealth,” he said.
Odinga’s bid for the AUC chairpersonship is bolstered by the support of several African Heads of State, including Presidents Samia Suluhu of Tanzania, Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Salva Kiir of South Sudan, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, and Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Additionally, prominent African figures like former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo and Tanzania’s ex-President Jakaya Kikwete have pledged their unwavering support.
The race for the AUC chairperson seat will see Odinga contest against Djibouti’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Mahmoud Youssouf, a candidate from Mauritius, and another from Madagascar. Somalia’s former Deputy Prime Minister Fawzia Yusuf, who had initially declared her candidacy, withdrew from the race earlier this month and endorsed Odinga.
The African Union Executive Council ratified in May 2024 that Eastern Africa would produce the next AUC chairperson, with the Deputy Chairperson expected to be elected from Northern Africa. The election is scheduled to take place in 2025, marking the end of the two-term tenure of the current Chairperson, Moussa Faki of Chad.
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