The Mt Kenya Times 
Raila Odinga Africa Union Commission chairman candidate
By: Joseph Mutua Ndonga
Worth Noting:
- Dr Ruto had a few days earlier hosted the outgoing chairperson of Africa Union Commission (AUC) Faki Moussa Mahamat at the same venue
- Sources indicated the duo’s meeting also focussed on upcoming elections of AUC chairman.
- A few days earlier, I had written an opinion article in this column explaining that Odinga was poised to win this election.
- First, I had disagreed strongly with the narrative of President William Ruto’s critics that Raila’s collaboration with him was his undoing.
- In making these claims, they wanted the people to believe that President Ruto has lost the support of majority of Africa heads of state.
President William Ruto, who is leading Raila Odinga’s campaign for Africa Union Commission chairmanship, spent the better part of festive season drumming support for his candidature.
The President maintained two days before he hosted the President-elect of Ghana Dramani Mahama and Odinga Raila at his expansive home in Kilogris that Mr Odinga was poised to win this election.
During the meeting with Ghanian leader, he took the opportunity to showcase Raila’s credentials. In his response, Mahama agreed that Raila is the most suitable candidate and pledged to vote for him. He also assured Dr Ruto that he would walk an extra mile and mobilize support from his peers for him.
Notably, President Ruto and Raila had reached out to these heads of state in previous engagements.
AUC elections will be held in February. Raila faces Djibouti and Madagascar candidates in this contest.
Dr Ruto had a few days earlier hosted the outgoing chairperson of Africa Union Commission (AUC) Faki Moussa Mahamat at the same venue
Sources indicated the duo’s meeting also focussed on upcoming elections of AUC chairman.
A few days earlier, I had written an opinion article in this column explaining that Odinga was poised to win this election.
First, I had disagreed strongly with the narrative of President William Ruto’s critics that Raila’s collaboration with him was his undoing.
In making these claims, they wanted the people to believe that President Ruto has lost the support of majority of Africa heads of state.
These claims were false and made in bad faith.
Undoubtedly, President Ruto’s style of leadership was being admired by many leaders in the continent of Africa.
This is because while comparing him with other presidents in Africa he was far much ahead in terms of tackling and resolving myriad of challenges facing his people, the Kenyan population.
Secondly, he had curved a niche of being a true Pan-Africanist.
In AU forums and international stage, he had been demonstrating a high level of boldness, consistency and focus.
This is when articulating the needs and aspirations of the African people and ensuring the resolutions passed were implemented.
A few days earlier, the eight heads of state of East Africa community (EAC) had appointed Dr Ruto as the chairperson of EAC.
This happened at a time when former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Kenya’s candidate for Africa Union (AU) seat, was concluding his door-to-door campaign in West Africa.
Before this campaign tour, Kenyans opposed to his candidature had already come to a conclusion that Raila cannot penetrate this bloc. Reason? Having been colonized by France, these nations had been clustered as Francophone. It means these people were speaking different language to that of Raila.
Noting that Kenya was a colony of Britain, Raila belongs to Anglophone, English speaking nations.
But these language barriers would not stop Raila from breaking the ceiling.
After sharing his vision and agenda for Africa with Presidents of this bloc, he managed to convince majority of them to support his candidature. This left Raila’s opponents with an egg on their face.
Former Prime Minister had earlier made similar forays to some other regions of Africa and received similar backing.
Hon. Raila hails from East Africa, a bloc which is composed of eight countries. Except Somalia, the rest seven member states fully support his candidature.
The EAC heads of state had earlier honored President Ruto’s invitation to attend the official inauguration of Raila as Kenya’s candidate and official launch of his campaign.
During this meeting at State House Nairobi, the President Ruto successfully lobbied each to support Raila’s candidature.
Initially, five countries were eyeing the AU top job. The two candidates fronted by Mauritius and Seychelles respectively have since stepped aside and each and their country’s thrown its full weight behind Raila Odinga.
Raila’s candidature is enjoying the support of many countries in Africa continent because of his credentials. Putting aside his academic qualifications, his grasp of the needs and aspirations of the black African people is immeasurable.
Recently, an opinion poll conducted by AU Think- Tank showed that Raila was ahead of his perceived close rival, Djibouti candidate.
It is worth to recall Raila curved a niche of being a leading light in African when he served as African High Representative for Infrastructure Development.
Apart from initiating mega projects, he espoused the ideals of being a true pan-Africanist. He has since been championing the course of a United State of Africa under the slogan of One Africa One People.
While articulating the virtues of democracy, good governance and development in Africa, Raila has been mincing no word in reiterating that Africa is the richest continent because of its vast resources.
Africa, however, lags behind because of lack of unity.
If I win, I will strive to ensure that Africa speaks in one voice.
The second reason why Raila is poised to win is because President William Ruto is spearheading his campaign.
During the State House meeting, each of EAC head of state agreed to mobilize support for Honorable Raila Odinga from other countries of Africa.
Since then, President Ruto has been seizing every opportunity to drum support for Raila.
He did this during China-Africa summit held in Beijing China and also during a similar gathering of African leaders in Germany and USA.
For President Ruto, the main purpose of these visits has always been to represent and articulate the interests of Kenyan people. He therefore met these leaders on the sidelines of the summits.
The President always returned back with bagful of goodies.
Besides East Africa leaders, Dr Ruto has reached out to other heads of State in Africa and convinced them to vote for Raila during the election slated for February next year.
In his latest trip to Addis Ababa Ethiopia, he managed to persuade and rally more leaders to support Kenyan candidate.
Raila, who accompanied him in this trip, took this opportunity to showcase his credentials.
Joseph Mutua Ndonga Is A Writer And Social Commentator
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