Azimio Party Leader Raila Odinga has officially unveiled his campaign team for the upcoming African Union Commission (AUC) Chairmanship race, as the February 2025 election draws near.
The team is spearheaded by former Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Executive Secretary Mahboub Maalim and Kenya’s former ambassador to the US Elkanah Odembo. Other notable members include former Nyeri County Deputy Governor Carolyne Karugu, prominent blogger and digital strategist Pauline Njoroge, Professor Makau Mutua, and seasoned lawyer Anthony Okara.
Raila emphasized that the composition of his campaign team will be dynamic, with different faces joining and exiting as the campaign progresses.
“It is a process, not instant coffee. You will see different faces around me as things move on. More people will join, others will exit, and that is normal. There is no problem with that at all,” Raila remarked.
In support of Raila’s candidacy, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi announced in June 2024 that the government had established a secretariat made up of government bureaucrats and strategists to back Raila’s bid. This secretariat includes officials from both the government and Raila’s team, working together to facilitate his campaign.
During a press briefing on Wednesday, August 21, Mudavadi confirmed that the Kenyan government had formally submitted the necessary documents to support Raila Odinga’s bid for the AUC chairmanship. The documentation was handed over by a Kenyan delegation, led by Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei, to the Office of the Legal Counsel of the African Union in Addis Ababa through the Dean of the Eastern Region, Dharmraj Busgeeth.
Raila’s campaign will focus on several key priorities, including African Integration and Infrastructure Development, Economic Transformation of the Continent, Enhancing Intra-African Trade, Financial Independence, Gender Equity and Equality, Agricultural Transformation, Climate Action, Peace and Security, and Youth Empowerment.
As the election approaches, candidates for the AUC Chairperson position will participate in a televised debate known as the Africa Leadership Debate, or MjadalaAfrika. This platform allows candidates to outline their vision for leading the transformation of Africa and implementing the AU Mandate and Africa’s Agenda 2063. The debate provides an opportunity for African citizens and other stakeholders to pose questions to the candidates on how they plan to propel the continent’s growth and ensure sustainable development.
Raila Odinga will face competition from Seychelles’ former Vice President Vincent Meriton and Djibouti’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Mahmoud Youssouf. Former Somalia Foreign Affairs Minister Fawzia Yusuf Adam, who was also a contender, has since withdrawn from the race and declared her support for Raila.