- Bolstered by the help of President William Ruto, Odinga outlines his imaginative and prescient for Africa—a continent united, resilient, and thriving.
- Kenya has established a secretariat to facilitate Odinga’s AU Fee Chairmanship marketing campaign.
- Odinga’s bid launch attracted presidents Yoweri Museveni, Salva Kiir, Samia Suluhu, and former presidents Jakaya Kikwete and Olusegun Obasanjo.
In a discussion board graced by Heads of States and senior Authorities officers from throughout Africa, Kenya’s Raila Amolo Odinga has formally launched his bid for the Chairperson of the African Union Fee (AUC).
Bolstered by the help of Kenyan President William Ruto, Odinga outlined his imaginative and prescient for Africa—a continent united, resilient, and thriving.
Within the present contest, the position of the AUC Chairmanship is reserved for a candidate from the East African area to switch Moussa Faki, a profession politician from Chad who has served since 2017. Lately, the African Union issued an announcement itemizing the 4 competing candidates as Mahamoud Ali Youssouf of Djibouti, Raila Odinga of Kenya, Richard Randriamandrato of Madagascar, and Anil Gayan of Mauritius.
Raila Odinga carves picture of a visionary Pan-African chief
Odinga famous that his bid for the AUC Chairmanship to switch Chadian Moussa Faki isn’t just a private ambition however a mirrored image of his deep-rooted dedication to the African continent. Having performed a number of roles in Kenya’s political scene and throughout Africa, Odinga mentioned he brings a wealth of expertise and a profound understanding of the inherent challenges and alternatives hundreds of thousands throughout the continent.
In his speech, he highlighted the significance of shifting past mere slogans reminiscent of “African Renaissance” and “Africa Rising” to implementing strategic actions that can actually remodel Africa. He argued that his candidacy represents a name for a extra people-centered AU, one which strives to immediately affect the lives of strange Africans.
The help of Kenya and Jap Africa
Kenya’s President William Ruto performed a vital position in endorsing Odinga’s candidacy, underscoring the importance of regional solidarity on this bid. Ruto’s speech highlighted the collective willpower of Jap Africa to supply management that addresses the advanced challenges dealing with the continent, reminiscent of political instability, local weather change, and governance points.
By nominating Odinga, Ruto famous that Kenya is just not solely advocating for a pacesetter with a confirmed observe document of transformative management but in addition for a visionary who understands the intricacies of each nationwide and continental governance.
To buttress Odinga’s candidacy within the months forward, Ruto introduced the institution of a secretariat to facilitate Odinga’s marketing campaign, led by Kenya’s International Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei and Ambassador Elkana Odembo.
This transfer displays Kenya’s dedication to rallying help throughout the African Union’s various areas, making certain that Odinga’s bid is grounded in a broad-based continental coalition.
Odinga defined that his imaginative and prescient for Africa is certainly one of unity—an Africa the place borders and colonial legacies now not divide its individuals. He envisions a continent the place the AU isn’t just a distant establishment however a physique that the African individuals really feel of their day by day lives.
“We’re one individuals who sadly try too exhausting to separate from one another,” Odinga remarked, highlighting the factitious divisions which have lengthy hindered African unity.
His expertise touring throughout Africa has proven him the potential that lies throughout the continent’s youth—a technology unburdened by the divisions of the previous and wanting to embrace a way forward for collective development. Odinga’s bid for the AU chairmanship, he added, seeks to create a future the place Africans are united not simply by geography however by a shared future.
Odinga’s launch at State Home Nairobi noticed the backing of Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni, South Sudan’s Salva Kiir, Tanzania’s Samia Suluhu, and former presidents Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania, Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria in addition to prime ministers and different delegates from the continent.
“Raila Odinga is a statesman and we have now full confidence in him to steer the continent,” Museveni mentioned. Tanzania’s Suluhu added that Raila’s observe document is unmatched and that’s the reason Tanzania endorsed him, stating, “Baba anatosha achaguliwe (Raila is succesful let him be elected,” she mentioned.
Obasanjo, described Odinga as one of the best candidate for the AUC chairmanship. “Raila makes Africa proud, peaceable, and affluent. He’s one of the best the African Union Fee can have.”
Addressing Africa’s challenges
Odinga’s speech didn’t shrink back from the quite a few challenges dealing with Africa in the present day. From identification conflicts and wars to poverty, starvation, and the impacts of local weather change, the continent’s vulnerabilities are manifold.
Nevertheless, Odinga sees these challenges not as insurmountable obstacles however as alternatives for strategic management and collective motion. He famous that there’s pressing want for the AU to be extra people-centered, specializing in the wants of the “huge unvoiced majority” of Africans.
Certainly one of his key proposals is to critically analyze and implement current reform proposals throughout the AU Fee. This method, he argued, displays his pragmatic understanding that whereas Africa’s story is just not certainly one of “gloom and doom,” there may be nonetheless a lot work to be carried out to make sure that the continent’s upward trajectory continues.
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A transformative agenda for the AU
Consistent with President Ruto’s remarks, Odinga mentioned that his candidacy is anchored within the want for a transformative agenda for the AU. The African Union should evolve to successfully coordinate and drive continental agendas, notably in gentle of the formidable objectives set forth in Agenda 2063, the previous Prime Minister [2008-2013] below the late President Kibaki mentioned.
He famous that his imaginative and prescient aligns with the necessity to recalibrate Africa’s establishments to completely harness the continent’s potential, notably within the areas of sustainable improvement, peace and safety, and financial development.
On reforms, he famous that he’s not simply in search of restructuring of the AU however about making it extra aware of the wants of the African individuals. He championed for a “Cupboard of the Chairperson” with a continental outlook to underscore his intention to steer the AU with a give attention to inclusivity and broad-based illustration.
Rallying help throughout Africa
Already, Odinga’s bid for the AU chairmanship has acquired the backing of leaders from numerous areas throughout the continent. His speech highlighted the involvement of “mates and eminent individuals” from West, North, South, Central, and Jap Africa in his marketing campaign, creating an image of widespread attraction of his candidacy. To safe the publish, such broad-based help might be essential.
Additional, Odinga known as for East Africans to “stroll this journey collectively” and head to Addis Ababa as a united workforce in February 2025. His candidacy, he mentioned, isn’t just about one man in search of workplace; however about rallying the continent behind a shared imaginative and prescient of unity, progress, and transformation.
With the backing of Kenya and a broad coalition of supporters throughout Africa, Odinga stands an opportunity to serve the African individuals, bringing with him a wealth of expertise, a dedication to the continent, and a imaginative and prescient for a brighter future. As he so aptly put it, “I’m able to serve; my coronary heart is prepared, my fingers are regular.”
