Nairobi, Kenya – President William Ruto has announced that Raila Odinga’s secretariat for his African Union (AU) bid will be led by Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei and Raila’s brother-in-law, former Kenyan ambassador to the US, Elkanah Odembo.This high-powered team is tasked with developing a winning strategy to help Raila Odinga succeed the current AU Chairperson, Chadian Moussa Faki, whose term is set to end soon.
The secretariat’s immediate challenge is to secure the necessary support from AU member states to ensure Raila’s victory in the upcoming election.
For Raila to be elected as AU Chairperson, he must secure at least two-thirds of the votes from AU members. This requires the support of 34 countries in the first round of voting, which is conducted through a secret ballot.
Currently, Raila enjoys the backing of 19 countries, leaving him in need of support from an additional 15 countries to clinch the victory.The elections are scheduled to take place in February 2025, giving the secretariat less than six months to gather the required support.
As the race heats up, the focus will be on Raila’s diplomatic engagements and the strategies employed by his secretariat to secure the crucial votes.
This development is seen as a significant move in Kenya’s foreign policy, with President Ruto’s administration throwing its full weight behind Raila’s bid for the continental leadership position. The coming months will be critical in determining whether Raila can muster the necessary support to emerge as the next AU Chairperson.
