State sets Raila campaign secretariat for AUC bid

The government has set up an elaborate secretariat as it goes flat out to support Azimio leader Raila Odinga’s bid for the African Union Commission chair.

The Secretariat will be charged with the day-to-day coordination of all Raila’s campaign activities.

Speaking during a joint briefing with Raila on Wednesday, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi announced the secretariat will be made up of top government bureaucrats as well as Raila’s men.

"Today I want to update the nation on Kenyan candidacy for the AUC, let me thank Raila for the fruitful meeting and discussions we have had this morning," he said.

“It (the secretariat) will prepare all the briefs for use by the candidate, develop campaign materials including digital presence, and prepare for the public debate to be broadcast live for African citizens," Mudavadi said.

The team—whose face is yet to be made public—first assignment will be to prepare the application documents to beat the August 6 deadline for submissions of applications.

"The team is firming up preparatory and application documents together with requisite translations of the resume into six languages; Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, French, English and Kiswahili."

A source at the PCS office who was part of the morning meeting intimated to the Star that the secretariat will be unveiled soon once each side front its members to the team.

Our source further noted that both President William Ruto and Raila will grace the unveiling of the secretariat.

The source did not however give the date.

“It was the first time the team from Raila’s side and the government met and agreed on the roadmap. The two teams were instructed to work as one before the secretariat is unveiled,” the source told the Star.

Mudavadi termed Raila a visionary leader who has the chance of winning the seat and taking the African Union to the next level.

"We have a visionary leader to fire up the African Union to greater levels," Mudavadi said.

He said Raila espouses the principles which the continent pursues in high regard including the spirit of Panafricanism.

"We have no doubt that the candidate will pursue the vision," Mudavadi said.

Speaking during the joint briefing at Mudavadi’s office, Raila lauded the government support for his candidature.

The ODM boss said he has been encouraged by the number of senior government officials offering to be part of the journey.

“This is out of an understanding that we are in this as Kenya and not partisan political parties. I appreciate the offer of support,” he said.

“I wish to reiterate the obvious, that I am vying for a position in Africa not in the government of the Republic of Kenya.”

He noted that during the meeting with Mudavadi, they exchanged notes on the status of the bid so far.

“We exchanged notes on preparations from my side and the government side and the next steps and the steps required to be taken,” he said.

He said Mudavadi shared with him the situation as it is and the levels of preparations and commitment in government.

“I assured the team that on my own, I am making every effort to tap into my experience and relationships,” he said.

Mudavadi said Raila has the relevant and requisite credentials to lead the AU saying it is not about local politics.

"We said yes because Raila is qualified and a Kenyan. This is not about local politics, it is about national interests," he said.

Raila is in a race with two other candidates from the Eastern block.

The two are Djibouti’s Foreign Affairs minister Mahmoud Youssouf and Somalia’s former deputy prime minister and current member of the Federal Parliament Fawzia Yusuf.

The elections to find the next occupant at the AU top job will take place in February 2025, when Chad's Moussa Faki, the current chairperson, exits after his two-term tenure.

In the polls, chairmanship is ringfenced for the Eastern Africa region, while Northern Africa will front the vice chairperson.