President William Ruto will next week officially launch Opposition chief Raila Odinga’s candidature for the Africa Union Commission chairmanship.
The launch scheduled for Tuesday—the Star has established—will also see the unveiling of the joint campaign secretariat, that will drive the AU campaigns.
The government formed a joint campaign secretariat consisting of Raila's team and government bureaucrats to strategise and spearhead the campaign.
The secretariat is domiciled at the Railways Building which houses the office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary and CS for Foreign Affairs Musalia Mudavadi.
Mudavadi while calling on Kenyans to rally behind Raila, described next week's launch as critical in the campaign of the ODM boss.
"It is also programmed that next week, August 27, President William Ruto will be formally launching the candidacy of the Kenyan candidate in the name of Raila Odinga," Mudavadi said.
"Raila represents Kenya's voice, values and aspirations on the continent. As he steps forward, let us stand with him, not just as a government, but as a united people."
Mudavadi spoke during a joint briefing with Raila at his Railways offices.
He described the ODM boss a statesman, reiterating the government is fully behind his bid.
"To fellow Kenyans, as a nation, we have always come together to stand with our own whether on the tracks, field or the global stage,” Mudavadi said.
“Just as we cheered our athletes in the Olympics, let us lend our full support to Raila as he carries the Kenyan flag high in the race for the chairmanship of the African Union Commission. This is more than a candidacy, it is a national mission."
Raila lauded Ruto and his administration for supporting his candidature expressing confidence of clinching the seat.
“I am happy that the Kenyan government has come forward and makes me a formal candidate. We have already submitted our applications as required by the AU secretariat, going forward it is all systems go,” Raila said.
“I want to thank the leadership of continent for the support.”
In July, Kenya formally submitted the ODM leader's bid for the African Union chairmanship.
Present during the submission were Raila's close ally Makau Mutua and Kenya's ambassador to Addis Ababa George Orina, among other officials.
The former Prime Minister is facing off with Djibouti’s Mohamoud Youssouf, Anil Gayan (Mauritius) and Richard Randriamandrato (Madagascar) for the African Union Commission chairmanship.
Raila has crafted a detailed cross-Africa campaign that saw him visit Brazzaville in Congo last week to seek the support of Sasso Nguesso.
Apart from wielding outsize influence in French speaking West and Central Africa, Nguesso, is also regarded as the ‘dean’ of the Francophones.
Raila also met Felix Tshisekedi of DR Congo who endorsed his candidature and committed to campaign for him.
From Congo, Raila will head to Dakar in Senegal, to galvanise the support of the giant Economic Community of West African States block.
Ecowas has 15 member countries.
“Raila will also attend a Comesa summit in Bujumbura and in September we plan to get him to the UNGA, the largest annual gathering of global leaders in NYC,” former Kenyan ambassador to UD Elkanah Odemba told the Star in a recent interview.
The 79th UN General Assembly will be held in New York from September 10 to 24 this year.
In November, the opposition chief will be among participants of the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP20) in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Odembo said the opposition boss will also hold roundtable meetings with major continental corporate to discuss among other things, the opportunities in Africa.
“Before the end of the year, he must visit each of the regional economic communities. During those visits, he will also have business roundtables with corporate leaders, to hear from them the challenges and opportunities for Africa's economic growth, trade and regional integration,” Odemba said.
Africa head of states will in February vote for eight positions including chairperson, deputy chairperson and six commission slots.