- The persuasion by some commentators that the position has no political value and valour is regrettable.
- We know that the holder becomes a top African diplomat who definitely positions the continent as a potential market for its own goods.
Before Raila Odinga joined the race for the African Union Commission chairperson, the position passed for an ordinary diplomatic opportunity within the Kenyan spheres. In fact, it did not mean so much.
But there is a turnaround in perception of how glorious the position is or should be at least with the coming into the race of the ODM leader, a significant part of Kenya’s political history and a domineering figure in the country’s political space.
A lot of baffling comments against and for Raila have been espoused in the press and much more in the digital space, where the international and local political discourse is weighed and measured.
The conversation has left out a lot of factual prepositions that would have added value to the deliberations, to allow the penetration of the truth in the whole discourse.
You will be forgiven if you were to take it that the greater Kenyan population will be participating in the election of the AUC chairperson, later in February.
It is against this backdrop, that as a commentator in international affairs and a diplomat by training, that I choose to render an opinion on this AUC elections, where Raila is expected to face off with a Djiboutian diplomat and the country’s substantive minister for Foreign Affairs Mohamoud Ali Youssouf.
It is the recent endorsement of Youssouf by countries oscillating under the caucus of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation that threw the biggest spin unto the contest. The raging debate is now between Kenya, an economic power in East Africa and a democratic pillar in the great lake region, and Djibouti, a small nation in the Horn of Africa that is still struggling with authoritarianism and a marginal democratic space.
His alleged endorsement by the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers came after a glamorous diplomatic parade organised by President William Ruto in Nairobi, in the distinguished presence of the heads of states from Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan and top-notch diplomatic delegation from Burundi and Rwanda, among others.
Of the IOC and other Francophone states with interests in the AUC elections later in February, it is expected that Guinea, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso and Gabon currently struggling with internal political strife and now stand suspended from participating in the vote may not add much value to the campaign. But they still declared support for Djibouti anyway.
Though the OIC may have endorsed Youssouf, some of the organisation’s member states including Algeria, Egypt, Libya and Morocco have filled candidates for the deputy chairperson position and may be looking out for a stronger cooperation with a candidate from another region to make their bid realistic.
Many of the 57 endorsing OIC members meeting in Cameroon are also not members of the African Union while others like Uganda, Nigeria and Guinea Bissau are among the 19 states that have already declared support for the Kenyan opposition leader.
It is important to note that Somalia’s former Foreign Minister Fawzia Yusuf Adam earlier touted as a candidate stepped down and later flew into Nairobi to declare support for the former Prime Minister. This posture is an indication that Mogadishu, though an Islamic state, may be supporting Raila.
Raila's strong pan-African credentials, coupled with his strong democratic beliefs and admirable leadership qualities, is expected to position him as a strong candidate in the February competition to be decided by heads of states when African states make that crucial decision through secret ballot.
His participation and intervention in the Ivorian conflict that brought forth the resolution of peace and political stability arising from the political dispute between then Ivorian strongman Laurent Gbagbo against Alassane Ouattara should also be counted.
The Azimio leader’s previous assignment as the High Representative for Infrastructure Development is a significant matter that can also add value to his campaign for the position.
Pundits hating on Raila’s possible success, especially those from Kenya, may have to wait for long for another political misfortune to befall son of the soil who has thrown his heart in the ring to compete against other African giants for a coveted position to bring glory home.
The persuasion by some commentators that the position has no political value and valour is regrettable. We know that the holder becomes a top African diplomat who definitely positions the continent as a potential market for its own goods.
Candidates have demonstrated through their campaigns that the African top diplomat has quite some assignment. The former premier has spoken of enhancing intra-trade, enforcing financial independence and promoting agriculture as Africa drives towards a common currency while Youssouf’s strongest selling point so far is his multilingual capacity.
The writer is a chief officer in Homa county