Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has reassured African countries that former Prime Minister Raila Odinga is best suited to be the African Union Commission chairperson job.
Speaking during the unveiling of Raila’s vision and priorities for the AUC chairperson position in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Mudavadi said Kenya is offering a lifelong Pan-Africanist, an accomplished global statesman, who has demonstrated exceptional and visionary leadership.
“There is much that our continent can utilise from such an elaborate experience,” Mudavadi said.
He added that Raila has inherent capabilities to amplify the voice and bargaining power of the African continent.
“He has always offered his peace-making skills to national and regional peace and security initiatives. Notably, Raila’s strategic patience has fortified him as a peacemaker who has often foregone personal interests to achieve national and regional unity and stability,” he stated.
He recalled that Raila served the AU as the High Representative on Infrastructure Development in Africa, from 2018 to 2023.
Mudavadi said that during his tenure, Raila mobilised African leaders and partners to scale up efforts to bridge the continent’s infrastructure gap.
"Overall, in Raila we have a complete leadership package that is founded on teamwork, boldness in decision-making, Pan-Africanism and responsive to the collective and unique aspirations of each member state of the African Union,” he said.
“The President, the government and the people of Kenya wholeheartedly present to you one of our most celebrated sons to be the next Chairperson of the African Union Commission.”
Mudavadi further said the continent needs a candid audit of the AU’s progress in order to spur the regional body into an organisation that continues to serve the African people and one that cultivates mutually beneficial partnerships.
He said the continent, through the AU, is gradually asserting itself on the global stage.
He added that AU as encapsulated in the vision of “African solutions to African problems” is taking shape.
“Similarly, there is need for greater focus on Africa’s quest for a more just and equitable world order,” Mudavadi said.
