Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has promised to transform the African Union Commission into an organisation that will spearhead Africa's growth and economic development.
Speaking in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Friday, when he unveiled his candidature for the chairmanship position, Raila said his leadership at AUC will bring change in Africa.
“My leadership at the AUC will not be of the same rhetoric where people meet a few times in a year and return to the enclaves. My leadership will be pegged on the dreams of our forefathers, who expected that by now, Africa would by now roar in one united voice,” he said.
“Every year, there is a General Assembly here. Jets come and land and then there will be a lot of talk in the halls where resolutions are passed and off, people leave.”
Raila regretted that most of the resolutions passed in these meetings are never implemented.
“I can tell you without fear of contradiction, 93 per cent of resolutions that are passed here are never implemented. It has become a talk shop. I intend to change that and ensure all resolutions pass here are implemented properly,” he stated.
Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi led the high-profile delegation for the unveiling of Raila’s candidature.
During the meeting, Mudavadi reassured African countries that former Prime Minister Raila Odinga is best suited to be the African Union Commission chairperson job.
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.
