Prof Makau Mutua, AU chairman candidate Raila Odinga and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja when Raila arrived for the debate at the Africa Union
Headquarters in Addis Ababa on Friday /EMMANUEL WANSON
Kenya’s candidate for African Union Commission chairperson Raila Odinga will from next month head to Southern Africa in his last leg of cross-Africa campaigns.
Raila’s head of campaigns Elkanah Odembo told the Star the Azimio leader will be dedicating next month to the Southern African Development Community, which has 16 member states.
“We will be going to SADC in January,” Odembo told the Star.
The Southern Africa offensive comes days after the Mjadala Leadership debate in which Raila faced two of his rivals in a televised debate.
During the Friday debate, Raila pledged to work with all African leaders to ensure the continent gets two permanent seats at the United Nations Security Council if he is elected.
Raila said that would be a fair representation of the continent to the Security Council.
Under his leadership, he vowed there will be permanent representation for Africa, complete with veto powers.
He lamented that Africa, with 55 sovereign nations, does not have any seat, yet Europe has three. “I’m not going to talk about permanent representation,” he said.
“If the heads of state see it fit that I should head this, I will work with all the leadership of the continent to ensure that we get a fair treatment on the international scene.”
The former Prime Minister also promised trade balance, arguing for the need for value addition on raw materials coming out of Africa.
He also emphasised the need to enhance intra-Africa trade, noting that today, it stands at just 15 per cent.
Raila said not much has been achieved with the African Free Trade Area launched three years ago due to non-tariff barriers and standards and modalities for payment, which vary among countries.
The pledges are part of his 10-point manifesto for his Africa transformation agenda.
For Raila to clinch the coveted position, he needs two-thirds of the 55 countries that will vote. Geopolitics, language and religion of member states will play a key role in who wins next year’s elections.
Six member states have been suspended because of either war or hostile takeovers in government.
These are Sudan, Gabon, Benin, Burkina Faso, Niger and Guinea.
This means Raila needs at least 33 votes to succeed Chad’s Moussa Faki.
Several factors are expected to shape the race, including religion, age, the Anglo and Francophone divide, Western influence and the emerging forces in the continent, such as Russia and China.
Raila’s AUC campaign secretariat is working on multiple strategies to enhance his chances of victory. His CV has been translated into six languages. He has also bagged support from a number of countries who have agreed to support his candidature.
The nations that have agreed to back Raila’s bid include the DRC, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Nigeria, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi. Burundi, Seychelles, South Sudan, Guinea-Bissau, Angola, Algeria and the Republic of the Congo have also pledged to support him.
The campaign will test to the limit Kenya’s diplomatic prowess as the government mounts a continent-wide campaign.
The continental vote could also be seen as a referendum on President William Ruto’s influence in the region as he pushes for Raila, his former rival and newfound political partner. Ruto’s administration is believed to have unleashed considerable resources and is not taking any chances.
