Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has embarked on ‘a door-to door’ engagements as he woos the southern part of the continent to back his bid for the African Union Commission chairmanship.
The Kenya candidate has rolled out an aggressive campaign that will see him visit at least 10 countries in southern Africa this month.
The ex-PM hit the ground running early this week taking his vote-hunting mission to Mauritius where he bagged the support of the island country.
Raila announced the breakthrough after a Monday meeting with his host —Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam.
“Thank you, Hon Dr Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Prime Minister of Mauritius, for hosting me and for your unequivocal support towards my candidature for the African Union Commission chairperson,” Raila posted on his X feed.
On the background, Raila’s campaign team led by former Kenya’s ambassador to the US Elkanah Odembo are crafting a back-to-back campaign schedule that will see the former Prime Minister camping in the southern part of the continent for the better part of January.
According to the plans shared with the Star, Raila will be seeking audience with three presidents elected recently to explain his agenda for the continent as well as ask for their support.
“There are three new leaders following the recent elections and it is important that he (Raila) visits them, congratulates them, hears from them about their expectations of the AUC and as well share with them his vision and priorities,” Odembo told the Star.
The new presidents are Daniel Chapo (Mozambique), Netumbo Nandi – Ndaitwah (Namibia) and Duma Boko (Botswana).
The campaign team has also lined up seven countries within the larger Southern African Development Community bloc which Raila will visit in the next two weeks.
“Candidate Rao will visit at least seven countries in the SADC region by the third week of January,” Odembo added.
SADC’s bloc boasts of 16 member states. They are Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, eSwatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Raila is seeking to succeed Moussa Faki Mahamat as African Union Commission chairperson. Raila will run against Mahmoud Ali Youssouf from Djibouti, Anil Kumarsingh Gayan of Mauritius and Richard Randriamandrato of Madagascar.
The elections will take place in
February 2025 during the African
Union Summit.
Kenya is keen to secure enough
support for its candidature amid
strong opposition from Djibouti’s
candidate ahead of next year’s polls.
