Kenya’s candidate for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson post, Raila Odinga, has stated that the ongoing energy summit in Tanzania will serve as a foundation for the continent's electricity connectivity.
Raila has intensified his campaign for the AUC top position, visiting over two dozen African capitals to lobby Heads of State for their votes.
Raila is relying on his rich political experience and continental connections, as well as a robust understanding of the country's infrastructural needs to deliver his agenda if elected.
The election, where African Heads of State will vote by secret ballot, is scheduled for February 25 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Speaking at the African Heads of State Energy Summit in Tanzania, Raila reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the agenda of connecting 300 million Africans to electricity.
“This summit is laying the groundwork for a new partnership to transform the continent's power sector and achieve universal electricity access for 300 million people,” Raila said on his X platform.
The former prime minister expressed his gratitude to Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina, and World Bank President Ajay Banga for inviting him to the summit.
African Heads of State, business leaders, and development partners have gathered in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, for the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit. The summit aims to commit to ambitious reforms and actions to provide reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity access to 300 million Africans by 2030.
Mission 300 represents an unprecedented collaboration between the African Development Bank, the World Bank Group, and global partners. It seeks to bridge Africa’s electricity access gap through innovative technology and financing solutions.
Currently, nearly 600 million Africans lack access to electricity, a critical component for development and job creation.
President William Ruto is among several African Heads of State and government leaders attending the summit, which runs until Wednesday.