National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula on Wednesday led the House in extending best wishes to Kenya's candidate for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson job, Raila Odinga.
In his address to the House, Wetang'ula expressed his support and that of MPs for Raila’s candidacy.
"I want to join all of you in wishing our patriarch, our leader, Raila Amollo Odinga success in the election for the African Union Commission as the chairperson," Wetang'ula said amid applause from members.
The Speaker further revealed that the first vote in the crucial election will be that of President William Ruto.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi is in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to lead the last-minute campaigns for Raila’s bid.
“As we approach the final stretch, I will engage in the last-mile campaign for Raila Odinga, rallying support from African Heads of State ahead of the crucial vote.
“His leadership at the AUC would elevate Kenya’s influence and strengthen Africa’s collective voice on the global stage,” Mudavadi noted.
During his stay, Mudavadi will participate in the AU’s 46th Executive Council Session, where Foreign Ministers will elect AUC Commissioners.
This will set the stage for the 38th AU Assembly, themed “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations,” where President William Ruto will be in attendance.
Africa’s heads of state are scheduled to pick Moussa Faki Mahamat’s successor during the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government, which will be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on February 15 and 16.
Raila will face Djibouti’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, and Madagascar’s former Foreign Affairs Minister Richard Randriamandrato in the elections.
An AUC chairperson is elected by the Assembly for a four-year term, renewable once.
The seat is held on a rotational basis among the five regions,
and this time, the Eastern region is eligible to present a candidate while the
Northern region is supposed to present a deputy chairperson.
