Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga with Mau Mau veteran Gitu Kahengeri
In a statement on Friday, their Mau Mau Veterans Association wished Rail success in Saturday’s heads of state and government poll for the next AUC chairperson.
“We appeal to all heads of state and governments to elect Raila Amollo Odinga for the prosperity of Africa,’’ the veterans said.
The election will take place on Saturday during the 38th Ordinary Heads of State Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
“We the Mau Mau Veterans Association unreservedly support
the election of Raila Odinga to the chairmanship of the AU commission,’’ they
said in a statement signed by their secretary general Gitau Wa Kahengeri.
The veterans outlined at least five reasons why they back Raila’s AUC job bid.
They said Raila knows what politically, economically and socially ails the African Continent and that Raila can unite the African people without discrimination.
They said Raila can initiate the building of sustainable economic infrastructures and also build industrial complexes.
“Raila can initiate building a complex network of roads connecting all countries in Africa. He is a great asset for Africa,’’ the Mau Mau veterans said.
Mau Mau Veterans Association is an umbrella body of freedom
fighters whose resistance movement against colonial oppression, birthed the
nation.
The veterans spoke on the day Kenya’s top political figures, including longtime rivals, rallied behind Raila’s bid for the AUC position.
Raila Odinga is seeking to succeed Moussa Faki as AUC chairperson in what is expected to be one of the most significant diplomatic contests of his career.
He will face Djibouti’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf and Madagascar’s former Foreign Affairs Minister Richard Randriamandrato in the election.
The poll will be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Saturday where at least 49 heads of state and government are convening for the 38th Ordinary Summit.
While President William Ruto—Raila’s former arch-rival turned ally—has been aggressively campaigning for him, other key leaders have also thrown their weight behind his bid.
Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Kenya’s de facto opposition leader, has publicly affirmed his support for Raila’s candidacy.
