Raila on AU bid: I will work with everyone, including Gachagua

Raila said he has no specific people and will work with all government officials to push his bid.

In Summary
  • The government has set up an elaborate secretariat as it goes flat out to support Raila’s bid.

  • The Secretariat will be charged with the day-to-day coordination of Raila’s campaign activities ahead of the election day in February 2024.

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Azimio Leader Raila Odinga speaking at the deliberation at Chungwa House on June 6, 2024.
Azimio Leader Raila Odinga speaking at the deliberation at Chungwa House on June 6, 2024.
Image: RAILA ODINGA/ X

Azimio leader Raila Odinga has promised to work with all Kenyans as he eyes the African Union Commission chairperson seat.

Speaking at Chungwa House when he met organisers of the Limuru III conference held on May 17, Raila said he will work with all government officials, including Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

“I will work with everybody in this country. Nobody specifically. DP Gachagua is a member of the government and on Wednesday, they said they will support my bid for AU. I thank them,” he said.

The government has set up an elaborate secretariat as it goes flat out to support Raila’s bid.

The Secretariat will be charged with the day-to-day coordination of Raila’s campaign activities ahead of the election day in February 2024.

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi said on Wednesday the Secretariat comprises top government bureaucrats, experts and Raila’s campaign team.

Mudavadi said Raila has the relevant and requisite credentials to lead the AU saying it is not about local politics.

"We said yes because Raila is qualified and a Kenyan. This is not about local politics; it is about national interests," he said.

The Prime CS spoke at his office during a joint media briefing with the Azimio boss.

Raila lauded the government for supporting his candidature saying it came as a surprise to him.

The Opposition chief has been a critic of the Kenya Kwanza administration against which he organised nationwide demonstrations after the August 2022 general election.

Organisers of the Limuru III conference are among the lot pushing for the one-man, one-vote, one-shilling revenue-sharing formula.

Speaking when he met them, Raila said he is also in support of the push adding that it is the right way to go.

The former Prime Minister, however, said he is not a populist and was embracing the debate with an open mind.

He said it's important for the country to have the conversation on revenue sharing.

Gachagua has been pushing for the one-man, one-vote, one-shilling revenue-sharing formula saying that it would favour the Mt Kenya region.

The DP said there's nothing sinister about stating that regions receive revenue share comensurate with their populations.

Gachagua told the people from Mt Kenya region to monitor politicians and their utterances to ensure they mark those against the proposal.

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