- Kenya has rumped up campaigns for Raila’s AUC job bid, lining up strategic efforts to lobby support for the former prime minister.
- On Wednesday, Ruto held meetings with the six presidents from African countries on the sidelines of the ongoing Chian Africa summit in Beijing.
Image: PCS
President William Ruto has intensified campaigns for Kenya’s African Union Commission chairperson candidate, meeting at least six presidents in a day on his China tour.
Kenya's foremost diplomats have lined up a series of sideline meetings between President Ruto and AUC candidate Raila Odinga with African Presidents in Beijing until Friday.
On Wednesday, Ruto held meetings with the six presidents from African countries on the sidelines of the ongoing Chian Africa summit in Beijing.
During the sessions, Ruto was accompanied by the country’s AUC candidate Raila Odinga and top government officials including Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.
The meetings are part of Kenya’s diplomatic efforts to lobby for Raila’s support from African Presidents ahead of the February 2025 poll.
Raila accompanied President Ruto on his official tour to China to get an opportunity to pitch for his AUC candidacy among the African heads of state attending the forum.
Among the African presidents that Kenya’s campaign team met in Beijing include Rwanda’s Paul Kagame, who did not attend Nairobi’s unveiling of Raila as Kenya’s candidate for the AUC job.
Kagame was represented during the launch by his Foreign Affairs Minister James Kabarebe.
"Rwanda is a strong ally and strategic partner of Kenya. We share diplomatic, historical and cultural ties. Our two nations are also committed members of the East African Community, especially on regional integration, trade and people-to-people relations," Ruto posted on his X account.
Ruto said his meeting with Kagame deliberated on deepening relations between Kenya and Rwanda “and also the candidature of Raila Odinga for the position of the African Union Commission chairperson.”
President Ruto and Raila also met Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco, Asimi Goita(Mali), Faure Essozimna (Togo), Mahamat Idriss (Chad) and Zambia’s Hakainde Hichilema who is also the chair of COMESA.
Kenya has rumped up campaigns for Raila’s AUC job bid, lining up strategic efforts to lobby support for the former prime minister.
The Kenya delegation led by President Ruto is expected to hold talks with more presidents on the sidelines of the China-Africa summit in Beijing which ends on Friday.
On August 26, Ruto hosted East Africa Community heads of state and other top officials from the region to launch Raila’s bid in Nairobi.
The launch was attended by Presidents Yoweri Museveni (Uganda), Samia Suluhu (Tanzania) and Silva Kiir (South Sudan).
Burundi Prime Minister Gervais Ndirakobuca represented President Évariste Ndayishimiye.
Former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo (Nigeria) and Jakaya Kikwete (Tanzania) were also present.
Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was also to attend but sent last-minute apologies.
The AU Commission chairperson is a big post that elevates the holder to a near head of state.
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei and former Kenyan Ambassador to America Elkana Odembo, who are leading Raila’s campaigns, have insisted that the government will pull all stops to ensure Raila succeeds.
Raila will have the opportunity as Kenya’s candidate to highlight his vision for the African continent at the African heads of state meeting in Beijing for the three-day China Africa summit.
“Candidate Odinga will be in Beijing. China is an important infrastructure partner of Africa. Odinga will meet various leaders to share his infrastructure focus for Africa within the context of the Belt and Road initiative, a major plank of the forum for China-Africa cooperation," Sing’oei said.
In the February 2025 poll, Raila will face Djibouti Foreign Affairs Minister Mahmoud Youssouf, who is seen as his main opponent.
Anil Gayan (Mauritius) and Richard Randriamandrato (Madagascar) are also gunning for the seat.