No letting go: Raila leverages presence at UNGA to pursue backing for AU job

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Monday continued to intensify his campaigns for the African Union Commission chairperson job by meeting heads of state and foreign influencers.

Raila is currently in New York for the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

He is part of the delegation accompanying President William Ruto in the meeting.

His presence is part of the wider strategy by his secretariat to ensure he leverages every opportunity to woo support from most heads of state, especially from other regions in the continent.

He has already secured the backing of the East African region which includes Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, and South Sudan among several others.

On Monday, Ruto led Raila for talks with Senegalese President Diomaye Faye as part of a series of planned engagements with the leaders attending the summit.

The talks were mainly focused on strengthening the ties between the two countries and rallying for his support in the elections set for February 2025.

“We will deepen our ties with Senegal to advance shared goals in peace, development and continental integration,” he said.

Raila is said to have emphasised his vision for continental unity and development.

“He also articulated his commitment to addressing pressing issues such as climate change, economic recovery, and regional security,” a source who spoke on anonymity said.

Africa is subdivided into five regions which are Eastern, Northern, Central, Southern, and Western Africa.

Kenya has yet to establish a strong foothold in the four other regions hence the plan to utilise these international fora to pursue the agenda.

Raila’s extensive political experience and established relationships across the continent position him as a strong candidate for the role.

His strategic networking at UNGA reflects the ongoing efforts to gain support from fellow leaders, highlighting the importance of collaboration in achieving Africa's goals.

Ruto and Raila are said to have lined up several similar meetings not only with heads of state attending presence at the Assembly but also diplomatic heads.

One of the key factors that influences the voting pattern in the race is language.

There are 21 Francophone (French-speaking) countries in the continent and 24 English-speaking nations.

Djibouti’s main languages are French and Djibouti.

Raila has previously accompanied the head of state to various countries underscoring their influence in the elections.

Earlier this month, he was part of the delegation to China for the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

Last week, he also accompanied Ruto to Germany.

Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei and former Kenyan Ambassador to America Elkana Odembo, who are leading Raila’s campaigns said the government will pull all stops to ensure Raila succeeds.