Ichung’wah will be Raila’s chief agent in AUC polls – Kindiki

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has said that National Assembly Majority leader Kimani Ichung’wah will be former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s chief agent in the upcoming African Union Commission chairmanship elections.

Speaking on Friday, Kindiki said Ichung’wah will go to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia at least a week before the elections, and will only return to the country after Raila has been sworn in, should he win.

“I was President William Ruto's chief agent for seven days I slept there (Bomas). Raila Odinga’s chief agent in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia will be the Leader of Majority Kimani Ichung’wah,” he said.

The Deputy President spoke during a meeting with a delegation of elected, business and community leaders from Kajiado county.

Kindiki noted that if President William Ruto and Raila had not agreed to work together for the good of the country, Kenya would not have had the opportunity to lead the African Union Commission.

He insisted that the government is ready to do all that it takes to ensure Raila emerges victorious in the AUC elections.

“If Ruto and PM Raila had continued with divisive politics of antagonizing people and there is no campaign going on, Kenya would have lost the opportunity we now have. We will go out of our way. We are praying for Raila Odinga. We are working hard, Ruto is campaigning for him and we are not going to leave anything to chance," he said.

Raila is facing a challenge from two other candidates, including Djibouti’s Mohamoud Youssouf and Richard Randriamandrato of Madagascar.

The elections will be held on February 25.

The winner of the AUC chairperson seat is required to garner the support of two-thirds of the 55 countries eligible to vote, translating to 33 African Union member states.

This week, Raila has taken his campaign to the North Africa voting bloc.

On Wednesday he was in Algeria, while on Thursday he met the leadership of Tunisia in his last round of campaigns.