Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Daily Nation
Published on 2024-02-17 03:00:00
Kenya, under the leadership of President William Ruto, has been quietly lobbying regional leaders to support the country’s bid for the top job at the African Union Commission (AUC). In recent months, a series of behind-the-scenes discussions between President Ruto, opposition leader Raila Odinga, and former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo have been taking place, in an effort to secure votes for Kenya’s candidate for the top job. This diplomatic effort has included visits to various African countries, as well as discussions at the AU meeting in Ethiopia.
However, the decision to publicly announce Kenya’s choice of candidate has been met with some uncertainty, as President Ruto has been in a catch-22 situation, waiting for confirmation from Mr. Odinga that he would not back down. Mr. Odinga, on the other hand, has been non-committal, doing his own lobbying and building his voting bloc before publicly announcing his bid for the top job. President Ruto has assured Mr. Odinga that the government will shoulder the budget for the campaign, but Mr. Odinga has made it clear he will only go public about the job hunt once his fears are addressed.
Despite Kenya positioning herself to represent the Eastern region bloc, there is competition for the AUC chairperson job, with a candidate from South Sudan eyeing the post, and Nigeria expressing interest as well. The AUC chairperson is a powerful role, involved in the day-to-day running of the African Union’s operations.
The government of Kenya has formed a committee comprised of Cabinet Secretaries and senior officials, who have been tasked with lobbying regional leaders on behalf of President Ruto and Mr. Odinga. This lobbying effort is part of the Mombasa truce pact, brokered by Mr. Obasanjo, which also included the formation of the National Dialogue Committee (Nadco) to address contentious issues in Kenya, including electoral justice.
Prime Cabinet Secretary and Minister of Foreign Affairs Musalia Mudavadi is leading the team supporting Mr. Odinga’s bid, despite Kenya not officially naming Mr. Odinga as the candidate. In a recent visit to Bondo, Mr. Mudavadi hinted that there was something special in the offing for Mr. Odinga, leading to speculation about his potential bid for the AUC top job.
During a meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Mr. Mudavadi lobbied for East Africa to support its own, emphasizing that it was time for the region to field the next AUC chair. President Ruto, who is expected to lobby his colleagues to back Mr. Odinga’s bid, is also scheduled to hold meetings with fellow Heads of State and international agencies to discuss the bid.
Mr. Odinga’s candidacy has received endorsements from other opposition leaders and members of the Azimio la Umoja coalition, who have pledged to lobby for his candidacy through their individual networks in the region. Mr. Odinga’s long-standing commitment to Pan-Africanism, democratic principles, and human rights has been emphasized, as well as his history of leadership in promoting inclusivity and stability.
The groundwork for Mr. Odinga’s candidature has been laid, with President Ruto assuring him of support and reaching out to colleagues who have expressed confidence in Kenya’s readiness to field a candidate for the AUC top job. As the campaign for the position unfolds, Kenya continues to make its case for regional and continental support for Mr. Odinga’s bid.
Read the original article on Daily Nation
