After days of missing from the public limelight, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has re-emerged by joining President William Ruto for a high-level consultation meeting in Addis Ababa Ethiopia.
In a statement on Thursday, November 7, 2024, the former Prime Minister confirmed attending an informal consultation on the Africa Union Institutional Reforms meeting hosted by President Ruto in Addis.
During the meeting, Ruto challenged African countries to be organised and build the necessary synergy to tackle the continent’s bottlenecks.
Ruto argued that the reforms are aimed at making the institutions of the African Union more accountable, efficient and effective in serving member states.
The consultation meeting was attended by Permanent Representatives Committee comprising African ambassadors to the AU.
It is imperative that Africa becomes organised and builds the necessary synergy to tackle the challenges that face the continent. To achieve this crucial objective, the reform agenda of the African Union institutions must be thorough and consultative.
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) November 7, 2024
The reforms are aimed at… pic.twitter.com/bUtbNjxSlR
Raila vision unveiling
Raila’s attendance is a warm-up to his much-anticipated official continental campaign launch after Ruto unveiled him as the country’s sole candidate for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson’s job.
In a statement shared by the political premier, the event will be held on Friday, November 8, 2024, where he also give a keynote address at the AU Multipurpose Hall in Addis Ababa.
“On Friday, November 8, 2024, the campaign secretariat of Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga will host a series of events in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to formally unveil him to the continent as the candidate for the Republic of Kenya for chairperson of the African Union Commission,” a statement from Raila’s secretariat said.
“The Addis event is a follow-up to the August 27, 2024, official reception of the candidature of Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga in Nairobi, and is meant to provide a platform for the candidate to engage with core players, formations and partners of the AU. The candidate will use the forum to outline his Pan-African vision and prioritise in line with AU Agenda 2063.”
Raila’s vision unveiling at Addis is expected to help him gain more mileage compared to Djibouti Foreign Affairs Minister Mahmoud Youssouf, who is seen as his main opponent in the February 2025 election.
Other candidates are Anil Gayan (Mauritius) and Richard Randriamandrato (Madagascar).
8th November 2024 in Addis Ababa pic.twitter.com/5iUaKqJWne
— Raila Odinga (@RailaOdinga) November 7, 2024
