Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has declared his readiness to wrestle it out with his opponents for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship race.
Speaking on Sunday, November 10, 2024, Raila indicated that he had spelt out his agenda of transforming the continent and despite opposition from quotas, he is ready for a fierce battle to clinch the seat.
“Juzi nilikuwa Addis Ababa. Mimi nikasema niko tayari kuhudumia Afrika, kuna wengine ambao wananipinga lakini nikasema tukutane kwa kiwanja.”
(A few days ago I was in Addis Ababa and I said I am ready to serve Africans. There are some who are opposing me and I have said let us meet on the battlefield),” Raila stated during Governor Gladys Wanga’s Thanksgiving ceremony in Homa Bay county.
Raila’s Opponents
Raila is up against some strong opponents in the AUC chairperson’s race scheduled to take place in February 2025.
Djibouti Foreign Affairs Minister Mahmoud Youssouf is seen as the main opponent to the former Prime Minister. Mahmoud, just like Raila, has been making inroads and meeting various heads of state in a bid to convince them to support his candidature.
However, Raila has so far received direct endorsements from several presidents including Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni, Tanzania’s Samia Suluhu and Rwanda’s Paul Kagame.
They are both pushing to gain support from the North and Southern parts of the continent.
Other candidates are Anil Gayan (Mauritius) and Richard Randriamandrato (Madagascar).
Raila’s vision
Speaking in Ethiopia during the launch of his vision, Raila indicated that his leadership would be characterised by a transformative agenda which will seek to restore Africa’s glory on the global stage.
“My leadership will be pegged on the dreams of our forefathers who expected that by now, Africa would roar in one united voice,” Raila remarked.
“We will not put anything on the agenda if we know it will not be implemented.”
Raila decried the travel restrictions in the continent, noting that some of the policies had made it difficult for Africans to travel in their own land, but had given foreigners sweeping liberties from the bureaucracies of travel.
He equally noted that he would advocate for an Africa with open skies, further clearing the travel restrictions for Africans by creating a regional body to handle all overflight and landing permits in the continent.
On energy, Raila stated that Africa has the biggest potential for energy in the world by utilising various sources including geothermal, wind and solar.
At the same time, Raila maintained that securing employment opportunities would form part of his agenda if he wins the race.
