East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) MP Maina Karobia has reaffirmed that the assembly fully endorsed Raila Odinga as the East African Community’s (EAC) candidate for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairpersonship.

Speaking to a local media station on February 14, 2025, amid uncertainty that Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) may not vote in line with EAC’s position, Karobia reiterated that Odinga’s endorsement was unanimous and backed by all eight member states of the EAC during a plenary session held in Kenya in March 2024.

“EALA is the first public institution to fully endorse the candidature of Raila Odinga. It was unanimously endorsed by parliamentarians of East Africa, all eight countries of East Africa, when we had our plenary session in Kenya in March 2024,” Karobia said.

The EALA legislator explained that the assembly backed Odinga as he was the only East African candidate who had declared interest at the time.

“The only candidate from East Africa who had thrown his hat in the ring then was Raila Odinga, and that is why we as EALA legislators endorsed his candidature. From where I sit, that is the candidate for the East African Community, and we wish him the very best as he goes for the seat,” Karobia added.

Tanzania and DRC’s vote uncertainty

Despite EALA’s backing of Odinga, his campaign faces a new challenge after the Southern African Development Community (SADC) directed its 16 member states to support Madagascar’s Richard Randriamandrato.

This directive, issued on February 12, 2025, has created a dilemma for Tanzania and DRC, which hold membership in both SADC and EAC blocs.

The SADC Secretariat’s decision to back Randriamandrato without convening an Extraordinary Council of Ministers meeting could force Tanzania and DRC to choose between regional allegiances just days before the February 15-16 elections.

Odinga’s bid

Odinga, who previously served as the AU High Representative for Infrastructure Development, has been a frontrunner in the race and has received endorsements from various African leaders, including some within the SADC bloc.

However, the latest SADC directive could impact his support among southern African nations, particularly those that had initially indicated they would back him.