How secretariat will prepare Raila for public debate in AUC race

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga is expected to face other candidates in a public debate in his bid to become the next African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson.

Speaking at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters in Nairobi on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi revealed that the government has established a secretariat which will help Raila prepare for the televised public debate.

Composition of the Secretariat

According to CS Mudavadi, the elaborate secretariat is made up of strategists from Raila’s team and well-versed government bureaucrats whose main task will be to spearhead Raila’s bid.

The Prime CS added the secretariat will work around the clock to facilitate all activities including preparing Raila to sell his agenda in a televised continental debate. Public debates will be held six months before the election date.

Mudavadi indicated that the secretariat will also prepare briefs for Raila and help him create an online presence in his bid to become the next AUC chairperson.

“It will prepare all the briefs for use by the candidate, develop campaign materials including digital presence, and prepare for the public debate to be broadcast live for African citizens,” Mudavadi stated.

Moreover, Mudavadi announced that the team will help Raila submit all the documents required for the AUC role.

“The team is firming up preparatory and application documents together with requisite translations of the resume into 6 languages; Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, French, English, and Kiswahili,” the Prime CS indicated.

I had the pleasure of hosting @RailaOdinga at my Railways Headquarters Office. We discussed his candidacy as Kenya’s choice for the Chair of the African Union Commission and the various strategies that Kenya is adopting. pic.twitter.com/os0Ht7hIRP

— Musalia W Mudavadi (@MusaliaMudavadi) June 5, 2024

Mudavadi expresses confidence for Raila’s candidature

At the same time, Mudavadi expressed confidence that Raila will clinch the AUC chairperson role. Mudavadi assured the Azimio la Umoja leader that the government will throw weight behind his candidature.

“We have no doubt that the candidate will pursue excellence in line with the continent’s collective aspirations of the Africa we want in 2063 as framed in the AUC development framework,”  Mudavadi stated.

Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi: We said yes because Raila is competent and we are looking at not only Kenya but also Africa's interests. This was never about our local issues.#K24News pic.twitter.com/q6H4bemVnX

— K24 TV (@K24Tv) June 5, 2024

Raila’s take

The ODM Party leader welcomed the government’s support indicating that he has also received overwhelming support from other African leaders.

Raila vowed to advocate for change if picked as the next AUC chairperson.

“With committed and proper coordination between my team and the government, we should be able to clinch the seat. We agreed that synergy is going to be critical as we embark on the next steps that include the submission of my application,” Raila stated.

“On my own, I am making all efforts to tap into my experience, relationships and understanding of the continent to win the support of as many nations as I can.”

Hon. Raila Odinga: I decided to offer myself to serve the continent and was pleasantly surprised that the Kenya Kwanza government said they would support me for the AUC position. I don't know why they said yes.#K24News pic.twitter.com/VdJkYdTson

— K24 TV (@K24Tv) June 5, 2024

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