Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei has distanced Raila Odinga’s African Union Commission (AUC) campaign secretariat for the chairperson position from a planned fundraiser.

On Wednesday, September 11, 2024, Korir indicated that the secretariat had not endorsed any fundraising efforts to support Raila’s candidature for the AUC post.

“We disassociate the Secretariat of the Campaign of Raila Odinga from this fundraising effort,” Korir’s statement read in part.

Flagged poster

According to the flagged poster shared by Korir, the said fundraiser was set to be held on September 18, 2024, supported by a group identified as Friends of Raila.

The poster also included a venue where the said fundraiser would be staged.

However, the Foreign Affairs PS, among those pushing for Raila Odinga’s candidature, distanced the secretariat from the fundraiser.

Government pledge

President William Ruto displayed might by launching Raila’s candidature in the presence of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and Samia Suluhu Hassan (Tanzania).

Rwanda’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs James Kabarebe and Burundian Prime Minister Gervais Ndirakobuca were also present.

Other prominent African leaders including former Presidents Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania and Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria attended the launch where Ruto vowed to support Raila’s candidature.

To honour his pledge, Raila accompanied Ruto to China for high level engagements. On the sidelines of the meeting, Ruto met six presidents from African countries on the sidelines of the China Africa summit in Beijing.

The meetings were part of Kenya’s diplomatic efforts to lobby for Raila’s support from African Presidents ahead of the February 2025 poll.